Global Port and Marine Operations will showcase technical and operational breakthroughs together with international case studies on the development of sustainability in global port and marine operations.

Ports, as a critical logistic and economic gateway of nations, are becoming increasingly involved in sustainable developments of local and global significance. How do ports, in collaboration with maritime authorities, business partners, stakeholders and communities react to the growing pressure of new regulations. Do they see sustainability as a burden, limiting port management, competition and development or do they consider sustainable ports as a necessary and viable investment in keeping our world liveable?

In response to the challenge of ‘Sustainable ports: Fact or fiction?’, the chairman of the IHMA Paper’s Committee invites those interested in presenting a paper to submit a 400-600 word abstract on one of the following subjects:
·    Sustainability in shipping
·    Sustainability in ports
·    Sustainability in VTS
·    Harbour Master’s case studies
·    Exhibitor papers, in relation to one of the subjects above

Maritime safety, efficiency, security and the protection of the environment are inextricably linked and the following is a list of potential subjects and sub-themes for contributors to consider:
The business plan for sustainability:
–    Transportation costs: The impact of rising costs in combination with the rising concern about global warming
–    Reduced port fees for green vessels
–    Emission reductions: Assessing the commercial and environmental consequences of tougher standards
–    IMO consideration of speed limits, emission trading and regulations for GHG emissions Strategy for sustainable ports and sustainability in port logistics:
–    An EPA review and update
–    VTS chain approach: Green Lanes for ships coming in and out of port
–    Extended gateways: Placing activities on logistic hot spots with extensions performing as a multimodal hinterland network with international gateways, transhipment platforms and connections
–    Recommendations for Sustainable Maritime Navigation PIANC Working Group 136 (EnviCom)

The emergence of new technologies:
–    Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) Systems
–    Gas ship technology
–    Sustainable shipwreck removal and ship dismantling
–    Research into hydrogen fuel cells
–    MarNIS:The development of E-Maritime with a focus on the improved exchange of information solutions in support of cooperation, interoperability and consistency between member States, systems and sectors

Sustaining the future of the industry:
–    Sustainable maritime training and crew recruitment
–    Harbour Master’s cases which give an insight into problems confronted

The above list is not exhaustive.  If you have a subject that you want to present to an international audience of Harbour Masters and port and marine operators, please forward an abstract as instructed.

Abstract submissions should:

* List the title of the paper
* Include your name, contact details and if appropriate, job title and company name
* Highlight the broad theme of your paper together with the reason why this topic would be interesting for the Congress
* A short note about the author’s background and affiliations
* Be written in English

All submissions will be reviewed by the Papers Committee. The Committee comprises of Captain Dirk Vernaeve, Port Commander, Ghent Port Company Belgium, Captain Jan Prince, Port of Rotterdam and Captain David Shennan, Harbour Master, Port of Melbourne. Criteria for selecting abstracts for the Congress include the topic’s significance for Harbour Masters, the international importance of the theme and the geographic origin of the author.

The Papers Committee aims for a balanced and engaging Congress programme, with a variety of subjects for stimulating discussion and sharing best practice to promote the welfare of ports and harbours across the globe.

Abstracts are due by 22nd July 2009.

Please submit abstracts to tina.karas@informa.com.au
or fax: + 61 2 9080 2577 (Attention Tina Karas)

Abstracts will be reviewed by the Papers Committee and authors will be notified of acceptance on 22nd August 2009. If your paper is accepted you will be sent guidelines for the paper format and presentation.

If you have any questions, please direct these to Tina Karas on + 61 2 9080 4306 or email

About the IHMA:
The IHMA represents nearly 50 countries and extends throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Australasia, Africa, The Americas, The Middle East and Asia.

Membership consists of harbour masters from ports large and small, publicly and privately owned and represents a unique source of up-to-date, hands-on expertise in a range of port and maritime operations, including: safety of navigation, vessel traffic control, shipping movements, port management, protection of the marine environment, the ship/port interface, cargo handling and safe stowage, safety management and training, port security and the practice of good seamanship.

IHMA provides harbour masters with opportunities to consult about technical and professional matters with colleagues in their region and around the world – to learn about their experiences, their challenges and their solutions.

Deadline: June 22, 2009

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Author: Tracey de Morsella (323 Articles)

Tracey de Morsella started her career working as an editor for US Technology Magazine. She used that experience to launch Delaware Valley Network, a publication for professionals in the Greater Philadelphia area. Years later, she used the contacts and resources she acquired to work in executive search specializing in technical and diversity recruitment. She has conducted recruitment training seminars for Wachovia Bank, the Department of Interior and the US Postal Service. During this time, she also created a diversity portal called The Multicultural Advantage and published the Diversity Recruitment Advertising Toolkit, a directory of recruiting resources for human resources professionals. Her career and recruitment articles have appeared in numerous publications and web portals including Woman Engineer Magazine, Monster.com, About.com Job Search Channel, Workplace Diversity Magazine, Society for Human Resource Management web site, NSBE Engineering Magazine, HR.com, and Human Resource Consultants Association Newsletter. Her work with technology professionals drew her to pursuing training and work in web development, which led to a stint at Merrill Lynch as an Intranet Manager. In March, she decided to combine her technical and career management expertise with her passion for the environment, and with her husband, launched The Green Economy Post, a blog providing green career information and covering the impact of the environment, sustainable building, cleantech and renewable energy on the US economy. Her sustainability articles have appeared on Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation, Chem.Info,FastCompany and CleanTechies.