Shipping is rapidly moving from a prolonged period of discourse on environmental matters, new technologies and trade requirements, to a period of pressing milestones and deadlines.  Year 2025 and beyond will start to matter! And will matter profoundly. In other words, deadlines and milestones that are fast approaching are bound to have implications on the bottom line of shipping companies, on the financiers that finance them, the yards that build the very equipment used to carry goods and ultimately the consumer.

Momentum is building, Action is taking center stage, and the shipping industry stands poised to redefine its course at the groundbreaking conference Slide2Open Shipping Finance 2024, “Turning Motion into Action – Reestablishing Shipping’s Momentum.”

Slide2Open Shipping Finance 2024 returns for its 7th annual conference, bringing together more than 400 attendees and a growing online audience of 28,200 unique viewers from 133 countries.

On Wednesday 24 January 2024, we gathered in Athens for this extraordinary event that was also live-streamed worldwide, ensuring a truly global participation.

The conference was centered around two pivotal themes: Shipping Finance and Sustainability in the Maritime Industry. With thought-provoking discussions and captivating presentations, we delved into the latest trends, navigated challenges, and unlocked new opportunities, propelling the shipping industry towards a brighter future.

But that’s not all! In conjunction with the conference, we were thrilled to announce the formation of an Advisory Board and Working Groups, fostering powerful collaborations between acknowledged Senior Representatives of influential institutional organizations within the Greek and International Shipping Community and the renowned Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – IEEE SA Standards Association. Together, we aim at generating tangible outcomes, such as new standards to meet Shipping’s contemporary needs, impactful white papers, vital recommendations, and innovative as well as feasible proposals for the regulatory framework. These significant results will be shared with influential international organizations including INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, IMO, BIMCO and the ICS. By attending the Slide2Open Shipping Finance Conference, you became an integral part of this global platform, helping to disseminate these initiatives on a worldwide scale.

Thank you for joining us at the forefront of transforming the shipping industry and shaping its future. The effort and collaborations continue beyond the Conference. Let’s lead the efforts and shape the future of shipping together!

Key Topics that were Discussed

Geopolitics
• Implications and the new shipping reality
• War zones and tariff wars

Shipping Finance
• European Ship Financing: A lost cause?
• Capital Markets: Renewed investor appetite as public interest in shipping regains momentum?
• Banks and shipping finance: critical partnerships for sustainable growth and expansion in the maritime industry
• Bank and Alternative Financing: How long will the newly achieved balance continue?

ESG
• Wish lists and Realities of ESG
• ESG in shipping: mandatory or conscious choice?
• Has ESG become too aggressive for its own good? Could it possibly become unsustainable?
• ESG and Green Washing
• Decarbonisation: Are the targets set by the regulatory framework feasible?
•
Technology
• Ageing of Ships and Electrical Equipment: A comprehensive analysis
• Leveraging Big Data for System Upgradability and Equipment Control
• Pre-Standardization Stage: Harnessing the potential of IEEE Standards Association for designing new Standards that meet shipping’s contemporary needs
• Enhancing Safety Systems in Collaboration with Industry Stakeholders
• Is the shipping industry keeping up with or driving technological advancements?
• Advancements in Marine Electrical Training, Digital Twins and Remote Survey

Fuel
• Promoting Alternative Fuel Sources: Driving green energy innovations
• Marine fuels: For which one does the “bell toll”?
• Addressing regulatory drivers, environmental performance, engines and fuel systems, bunkering, handling and safety characteristics, costs and pricing, availability and feedstocks for conventional and renewable product.

Human Capital
• Preparing for the Next Generation of on-shore and on-board personnel
• Attracting talent and Investing in Skills and Workforce Development
• Human Sustainability in crews and offshore managers in the maritime industry: challenges, opportunities, and best practices for ensuring the well-being of workers