Participants from three different continents – Asia, Europe Oceania – joined the PortEconomics team at the premises of the University of Antwerp, Europe’s second largest post and enjoyed two days of interactive discussions on all those that port professionals need to know about ports.
With the group of participants including the perfect blending of professionals working for port authorities, terminal operators, shipping lines, consultants, and trade unions, the seminar fulfilled its aim to share knowledge, experiences, examples and viewpoints, on several topical issues that unfold in the port sector – notably leading to a positive evaluation by all!
PortEconomics reports the diary of the third edition of the PortExecutive Seminar – expressing its gratitude to Port of Antwerp and PSA Antwerp for their support, and to ITMMA for organising this year’s event.
The 2013 PortExecutive Seminar Diary: Day 1
09h00: Welcome. Participants from three different continents – Asia, Europe Oceania – joined the PortEconomics team at the premises of the University of Antwerp, Europe’s second largest post.
Sharing travelling to Antwerp experiences by all means, participants are close to call the port sector and maritime transport as the less congested way of commuting; PortEconomics team shares the passion for ports.
09h30: Time to begin: Following two successful editions in Greece and France, the seminar is expected to provide port and port-related professionals an in-depth, analysis of the port competitive environment; port governance, strategies, partnerships and port supply chains, in the PortExecutive interactive discussions tradition.
09h30 – 10h00: Round of introductions. Professionals working for shipping lines and consultants eager to interact with participants working for port authorities and terminal operators. Interesting additions to add further dimensions to the interactive programme: representative “Breaking the conventional thinking” underlines the approach of all.
The seminar is brought to you by the PortEconomics team, a unique team of leading academic experts and practitioners; all of them having extensive experience and contributions in the structuring of the port sector in all five continents.
10h00-11h30: A crisis? which crisis? Piere Carriou initiates discussions on shipping and ports. A lively discussion on how the crisis has affected in different ways shipping, shipping lines strategies, ports that host seagoing vessels. Is there a correlation between trafffic forecasts and GDP? Many in the room challenge the idea and dig inside other factors and their impact on port traffic and strategies.
Discussion goes ‘in the box’ but also in other markets, with Pierre driving to liquid and coal market. Successful strategies of ports as regards the identification of niche markets are central stage. Interesting to note that different views might expressed even by those working for shipping lines.
12h00-13h30: When ‘many’ operators are too many? Theo Notteboom provides insides on terminal operators and their strategies. Theo presents how the strategies of ports in Europe and Asia have changed in recent times. To what extent is vertical and horizontal integration has expanded or limited? Will we ever see terminals without tenants? Discussion on life-cycles of terminals is exciting, with thoughts on ‘relocation’ leading to viewpoints on niche market operators potential.
13h30-14.00: A lively discussion fails to break; thus lunch delayed…
14h30-16h00: Do port authorities need more than clever ideas and a pone to call you? Peter de Langen leads discussions on why port authorities have to do more than picking up the phone. The case of ‘co-developing opportunites’ along with users captures the interest of the discussions, with the latter heading to the analysis and understanding of trends and developments and the search for opportunity spaces in the port industry. Creating value by co-developing business opportunities in different domains dominates the last part of the session.
16h15-17h45: Revealing the unexpected.Time flies and the first day is one session away; but in this session Wouter Jacobs reaveals a different theme that particpants follow with great interest. How attracting maritime advanced business services to a port region will increase the cargo flows in the port and whether port cities should focus on trying to attract maritime APS or not leads to conclusions, before leading the educational program to a closure.
19h30 – Rainy weather fails to spoil the party. Despite the rainy approach of the weather, participants and instructors head to the PortEconomics dinner party – courtesy to the Port of Antwerp – where knowing us better and networking dominates excellent food and a couple of drinks before calling it a day.
The 2013 PortExecutive Seminar Diary: Day 2
09h00-10h30: When Europe and Australia face the same problems. Thanos Pallis shares thoughts on unfolding policy initiatives in Europe, their relation with market dynamics and strategies to respond. Insights from the Greek way of introducing terminal operators in the market lead to interesting exchanges between participants working for terminal operators and other with experiences within port authorities. Discussion proves that ‘containers has turn the world smaller in many (port) ways. Another section concludes late as more issues, and implications, are connected with port policy.
17h00: Time to conclude: Trains and planes replace ports, as participants head to a Brussels airports (yes we just learned that ‘Charleroia airport’ is also termed ‘Brussels South Airport’) and then to France, Australia, Belgium, Greece, Australia, the Netherlands, Malaysia.
