Main Stage Agenda

NEW FOR THIS YEAR: Join us for breakfast and networking and hear from our keynote speakers before the show floor opens. Our first Keynote Speaker will offer insights into the interplay between policy, industry and technology in shaping the future of global nuclear energy and capital project cargoes. Then join our panel of experts as they share insight into future Americas energy investment, policymaking, and the next generation of cleaner energy.

LOCATION: George R. Brown Convention Center, Meeting Room 320

Don't miss out! Limited availability: click here to register and find out more.

8:30 AM - 8:50 AM Breakfast & Networking
8:50 AM - 8:55 AM Opening Remarks
8:55 AM - 9:15 AM Keynote: Smarter Nuclear Energy and Its Impact on Project Cargo
9:15 AM - 9:40 AM Energy Investment: What To Expect
9:40 AM - 10:00 AM Networking

Market analysis and forecast for the General Cargo and Project Carrier sectors.

Key takeaways:
-    What will drive increasing vessel demand and time charter rates in the next five years?
-    Are there enough ships being built?
-    What effects greenhouse gas emission regulations will have on the sector?

 

There is growing concern that the industry will be unable to keep up with shipper demand within just a few years. This session will cover the current breakbulk and heavy lift fleet, as well as reasons for and solutions to the lack of new builds. Panelists will then explore expected future investment and short- to long-term industry challenges.

Shippers have increasingly higher demands of their logistics partners, preferring them to get closer to their business to better understand their needs. This session explores how freight forwarders and other service providers can break in, with advice from high-profile shippers looking for project cargo solutions.

In the not-too-distant future, logistics partners might expect to see a shipper’s brief stipulating zero carbon emissions: would you be ready to meet such a requirement?

Using a hypothetical brief, our speakers will share how they would respond to the challenge, and how to act on it in practical terms.

 

The Americas region is a powerhouse of project opportunity with an anticipated $US2.1 trillion in CAPEX spend between now and 2029. North America accounts for more than half of the projects, with a concentration in oil and gas, power, renewables and energy transition. Our speaker will review current market trends, opportunities, and key messages from the supply chain.

Join this session to further understand sector specific developments, supply chain constraints and associated challenges to ensure you are competitively positioned for upcoming projects. The panel following this session will discuss the readiness of the industry to service these projects.

The energy market is booming, and project cargo plays a huge role in keeping the industry moving. Ensuring you are competitively positioned for upcoming energy projects, keeping ahead of the latest trends, and are ready for external events outside your control, is critical. Join our panelists as they share insight on today's and tomorrow's opportunities. 

The demand for robust infrastructure to support rapidly growing data needs is reshaping industries and creating new opportunities. This panel will explore several key factors driving this change and what’s needed from the project cargo community. The panel will cover new semiconductor plants, exponentially larger data centers and the emerging market for small nuclear reactors as an efficient power source. Representatives from EPC, big tech, the semiconductor sector, SMR manufacturing and project forwarding will provide insights on how these interconnected sectors are shaping the future of project cargo. It’s not business as usual!

AI has transformative potential for supply chains, but successful implementation is key. Hear a real-life ‘before and after’ journey exploring the benefits of introducing AI for one company and its workers, and leave with practical takeaways.

“Expecting the unexpected” has become part and parcel of good supply chain management, especially since the COVID pandemic. Reacting promptly and effectively to shifting geopolitical situations, strike action, rate spikes or natural disasters is critical to keep cargo moving. This session will explore risk mitigation and supply chain flexibility within a volatile marketplace, before asking: how can you stay competitive in this new “normal”?

Helping to bridge the ongoing talent gap. This session will delve into the root causes of this talent shortage and explore innovative strategies for attracting and retaining new industry professionals.

Giving undergraduate students the opportunity to contribute to research related global capital projects, gain recognition from industry partners, and expand their network. This session will announce the winners of the inaugural Student Poster Competition.