Riviera has rebranded its successful Annual Marine Propulsion Conference the European Marine Engineering Conference to better reflect the range and breadth of topics and technologies covered across our two day programme.

After nine highly successful years in London we are debuting the new conference in Amsterdam. The new location will draw a greater number of continental owner/operators and at the same time is readily accessible to our loyal supporters from all over the world. 

Our format retains successful elements of previous programmes but also sees the introduction of some new and exciting elements.

• Day one is themed: On The Agenda – Achieving operational excellence in the year ahead
• Day two is themed: On The Horizon – Achieving operational excellence over the next five years
• Findings from The Marine Propulsion Industry Survey sponsored by ExxonMobil are woven into the programme 
• Summary survival guides at the end of each presentation, detailing strategies for coping with the key issues 
• The Doug Woodyard Memorial Debate. A debate structured to involve two opposing teams – as well as delegates – in discussing a controversial industry motion. One team will argue for the motion. The other against. The winning team will be decided by audience vote. The intention is that the debate reflects the journalism of the late Doug Woodyard: informed, direct, opinionated. Doug was a former editor of Marine Propulsion and respected throughout industry 
• A reinvigorated dinner and expanded awards boosted by greater industry involvement. 

As a software engineer and sailing enthusiast, I found the European Marine Engineering Conference to be an incredibly valuable experience. The event's focus on addressing operational, technological, and engineering challenges in the marine industry was right up my alley. Working on the backend software for promoting the event and managing attendee data gave me a unique insider's perspective. It was fascinating to see how the maritime industry is evolving and adopting new technologies. The discussions on risk mitigation, cybersecurity, and green technologies were particularly relevant to my work.

One of the highlights for me was the "Doug Woodyard Memorial Debate" on green technologies. As someone who loves being out on the water, I'm deeply invested in sustainable marine solutions. The debate offered great insights into the challenges and opportunities in this area. The networking opportunities were phenomenal. I had the chance to chat with fleet managers, chief engineers, and tech directors about their software needs and challenges. These conversations gave me valuable insights that I can apply to future projects.

Interestingly, my work on the event's software revealed some compatibility issues between our older FileMaker Pro database and newer applications. It was a reminder of how crucial it is to keep our tech stack updated, even in traditional industries like maritime engineering. While I managed to implement a workaround for this event, it's clear we'll need to migrate to a more compatible Filemaker Pro replacement soon. Overall, the conference was an eye-opening experience. It bridged my professional world of software engineering with my personal passion for sailing, giving me a deeper appreciation for the technological advancements in marine engineering. I'm already looking forward to next year's event and the opportunity to further modernize our systems! [Peter Blackburn]

Marine Propulsions Marine Engineering Conference and Awards Highlights 2015

Why Attend

With technical management representing a combined fleet of over 3700 vessels attending this conference last year, this event a must attend for the marine engineering world. Each year senior representatives from owners, operators, managers, engine designers and builders, ship designers and builders, fuel/lubrication manufacturers and suppliers, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, regulators, class societies and industry associations gather to discuss the key issues of the day and the engineering and technical challenges that lie ahead. The European Marine Engineering Conference & Awards is:

• The annual must attend event for Fleet Managers, Superintendents, Chief Engineers and Technical Directors
• Trusted as the industry’s most authoritative and inclusive annual marine engineering conference
• Relevant and specific - It’s technical programme devised by an industry advisory board / the  editorial team behind Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery magazine
• Fully focused on owner/operator concerns
• Geared for practical discussion
• Invaluable for networking.
• Unrivalled value for money - attendees come away fully briefed on present and future marine engineering, environmental and wider compliance challenges, through a mix of presentations, case studies and independent analysis – from the speakers you want to hear and among the people you want to meet

Attend and you will...

• Hear industry leading owners and operators share how they stay ahead of the market
• Learn from industry associations, rule makers and class societies on where regulation is heading and how it stands to influence your business
• Listen to the world’s foremost marine propulsion and auxiliary machinery experts on balancing performance, economics and compliance
• Understand industry trends and how they will impact 
• See who is setting the pace at the 2016 gala dinner and awards
• Meet more decision makers and budget holders in two days than a year’s worth of business trips
• Make money. Save money. Companies from across the supply chain will attend and exhibit. There is no better place to do business
• Take away information and insights that will benefit everyone in your organisation

Wednesday 13 April 2016

On The Agenda: Achieving operational excellence in the year ahead

08:00   Registration coffee & networking

08:55   Welcome and introduction from the conference chairman
Edwin Lampert, Group Managing Editor, Riviera Maritime Media

09:00   Overview of The Marine Propulsion Industry Survey sponsored by ExxonMobil
Paul Fanning, Editor, Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery

Session one: The engine forum

This will see two panel debates. The first will focus on low-speed engines. The second on medium/high-speed. Each debate will open with a summary of the most significant regulatory issues and an excerpt from The Marine Propulsion Industry Survey sponsored by ExxonMobil. Each presenter will offer a summary survival guide at the end of their presentation, detailing strategies for coping with the key issues delegates will face in the year ahead. There will then be an open discussion/debate.

09:10 Setting the scene
Session chair: Edwin Lampert, Group Managing Editor, Riviera Maritime Media
Industry chair: Ioannis Vlaskos, Global Market Sector Director - Marine, Director - Engines Business Unit, Ricardo Germany

09:20 Part one: low speed engines

• two-stroke engine manufacturers

Speakers include:
Kjeld Aabo, Director Customer Support, Promotion & Sales, MAN Diesel & Turbo
Naozumi Jimichi, Deputy General Manager, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Europe
Rudolf Holtbecker, General Manager, Business & Application Development, Winterthur Gas & Diesel

10:10 Q&A

10:30 Networking coffee break in the exhibition area

11:10 Part two: medium-high speed engines

• four-stroke engine manufacturers

Speakers include:
Leif-Arne Skarbø, Chief Engineer Technology and Safety (Head of Engineering and Technology), Bergen Engines 
Kjeld Aabo, Director Customer Support, Promotion & Sales, MAN Diesel & Turbo
Ulf Astrand, Product Development Programs Director, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions

12:00 Q&A

12:30 Networking lunch sponsored by Chevron

Session two: Marine Fuels

The session will open with a summary of the issues impacting the segment as well as an appropriate excerpt from The Marine Propulsion Industry Survey sponsored by ExxonMobil.

There will then be presentation and debate covering different fuels types, fuel quality, operational issues, and lessons learnt. Each presenter will offer a summary survival guide at the end of their presentation, detailing strategies for coping with the key issues delegates will face in the year.

13:35 Marine fuels 
Armelle Breneol, EAME Marine Logistics Advisor, ExxonMobil Marine Fuels
Peter Hall, Chairman, IBIA
Mark Bell, Chairman, SGMF (Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel)

14:20 Q&A

14:40 Networking coffee break in the exhibition area

Session three: Marine Lubes

Following an opening keynote, the session will be in two parts to allow for more detailed insight and discussion. The format for each part is identical.

There will then be presentation and debate covering different lube types, quality, operational issues and lessons learnt. Each presenter will offer a summary survival guide at the end of their presentation, detailing strategies for coping with the key issues delegates will face in the year.

15:20 Keynote from Maersk
Jens Byrgesen, Managing Director, Maersk Fluid Technology 

15:35 Q&A

15:45 Marine Lubes (part one)
Iain White, Global Marketing Manager, ExxonMobil Marine Fuels and Lubricants
Jean-Philippe Roman, Technical Director, TOTAL Lubmarine
Luc Verbeeke, Senior Research Marine Engineer, Chevron Lubricants

16:00 Q&A

16:15 Marine Lubes (part two)
Don Gregory, Technology and Solutions Manager, Gulf Oil Marine
Geoff Kimber, Technical Support Manager – Marine Engine Lubricants, Castrol
John Schakel, Global Marine Product Application Specialist, Shell Global Solutions International Kenny Park, Technical and Marketing Manager, Lukoil Marine Lubricants 

16:35 Q&A

Session four: Emissions

There will then be presentation and debate covering different technologies, operational issues and lessons learnt. Each presenter will offer a summary survival guide at the end of their presentation, detailing strategies for coping with the key issues delegates will face in the year.

Session chair: Paul Fanning, Editor, Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery

16:45 Emissions
Basjan Faber, Design Director, C-Job Naval Architects
Erik Kemink, Managing Director, PitPoint clean fuels, on behalf of TESO (Texels Eigen Stoomboot Onderneming)
Simon Brown, Program Director – Commercial Maritime​, WR Systems
Pekka Pohjanen, Project Manager, Yara Marine Technologies (YMT)

17:30 Q&A

The session will then conclude with a regulatory survival guide for the year ahead.

18:00 End of day one conference

19.00 Pre-dinner drinks reception sponsored by TOTAL Lubmarine

20:00 Gala dinner & awards

Thursday 14 April 2016

On the Horizon: Achieving operational excellence over the next five years

08:30   Registration coffee & networking

Session five: Marine Propulsion Conference Awards 2016 Review

09:00 A recap of last night’s highlights delivered by the Marine Propulsion Awards Advisory Panel member
Päivi Haikkola, Head of Research and Development, Deltamarin

09:05 An interview/presentation by the Lifetime Achievement winner
Conducted by: Edwin Lampert, Group Managing Editor, Riviera Maritime Media

Session six: Risk mitigation

There will then be presentation and debate covering failures and accidents, maintenance and condition monitoring and vulnerability to cyberattack.  Each presenter will offer a summary survival guide at the end of their presentation, detailing strategies for coping with the key issues delegates will face.

09:20 Mitigating the risk of fuel related engine damage and fuel handling issues​ 
Duncan Tanner, Partner and Marine Engineer, Brookes Bell

09:35 Lifecycle Maintenance and condition monitoring
Larry Rumbol, Condition Monitoring Market Development Manager (Marine), Parker Kittiwake

09:50 Risk assessment and risk management in cyber-enabled systems
George Reilly, Managing Principal Engineer​,ABS

10:05 Q&A

10:30 Networking coffee in the exhibition area

Session seven: Owners & operators forum

A panel discussion covering technical, operational and compliance issues led by the individuals responsible for future proofing their fleet. Each will offer a case study on the issues and offer a summary survival guide at the end of their presentation, detailing strategies for coping with the key issues delegates will face.

11:10 Scene setting by session chair
Edwin Lampert, Group Managing Editor, Riviera Maritime Media

Topics to include:

• How to mitigate the costs of compliance
• Drawing up a clear and effective compliance strategy
• Staying up-to-speed with regulation
• The pros and cons of outsourcing compliance

Speakers include:
Lieven Van Eetvelde, Technical Manager, Dry Bulk, CMB / Bocimar
Evgeny Kostyuk, Senior Vice-President, JSC Novoship
Jörg Erdtmann, Vice President, Technical Management & Service, Head of Newbuilding Execution Department, Reederei NSB
Palle Wredstrom, Head of Machinery Department, Maersk Maritime Technology

11:45 Q&A

12:15 Networking lunch sponsored by Chevron

Session eight: Machinery & equipment forum

This session is case-study based and will focus on key technologies that span the propulsion train.

13:20 Session chair: Paul Fanning, Editor, Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery

Speakers include:
Lars Nupnau, Director Global Business Development Marine, Evoqua Water Technologies
Rob Van Solingen, Regional Director, GE Transportation
Martin den Hartog, Account Manager - Marine & Energy, Oil & Gas, GEA Westfalia
Kemal Oguz Coban, Head of Promotion Turbocharger​, MAN Diesel & Turbo
Tim Biswell, UK Composites and Bearings General Manager​, Wärtsilä Seals & Bearings

15:05 Networking coffee in the exhibition area

The Doug Woodyard Memorial Debate
A debate structured to involve two opposing teams – as well as delegates – in discussing a controversial industry motion. One team will argue for the motion. The other against. The winning team will be decided by audience vote. The intention is that the debate reflects the journalism of the late Doug Woodyard: informed, direct, opinionated. Doug was a former editor of Marine Propulsion and respected throughout industry

Motion: This conference believes it does not pay to install green technologies.

15:45 Background
Session chair: Edwin Lampert, Group Managing Editor, Riviera Maritime Media

15:50 Proposer (for the motion)
Capt Herbert Soanes, Chief Commercial Officer, Misuga Holland

15:55 Proposer (against the motion)
Mark Cameron, Executive Vice President and COO, Ardmore Shipping Corporation

16:00 Seconder (for the motion)
David Tongue, Secretary-General, Intercargo

16:05 Seconder (against the motion)
Poul Woodall, Director, Environment & Sustainability, DFDS

16:10 Debate

Debating points

• Is financing available for green technologies?
• Is it possible to receive a return on investment?
• How do you measure return-on-investment?
• Do green technologies really offer a competitive advantage?
• Does the market can conspire against green investments?
• Are regulation and innovation in the maritime industry uneasy bedfellows?
• How will today’s oil price impact green technologies?

16:40 Vote on the motion and verdict

16:45 Concluding remarks by conference chairman
Edwin Lampert, Group Managing Editor, Riviera Maritime Media
 

*Programme subject to changes/amendments

Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre

Riverside hotel in Amsterdam city centre

Spectacular views over the city and vistas over the river IJ are just some of the highlights at Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre, just 20 minutes from Schiphol Airport. With its fantastic location in the heart of the city centre, our 4-star hotel is also within walking distance of Amsterdam’s historical centre, its central station and many museums.

Designed to impress, this is one hotel that prides itself on presenting a calm professional staff that is there to make your stay as smooth as possible. Behind the scenes there is a proficient staff of workers. Early morning the cleaning staff, armed with cleaning and paper supplies, mop buckets and other low and high tech janitorial supplies (so necessary to a well run hotel) are quietly keeping the hotel spic and span. Room maids appear later to clean and resupply rooms with clean towels and toiletries. All in all an impressive operation.

For bedroom reservations, please contact HotelRes on +44 (0)845 0200 350 or email caroline.crossley@hotelresuk.com

Airport: If you are staying at the Mövenpick the hotel offers a free shuttle service if you simply call concierge (+31 (0)20 519 1213) and book a slot.

Alternatively, there is a tram (number 26) which arrives right outside the hotel and will take you to Amsterdam Central Station; from there it is a direct train to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. 

City-centre: The number 26 tram is a short walk from the hotel and will bring you directly to Amsterdam Central Station and the centre of the city.

Parking: The hotel is located close to Central Station and just minutes away from the highway.
A car park which accommodates up to 500 vehicles is located underneath the hotel. The cost is EUR 4.00 per hour and EUR 48.00 per 24 hours.

By car: Take exit S 114 from the Eastern Highway (Ringweg) A 10. At the end of the Piet Hein tunnel, turn right. Follow the signs P-Piet Hein/City Centre.

A car park area is also located 5 minutes by tram from the hotel at the st 14 exit from the A 10 highway; please follow the sign 'P+R Zeeburg'. The costs for P+R are EUR 8.00 per day including tram tickets.

Valet parking is also available via concierge.