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Events

Asia-Pacific Manning & Training Conference returns to Manila (August 11)

OVER 250 leading maritime recruitment and training professionals from over 20 countries will meet in Manila on November 17 and 18 at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza for the 11th Annual Asia-Pacific Manning & Training Conference.

Organized by the UK-based conference specialist, Informa Maritime Events, the conference will have as its theme: “Year of the Seafarer 2010 & Beyond: What Next for Maritime Manpower”.

“Highly acclaimed as a prime networking event, the ‘definitive conference on maritime manpower’, promises unrivalled opportunities to hear a wide variety of views from senior decision-makers from the Philippines and other maritime manning nations,” Kathryn Barnard Informa Manning & Training Conferences Conference Producer said.

The conference will feature some of the most influential players in the industry including: Chairman of the event, V.Ships CEO Manpower Lawrie Campbell; International Chamber of Shipping Chairman and International Shipping Federation President Spyros Polemis; Wallem Shipmanagement Ltd Fleet Manager John Wood; Hong Kong Shipowners Association Managing Director Arthur Bowring; Filipino Association for Mariner’s Employment President Ericson M. Marquez; and Filipino Shipowners Association Chairman Carlos Salinas, among others.

Among the highlights of the event is an exclusive Filipino crew update in which regulators and manning executives from the Philippines discuss the new administration’s strategies for the manning sector.

A much-awaited feature of the conference is the Seafarer Forum in which seafarers and senior managers will debate face-to-face how to enhance job satisfaction and career progression.

A first for the conference will be the ‘Manning and Training Cadet Forum’ wherein Filipino cadets will relate their experiences and ambitions for a life at sea. This will provide valuable insights into how the industry can promote itself to the younger generation.

The event will also feature a pre-conference workshop “STCW Focus Day: Beyond Manila 2010” to be held on November 16 and a post-conference workshop entitled “Maritime Labour Convention Focus Day: Challenges and Solutions to Implementation for Shipowners and Manning Agents” to be held on November 19.

The STCW Focus Day workshop will be conducted by IFSMA president Capt. Christer Lindval and will discuss the changes to STCW as it affects the industry, seafarers and education and training centers.

The Maritime Labour Convention Focus Day workshop will be handled by DNV Principal Surveyor and Country Manager (Indonesia) Pawan Sahni. Delegates will be given a copy of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and together with workshop facilitators will study in-depth the five Convention titles to understand their implications for daily operations.

To avail of substantial savings, participants must book by August 13. Philippine residents who register by this date will be granted a special rate of UK299 pounds. Beyond this date the registration fee will be UK399 pounds.

Asian residents who book by August 13 can avail of the early rate of UK699 pounds. Between August 13 and October 15 charges will be UK799 pounds and UK899 pounds thereafter.

International residents registering by August 13 will receive an early rate of UK899 pounds.

Between August 13 and October 15 charges will be UK999 pounds and UK1,099 pounds

To secure a place at the industry’s most important event, visit http://www.manningandtraining.com/KT0142AA or call +44(0)20 7017 5511.

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Key developments in Subic-Clark subject of retrospective forum

THE Retrospective Forum, Subic-Clark Logistics Corridor: Milestones and Prospects scheduled on April 30, 2010 at the ballroom of the Holiday Inn in Clark, Pampanga, will present the achievements of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Subic and Clark, and the future plans for the development of the corridor as a world-class logistics hub.

President Arroyo is the event's guest of honor.

Dennis L. Wright, President and Chief Executive of Peregrine Development International, will present an assessment and outlook on the future of the corridor.

Atty Edgardo D. Pamintuan, former Presidential Adviser on External Affairs;

Former Development Champion of the Urban Luzon Super Region; Former Chairman and CEO of the North Luzon Railways Corporation; and Former Chairman and CEO of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development, will present government's achievements.

The forum will gather 500 key officials from national and local governments, the private sector in the manufacturing and logistics arena, as well as local and foreign business chambers.

The public and private sectors will present to President Arroyo a Declaration of Cooperation, expressing full support for the development of the Subic-Clark Corridor as a world-class logistics hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Audio visual presentations will be shown depicting the conversion of Subic and Clark from being the largest US military bases outside mainland United States into economic zones, and into today's premiere logistics hub.

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Sea-Jet marks 20 years in forwarding

PERSONALIZED service, flexibility and competitiveness will remain the tenets Sea-Jet International Forwarders, Inc (Sea-Jet) will abide by as it celebrates its 20th year in the logistics business.

Sea-Jet president and general manager Benny Anunciacion said these very same principles differentiate the company from the rest of the pack and have helped the company weather the global economic storm.

Anunciacion said the “best service and special rapport with individual clients” have been in particular instrumental in maintaining house clients since the company’s establishment in 1990.

“Being competitive and flexible in meeting our customers’ demands… and our ability to balance our profit and asset issues will also remain our guiding principles as we enter our 21st year in the forwarding industry,” Anunciacion explained.

He said the difficult economic times have only served to push the company to “pursue excellence in our field”.

Sea-Jet’s success, he added, may also be attributed to the team’s strong bond and spirit of cooperation. To date, it employs 52 staff members, including managers.

This year, Sea-Jet plans to recruit additional sales representatives to further boost marketing efforts.

Just like any other freight forwarding company, Sea-Jet’s volume and revenues suffered last year due to the global economic slowdown. Both dropped by as much as 35% in 2009.

This year, better times seem to be in the offing based on the company’s performance in the first few months of 2010. Income and volume for 2010 are seen growing 35% over the 2009 figure, anchored mainly on improved services.

Sea-Jet has agencies in all major cities and ports around the world. It has access to the most integrated information system and captures the up-to-the-minute status and location of any given shipment.

The company uses its own fleet of vehicle for local transportation.

Each year, it ships more than 18,500 containers, about 3,530 cbm LCL shipments and 3,052,000 tons by air worldwide.

The company has two full service branch offices — in Cebu and in Pampanga.

Sea-Jet marks 20 years in forwarding

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PortCalls supports PISA golf tournament

PortCalls recently supported the Philippine Interisland Shipping Association's (PISA) 4th Philippine Maritime Golf Tournament at the Alabang Country Club.

Parañaque City Councilor Doods Antifuesto emerged as the tournament's Class A championship winner.

Sponsored by co-presentors Petron Corporation and Magsaysay Transport & Logistics Group, the annual golfing event which attracted around 70 players from different business sectors including invited government officials, particularly in the maritime industry, also boasted a "Beat the Chairman" sideshow that resulted in 25 winning players automatically earning a free slot in next year's tournament.

The tournament was co-sponsored by the following: Asian Terminals, Inc., Harbor Star Shipping Services, Herma Shipping & Transport Corporation, Keppel Philippines Marine, Oceanic Container Lines, Oroport Cargo Handling Services, Petrolift Classed Carriers, Pilipinas Shell, PortCalls, Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corporation, Solid Shipping Lines, South Cotabato Integrated Port Services and the Turf Company. Other contributors were Det Norske Veritas, Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila, Interisland Deep Sea Fishing Association, MOL Philippines, Pagcor, and Total Philippines.

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Manning conference is RP's largest international event (November 4-5)

THE 10th Anniversary Asia Pacific Manning and Training ConferenceTHE 10th Anniversary Asia Pacific Manning and Training Conference, being held in Manila on November 4-5, 2009, is turning out to be one of the largest international events to be hosted by the Philippines this year.

More than 200 delegates representing over 40 of the biggest international maritime companies from various countries like the US, UK, Sweden and Norway have signed up for the event.

"An unprecedented number of international companies have registered this year," Lloyd's List events Conference Producer Kathryn Barnard noted.

The event will bring the world's largest maritime companies to Manila, the manning capital of the world, to discuss the issues and challenges affecting the crewing of commercial vessels worldwide.

The event will carry the theme "Seeking Solutions in Partnership: An Industry Commitment to the Future of Manning and Training", a relevant topic in these challenging times.

There are workshops being held both before and after the main conference, led by IFSMA and DNV SeaSkill Asia.

A gala dinner to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this premier manpower event will be held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

Organized by the UK-based conference specialist, Lloyd's List events, the annual conference will be held at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila. Participants can register on-line at www.manningandtraining.com or call +44(0)20 7017 5511 or fax +44 (0)20 7017 4745.

For queries please contact Alec Almazan at telephone numbers 8091439 or 0927483809; or email alecva@yahoo.com.ph

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PortCalls conference tackles cargo industry prospects (October 15)

This year's PortCalls Cargo Economics Conference kicks off on October 15, 2009 at the Manila Diamond Hotel with the theme "2010 Macro-Economic and Cargo Transport Outlook: Managing Beyond the Crisis".

Now on its 13th year, the conference provides Philippine cargo industry players with statistics vital for next year's business plans, and explores key developments that will affect the transport business in the short and medium term. Around 100 executives from international shipping lines, international freight forwarding and customs brokerage companies, and other third-party logistics providers have signed up for the event.

Dennis M. Arroyo, director of the National Planning and Policy Staff of the National Economic and Development Authority, is the conference keynote speaker. Arroyo will discuss 2010 Philippine economic prospects, including what's in store for the import and export sectors.

Raul T. Santos, assistant to the General Manager for Corporate Affairs & Special Projects of the Philippine Ports Authority, will provide the outlook for the cargo industry.

How technology may be used by transport companies to effectively cut costs and increase yields will be the focus of Rene Bendt, director at ARL Consulting. ARL Consulting is a Rotterdam-headquartered IT developer specializing in the shipping and transport industry. Bendt is based in the company's Singapore office.

Agaton Teodoro Uvero, legal director of the Port Users Confederation, Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association and Aircargo Forwarders of the Philippines Inc, will identify key industry concerns in 2010.

Major conference sponsors are Eastern Telecom, Globe Telecom and ARL Consulting. Asian Terminals, Inc is also a minor sponsor.

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SCMAP conference underlines need to re-calibrate SCM processes (September 16)

THE Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) is holding its annual logistics conference and exhibit on September 17- 18, 2009 at the Isla Ballroom of the EDSA Shangri-La.

This year’s conference theme “Re-calibrating SCM: Opportunities in Unprecedented Times”, follows the SCOR model (Plan-Source-Make Deliver-Return-Enable) which provides a logical flow of the program and ensures complete treatment of relevant topics against the backdrop of the global and local crises.

SCMAP said “the concept revisits how supply chain evolved over time and how during these unprecedented times, there is need to re-calibrate the supply chain management processes and translate the current challenges into opportunities.”

The two-day conference is the biggest since the event started, with an expected 250 participants and more than 35 exhibitors.

Just like its other events, SCMAP said this year’s conference is a platform for providing practical insights and knowledge to map out logistics strategies for businesses as well as a venue for benchmarking, networking and potential business opportunities.

Speakers will tackle the state of local and global supply chain management both from the point of view of government and the private sector. The proceedings then move on to the different elements of supply chain under the SCOR model.

Keynote speakers are Senator Mar A. Roxas, and Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas, professor and past president of the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Other speakers are Richard L. Spence, senior director-consulting, Zuellig Pharma Asia Pacific, Ltd. Phils; Charlie Villaseñor, president and CEO, TransProcure Corp; Anthony Tay, director-sales and marketing; international logistics services, APL Logistics Ltd; Jesus C. Romero, head of enterprise segments, Globe Business; Antonio Rivera III, VP Europe Asia-Supply China, Bristol Myers Squibb Phils, Inc; Vicente Dinglasan, managing director-country customer unit, IDS Philippines; Danny Halim, vice president, industry strategy, JDA Software Group, Inc; Irving C. Guerrero, vice president and factory operations head, Philippine Recyclers, Inc; Terry Adams, principal consultant-supply chain & logistics, South Asia, Infor Global Solutions (SEA) Pte Ltd; and Enrique C. Castillo, director, regional distribution & logistics-Asia Pacific, Avon Cosmetics.

SCMAP is an association run by a 10-person Board of Directors, and six committee chairs, annually elected by the general membership. The 10 directors elect among themselves a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, auditor and public relations officer. These directors and officers have a one-year term of office. The six standing committees on sea transport, land transport, air transport, warehousing, membership, and academe relations implement the activities.

SCMAP's mission is taken from that of the US-based Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, but modified to include advocacies.

SCMAP promotes the SCM profession by providing seminars, conferences, forums and training, by active representation in government activities relevant to SCM processes, and by encouraging highly professional, ethical and technically competent.

Most members are cargo owners, both manufacturers and distributors, and some service providers. Virtually all are users of shipping services.

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Manila to host 10th Asia Pacific Manning and Training Conference (August 17)

THE Philippines, the world's manning capital, will be hosting the 10th Anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Manning and Training Conference.

Considered the largest and most important manning conference in the world, the event will be held at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila on November 4-5, 2009.

Participants can register on-line at www.manningandtraining.com or call +44(0)20 7017 5511 or fax +44 (0)20 7017 4745.

Organized by the UK-based conference specialist, Lloyd's List events, the conference will carry the theme “Seeking Solutions in Partnership: An Industry Commitment to the Future of Manning and Training”.

“The shipping industry's number one manpower event offers a dynamic programme that looks ahead to solutions and strategies to prepare crews for the ships of the future rather than re-packaging analyses of the current downturn,” Conference Producer Kathryn Barnard pointed out.

The conference will be chaired by John Adams, managing director of Teekay Marine Services, who will preside over presentations and panel discussions covering a broad range of topics.

Topics include: “A retrospective of the Philippine manning industry as it prepares for the next wave of opportunities”; “Manpower supply: a strategic outlook”; “Recruitment and retention strategies”; “Review of industry regulations” and “Pioneering recruitment and retention initiatives”.

L. Marquard of HeavyLift Manila, Inc described last year's event as “an international, well-organized event in the heart of the industry, the Philippines”.

The remark was echoed by M. Burley of V Ships who described the conference as “thought-provoking and valuable content for change”.

To meet the specialized needs of various participants, delegates will for the first time be given the choice of attending one of two topic streams on the second conference day. The first stream will tackle: “Effective Training: How to Ensure Competence Onboard”. The second stream will discuss: “Safe Manning: How to Ensure Sufficient and Efficient Manning”.

The event will also feature two workshops. A pre-conference IFSMA (International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations) workshop entitled “Does Fatigue and Criminalization have an Effect on Recruitment?” will be held on November 3 at the same venue.

A post-conference workshop entitled “Assessment of Crew Competence” will be held on November 6.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the conference, a gala dinner featuring a three-course meal, pre-dinner drinks and local entertainment will be held at the grounds of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza on the evening of November 4.

Philippine resident delegates will be extended a special conference rate of UK399 pounds.

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