SMI Annual Conference 2022

The UK Maritime Enterprise: Time For Action – Decarbonising Maritime and Offshore Renewable Energy

8th-9th March 2022, Sage Gateshead, Newcastle. 

We invite our members and the wider maritime industry to join us at our 2022 Annual Conference. This year's conference will take on an in-person format and will be held at the prestigious Sage Gateshead venue in Newcastle. 

Conference Overview

The conference will take place over two days, with a packed roster of speakers from Government, regulators and industry to explore the opportunities for collaboration in decarbonising maritime and offshore renewable energy. With the refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy expected early in the new year, this will be one of the first (if not the first) major industry events following its publication, where we can also debate the broadening of the strategy to encompass the commercial, workboats and leisure sectors. 

The Sage One Auditorium boasts world-class audio-visual facilities, offering delegates a fully immersive experience. Over two days, we will host speakers and panel discussions covering four main themes: 

• Offshore Renewable Opportunities - identification of the opportunities for maritime engineering and marine science and technology in the offshore renewables market.
• Decarbonising Maritime - identification of the challenges of maritime decarbonisation and the opportunities for collaboration.
• The Role of Technology and Marine Science - identification of the wider requirements for offshore renewables and the role of technology and marine science
• Creating the Conditions for Success - identification of the enabling factors for decarbonising maritime and offshore renewable energy

Conference Reception and Dinner

Delegates will be greeted with a champagne reception followed by a three-course meal, entertainment and of course, plenty of opportunities to network. All with fantastic views over the River Tyne! 

Conference Programme

Presentation titles, descriptions and speaker names may change.

The UK Maritime Enterprise: Time For Action – Decarbonising Maritime and Offshore Renewable Energy.

Bringing together Government, industry, regulators, finance and others to seize the opportunities in clean maritime innovation.

Day 1 – Tuesday 8^th March 2022

0900-0930         Registration and networking coffee and refreshments.

0930-0940         Keynote Address.

0940-1000         Our Shared Vision and Ambition for the UK shipbuilding enterprise – Rear Admiral Rex Cox, Chief Executive Officer, National Shipbuilding Office.

1000-1010         Jointly delivering the NSbS – John Howie MBE, President of the Society of Maritime Industries. 

Theme 1 – Offshore Renewable Opportunities

Theme 1 Output: Identification of the opportunities for maritime engineering and marine science and technology in the offshore renewables market.

1010-1030         The Offshore Renewables Demand – an overview of the offshore renewables market and the Operation Zero commitment to net zero – Stuart Barnes, Head of Government Affairs, ORE Catapult.

1030-1050        Offshore Renewable Energy Decarbonisation Initiatives – an overview of current and future decarbonisation initiatives for offshore renewables highlighting the opportunities for collaboration and partnering – David Cooper, Decarbonisation Manager, ORE Catapult.

1050-1120         Networking break with coffee/tea.

1120-1140         A Port Operator’s Perspective – The Port of Tyne as a hub for clean energy and maritime innovation, Matt Beeton, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Tyne.

1140-1200         An Offshore Renewable Operator’s Perspective – the demands and changing requirements of offshore operations and the need for decarbonisation – Nigel Quinn, Chief Executive Officer, Bibby Marine.

1200-1220         Designing for Offshore Wind – an overview of the challenges and potential solutions – Noel Tomlinson, Senior Business Development Manager, Commercial Maritime, BMT Group.

1220-1240         Tidal and Wave Power – opportunities and challenges, Neil Kermode, CEO, EMEC.

1240-1300         Panel Discussion – orchestrated by conference chairman.

1300-1400         Networking buffet luncheon.

Theme 2 – Decarbonising Maritime

Theme 2 Output: Identification of the challenges of maritime decarbonisation and the opportunities for collaboration.

1400-1420        The Decarbonisation Challenge – a broad overview of the IMO and other regulations, progress towards meeting them and the challenges that remain – Charles Haskell, Decarbonisation Programme Manager, Lloyd’s Register

1420-1440      Enabling Decarbonisation – technological change and the role of regulation – Brian Johnson, CEO, Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

1500-1520        Making the System Work – the need for end to end solutions and the establishment of green shipping corridors –Dafydd Williams Head of Policy, Communications & Economic Development Associated British Ports.

1520-1550         Networking break with coffee/tea.

1550-1610         Decarbonising Defence – an overview of the Navy’s Net Zero strategy – Commodore JJ Bailey ADC Royal Navy, Naval Base Commander, HM Naval Base Portsmouth.

1610-1630         Barriers to Implementation – non-obvious barriers to implementation of low carbon measures in the shipping and shipbuilding, Dr Paul Stott BSc PhD FRINA, Newcastle University.

1630-1700         Panel Discussion – orchestrated by conference chairman.

1900-2000         Conference Reception.

2000-2300         Conference Dinner.

Day 2 – Wednesday 9^th March 2022

0900-0930         Registration and networking coffee and refreshments.

0930-0940         Introduction to Conference Day Two - Rear Admiral Rob Stevens, Conference Chairman.

Theme 3 – The Role of Technology and Marine Science

Theme 3 Output: Consideration of specific technologies for decarbonisation and the wider requirements for offshore renewables.

0940-1000        Novel Solutions to Address the Environmental Challenge – How to navigate the upcoming fuel transition, Oskar Levander, SVP Business Concepts, Kongsberg Maritime.

1000-1020         Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor for Sustainable Maritime Power and Propulsion - an introduction to advanced nuclear technologies including the Rolls-Royce Micro-Reactor and its potential maritime applications, Jake Thompson, Head of Innovation Products & Services, Rolls Royce.

1020-1040         Power Electronics Machines and Drives for the Maritime Sector – Rachel Chambers, Driving the Electrical Revolution Industrialisation Centre, North East

1040-1110         Networking break with coffee/tea.

1110-1130         Port Infrastructure for Offshore Renewables and Net Zero – – enabling a green energy cluster for port and marine operations – Ashley Nicolson MBE, Marine Director, Port of Tyne.

1130-1150         Understanding the Ecological Consequences of Offshore Wind.

1150-1210         Autonomy and Smart Operations – making maritime operations safer, cleaner and smarter. The benefits and challenges of rapid technology adoption, Ben Keith, Managing Director, CEbotiX.

1210-1230         Protecting Operations – physical&cyber security for critical national infrastructure.

1230-1300         Panel Discussion – orchestrated by conference chairman.

1300-1400         Networking fork buffet luncheon.

Theme 4 – Creating the Conditions for Success

Theme 4 Output: Identification of the enabling factors for decarbonising maritime and offshore renewable energy

1400-1410        Keynote Address by the Minister for Maritime – Robert Courts MP.

1410-1430        Enabling Maritime Exports – supporting the UK maritime enterprise to export and collaborate globally – John Hutchinson, Head of Maritime International Trade and Investment, Department for International Trade.

1430-1450         Access to Finance – Investment and financing options for maritime decarbonisation and offshore renewables – Tony Foster, Chief Executive Officer, Marine Capital.

1450-1510         The Future Demand For Skills - the work of the Maritime Skills Commission and the impact on net-zero technologies -  Samantha McBriar, Maritime Strategy & Marketing Director, Thales UK.

1510-1530         Enabling Innovation in Maritime – the UK Ports of the Future Blueprint, the Freeports Playbook and the Hubs of Innovation for Place Leaders, Tom White, Ecosystem Director, Maritime & Ports, Connected Places Catapult.

1530-1550         Realising Innovation in Maritime  – a blueprint for green shore power and enabling the next generation of offshore wind developments – Marlene Mitchell, Commercial Manager, Port of Aberdeen.

1550-1620         Panel Discussion – orchestrated by conference chairman.

1620-1630         Conference Close – Rear Admiral Rob Stevens,Conference Chairman and Mr Tom Chant, Chief Executive, Society of Maritime Industries.