Agenda

Tuesday
25 May

• 11:30am - 11:45am (EST) / 25/may/2021 03:30 pm - 25/may/2021 03:45 pm

  General Session

  Welcome Remarks

  • Speakers:
  • Peter Tirschwell Vice President, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Welcome Remarks", "Peter Tirschwell", "Janet Nodar", "General Session"]

• 11:45am - 12:15pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 03:45 pm - 25/may/2021 04:15 pm

  General Session

  The Global Economic Outlook From IHS Markit: Not Out of the Woods

  It's been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and while optimism is now stirring as vaccines are more widely distributed, IHS Markit Chief International Economist Elisabeth Waelbroeck-Rocha cautions that the pace of recovery remains uncertain. Even beyond the pandemic, numerous risks cloud the global economic outlook, including fractious geopolitics, the threat of inflation, potential supply chain disruptions, and debt sustainability — or the lack thereof. An unfolding global integration of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria into business and policy decision-making have major implications for the future of the global economy, as well as for global trade. Waelbroeck-Rocha, who has worked with many public and private sector organizations, including the European Commission, and is an expert on public policy and the effects of external economic shocks, will discuss the short- and medium-term implications of these uncertainties on global business activity, investment, and trade.  

  

  • Speakers:
  • Elisabeth Waelbroeck-Rocha Vice President & Chief International Economist IHS Markit
  • Peter Tirschwell Vice President, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["The Global Economic Outlook From IHS Markit: Not Out of the Woods", "Elisabeth Waelbroeck-Rocha", "Peter Tirschwell", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 12:20pm - 12:50pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 04:20 pm - 25/may/2021 04:50 pm

  General Session

  The Oil and Gas Outlook: Lower, Greener, and Still Billions of Dollars

  The project cargo supply chain is adapting rapidly to the global energy transition even as it recovers from a painful, pandemic-induced oil price crash that leads to Capex cuts and project delays in 2020. Billions of dollars in capital spending will shift toward renewables over the next five years, as decarbonization changes the makeup of the global energy mix. Oil and gas are far from disappearing, however. Who will produce oil as international oil companies transform themselves into energy companies, and what can the project supply chain expect to see unfolding in the oil and gas industry overall? This session will delve into this complex topic.

  • Speakers:
  • Christopher Elsner Associate Director, Energy-Wide Perspectives IHS Markit
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["The Oil and Gas Outlook: Lower, Greener, and Still Billions of Dollars", "Christopher Elsner", "Janet Nodar", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 12:55pm - 1:25pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 04:55 pm - 25/may/2021 05:25 pm

  General Session

  Post-Pandemic Positioning: The Project Shipper's Perspective

  Cargo owners such as EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) companies and equipment manufacturers are quickly gaining confidence about their post-pandemic prospects as the energy transition takes hold. While 2020 pullbacks in oil and gas projects meant staff cuts and evolving responsibilities for many, other shippers are wrestling with congestion, cargo delays, and equipment shortages as transition-powered business boom, with no letup in sight. This panel of project cargo logistics executives will discuss supply chain pain points, industry issues, and their expectations for the energy transition.

  
  Session Sponsored By:
  
  

  • Speakers:
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  • Frank Schroder Director, Corporate Supply Chain and Trade Compliance McDermott
  • Brittany Smith Associate Director and Global Logistics Head, Global Procurement Center Americas Linde Engineering
  ["Post-Pandemic Positioning: The Project Shipper's Perspective", "Janet Nodar", "Frank Schroder", "Brittany Smith", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 1:30pm - 2:00pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 05:30 pm - 25/may/2021 06:00 pm

  General Session

  Post-Pandemic Positioning: The Project Forwarder's Perspective

  Project forwarders are facing a rapidly changing breakbulk market as delayed projects come back to life and cargo space gets scarcer in the face of pent-up demand and rising freight costs. Following cuts to internal staff in 2020, shippers are handling fewer logistics functions on their own, which creates opportunities for project forwarders but also means staffing up, renewing or refreshing skill sets, and, often, taking on more risk. Meanwhile, the post-pandemic, early-energy transition market requires more adaptability than ever. This panel of deeply experienced forwarders will discuss managing risk, costs, and opportunities in this tricky but improving market.

  

  • Speakers:
  • Diana Davila Project Director and Houston Branch Manager UTC
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  • Richard Jürgens Vice President, Projects deugro (USA) Inc.
  • Katherine Koppe Global Director of Business Development, Industrial Projects Geodis Capital Projects
  ["Post-Pandemic Positioning: The Project Forwarder's Perspective", "Diana Davila", "Janet Nodar", "Richard Jürgens", "Katherine Koppe", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 2:05pm - 2:20pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 06:05 pm - 25/may/2021 06:20 pm

  General Session

  Force Majeure in a Congested, Late-COVID Shipping Market

  The impacts of COVID-19 on the breakbulk supply chain have been extensive, snarling schedules and often dramatically increasing costs. Shippers are wondering what recourse they have when their logistics service providers claim COVID-related force majeure — and what recourse they may have with their own project clients when it comes to schedule slippage, sky-high freight rates, or congested ports. Liz Lowe, an international trade partner at maritime law specialist Venable LLP, will dig into the complexities of this critical issue as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to wane.

  

  • Speakers:
  • Elizabeth K. Lowe Partner Venable LLP
  • Mark Szakonyi Executive Editor, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Force Majeure in a Congested, Late-COVID Shipping Market", "Elizabeth K. Lowe", "Mark Szakonyi", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 2:25pm - 2:45pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 06:25 pm - 25/may/2021 06:45 pm

  Break

  Break

  
  ["Break", "Break"]

• 2:45pm - 3:15pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 06:45 pm - 25/may/2021 07:15 pm

  General Session

  The State of Steel: 2021

  Demand for a range of steel products is on the upswing in the US as the post-pandemic recovery picks up steam. Steel prices are hovering at near-record levels, outpacing the cost of imports, yet imports remain slow, held back by Section 232 tariffs and quotas and by increasingly stringent oversight of exclusion remedies. Additionally, high freight rates and tight capacity are causing severe pain for anyone in the spot market. Traders are waiting to see what happens with prices and demand, even as import inquiries pick up steam. Some believe we're seeing the leading edge of a commodity boom that will continue to push steel demand and prices, while others expect both to cool off as summer approaches. This panel of industry experts will discuss what they are seeing, how they are managing, and what they expect from the steel market.

  • Speakers:
  • John Anton Director, Pricing and Purchasing IHS Markit
  • Susan Bray Logistics Director Arcelor Mittal international America
  • Peter Svensson Senior Vice President, and Head of Clipper Americas Inc. Clipper Group
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["The State of Steel: 2021", "John Anton", "Susan Bray", "Peter Svensson", "Janet Nodar", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 3:20pm - 3:35pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 07:20 pm - 25/may/2021 07:35 pm

  General Session

  Tariffs and Sanctions Under the Biden Administration

  The Biden administration eventually may ease up on Section 232 steel tariffs and quotas, particularly those restricting trade with traditional US partners and allies, but there is little sign of easing when it comes to Section 301 tariffs and their effects on US-China trade. Navigating escalating trade sanctions requires ever more diligence on the part of US shippers and logistics service providers, while US Customs and Border Protection continues to closely scrutinize imports for potential antidumping and countervailing duties. Managing these risks greatly complicates project and breakbulk shipping. Kathy Canaan, global director of trade compliance for Fluor Corp., will discuss the twists and turns of managing tariffs and sanctions in 2021.  

  

  • Speakers:
  • Kathy Canaan Global Director, Trade Compliance Fluor Corp.
  • Mark Szakonyi Executive Editor, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Tariffs and Sanctions Under the Biden Administration", "Kathy Canaan", "Mark Szakonyi", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 3:40pm - 4:10pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 07:40 pm - 25/may/2021 08:10 pm

  General Session

  Project Logistics Digitization: All, Some, or Just a Smidge?

  Supply chain visibility can be a rare commodity in the breakbulk sector. The nature of most breakbulk transportation — i.e., changing and/or unpredictable cargo types, volumes, and voyages — and its smaller scale relative to container shipping make it a challenging market to digitize. On the container shipping side, technology providers compete to handle everything from mode-specific container or surface cargo tracking to overall supply chain management with visibility thrown in as a value-added service. Such tech offerings are much sparser for breakbulk, however. This session will explore platforms that tackle all or part of the project cargo logistics supply chain and weigh their costs vs. benefits.

  • Speakers:
  • Matthew Costello CEO Voyager Portal
  • Eric Johnson Senior Editor, Technology, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Project Logistics Digitization: All, Some, or Just a Smidge?", "Matthew Costello", "Eric Johnson", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 4:15pm - 4:35pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 08:15 pm - 25/may/2021 08:35 pm

  General Session

  Hydogen at Scale: Greening the Gigawatts

  Hydrogen is expected to play a critical role in decarbonizing the global energy mix. It can be used to store renewably-generated energy, addressing intermittency issues; it can be transported in existing pipeline networks; as a fuel, it can decarbonize transportation, heating, and industrial energy generation. Today, hydrogen is primarily produced using fossil fuels and used as an industrial feedstock. But, driven by falling costs and post-COVID recovery plans that incorporate decarbonization, plans to adopt hydrogen as an energy source and carrier on a global scale are driving more than 23 gigawatts of planned "green" hydrogen projects — i.e., hydrogen produced using renewable energy — through 2030. Spending on these projects is expected to top $1 billion annually by 2023. Many challenges to developing green hydrogen on this massive scale remain, however. In this important session, Alex Klaessig, director of gas, power, and energy futures at IHS Markit, will discuss this key component of the energy transition and the implications for the project cargo pipeline and project logistics. 

  • Speakers:
  • Alex Klaessig Director, Hydrogen and Renewable Gas Forum IHS Markit
  • Cathy Morrow Roberson Senior Contributor, Air Cargo and Parcel, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Hydogen at Scale: Greening the Gigawatts", "Alex Klaessig", "Cathy Morrow Roberson", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 4:35pm - 4:50pm (EST) / 25/may/2021 08:35 pm - 25/may/2021 08:50 pm

  General Session

  Daily Recap

  • Speaker:
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Daily Recap", "Janet Nodar", "General Session", "Main Program"]

Wednesday
26 May

• 11:25am - 11:30am (EST) / 26/may/2021 03:25 pm - 26/may/2021 03:30 pm

  General Session

  Welcome Remarks

  • Speakers:
  • Stuart Strachan Senior Vice President, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Welcome Remarks", "Stuart Strachan", "Janet Nodar", "General Session"]

• 11:30am - 12:00pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 03:30 pm - 26/may/2021 04:00 pm

  General Session

  The Breakbulk Route to Zero-Emission Shipping

  The drive to cut greenhouse gas emissions is complicating an often fraught relationship between breakbulk shippers and carriers. A few carriers are investing in lower-emission, more efficient ships, but the sector overall is reluctant to order new vessels for several reasons, including because there is no clarity on what the energy transition will mean for marine fuels in the long term. At the same time, many shippers expect carriers to help them meet their Scope 3 emissions obligations. This panel will discuss how the breakbulk sector is working to meet lower-carbon obligations in the near term and make long-term investment decisions, as well as lay out likely scenarios for the future of marine fuel.  

  • Speakers:
  • Thomas Sosnowski Managing Editor, Americas Marine Fuels, OPIS IHS Markit
  • Dominik Stehle Chief Commercial Officer United Heavy Lift (UHL)
  • Roger Strevens Vice President, Global Sustainability Wallenius Wilhelmsen
  • Kevin Saville Associate Managing Editor, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["The Breakbulk Route to Zero-Emission Shipping", "Thomas Sosnowski", "Dominik Stehle", "Roger Strevens", "Kevin Saville", "General Session"]

• 12:05pm - 12:25pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 04:05 pm - 26/may/2021 04:25 pm

  General Session

  The Multipurpose Shipping and Fleet Outlook From Drewry and Toepfer Transport

  While late-COVID recovery and cargo spillover resulting from a congested container market and rising commodity prices are energizing the breakbulk market in the short term, the longer-term outlook is far more opaque. In this can't-miss session, analysts from Drewry and Toepfer Transport will clarify the most important trends in today's breakbulk market, including demand drivers, the makeup of the fleet, and newbuilding activity.  

  
  
  

  • Speakers:
  • Yorck Niclas Prehm Head of Research Toepfer Transport
  • Susan Oatway Senior Analyst, Multipurpose & Breakbulk Shipping Drewry
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["The Multipurpose Shipping and Fleet Outlook From Drewry and Toepfer Transport", "Yorck Niclas Prehm", "Susan Oatway", "Janet Nodar", "General Session"]

• 12:30pm - 1:00pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 04:30 pm - 26/may/2021 05:00 pm

  General Session

  High Tide: An MPV Carrier Roundtable

  Wind energy, restarting oil and gas projects, climbing bulk cargo prices, and an unbalanced container shipping supply chain are combining to ramp up breakbulk shipping demand and push multipurpose and heavy-lift freight rates to long-unseen levels, much to the chagrin of project and breakbulk shippers. Forward bookings stretch into the fall, something not seen in this sector for many years. Still, late-COVID issues such as port congestion and the crew change crisis continue to complicate shipping, while lingering overcapacity, limited financing options, and a lack of clarity around low-carbon fuels put a damper on investment. Although breakbulk carrier executives don't think the current hectic market will last, some see reasons for continued optimism. This panel of carrier executives will discuss the positives and negatives that continue to unfold in the late-COVID breakbulk market.

  • Speakers:
  • Pieter Flohil Managing Director and Member of the Board Spliethoff
  • Matthieu Moerman Director, Chartering & Projects Jumbo-SAL Alliance
  • Kyriacos Panayides Managing Director AAL Shipping
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["High Tide: An MPV Carrier Roundtable", "Pieter Flohil", "Matthieu Moerman", "Kyriacos Panayides", "Janet Nodar", "General Session"]

• 1:05pm - 1:35pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 05:05 pm - 26/may/2021 05:35 pm

  General Session

  Ro-Ro Shipping: The High and the Heavy

  As with other breakbulk sectors, some shippers are "unboxing" cargo normally shipped in containers and shifting it to roll-on, roll-off carriers, adding further firepower to an already-recovering shipping sector as vehicle and high-and-heavy sales recuperate from the pandemic-induced slowdown. However, any COVID-19 setbacks and the microchip shortages slowing vehicle and equipment manufacturing — a knock-on effect of the pandemic — could stymie a recovery. During this session, ro-ro shippers and carriers will discuss the major challenges and pain points this segment faces as the late-COVID market takes shape.

  • Speakers:
  • Flavio Batista Senior Vice President, Americas Sales Wallenius Wilhelmsen
  • Bill Mongelluzzo Senior Editor, West Coast, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Ro-Ro Shipping: The High and the Heavy", "Flavio Batista", "Bill Mongelluzzo", "General Session"]

• 1:40pm - 2:00pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 05:40 pm - 26/may/2021 06:00 pm

  General Session

  Digging Up Energy: How Long Will the Green Mining Boom Last?

  Prices for "green" metals such as lithium, cobalt, and bellwether copper are booming because decarbonizing the energy mix means building wind, solar, and battery-based energy systems that rely on these metals. New tech is "moving the needle," according to IHS Markit mining and minerals experts, as the energy transition changes the global mined commodities mix and incentivizes mine construction and expansion, often in remote or geopolitically tricky areas. Mining is a mainstay source of breakbulk cargo volumes. This session will analyze the minerals and regions where growth is expected, and how long the "energy minerals" boom is likely to last.

  • Speakers:
  • James Stevenson Executive Director, Coal, Metals & Mining Group IHS Markit
  • Eric Johnson Senior Editor, Technology, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Digging Up Energy: How Long Will the Green Mining Boom Last?", "James Stevenson", "Eric Johnson", "General Session"]

• 2:05pm - 2:30pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 06:05 pm - 26/may/2021 06:30 pm

  Break

  Break

  
  ["Break", "Break"]

• 2:30pm - 3:00pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 06:30 pm - 26/may/2021 07:00 pm

  General Session

  Moving Breakbulk Inland: Rerouting, Finding Capacity, and Fending Off Congestion in 2021

  Rerouting, port congestion, skyrocketing rates, and truck, equipment, and driver shortages are complicating the inland movement of project and breakbulk cargo in the US. How are shippers, project forwarders, and service providers adapting in this complex environment, and what can shippers do to ensure they have capacity when they need it and at a bearable cost? William Cassidy, the JOC's senior trucking editor, will chair this timely session.

  • Speakers:
  • Benjamin Liewald Executive Vice President, Projects Fracht USA
  • Joye Runfola Logistics Principle, Americas Air Liquide USA
  • William B. Cassidy Senior Editor, Trucking, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Moving Breakbulk Inland: Rerouting, Finding Capacity, and Fending Off Congestion in 2021", "Benjamin Liewald", "Joye Runfola", "William B. Cassidy", "General Session"]

• 3:05pm - 3:35pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 07:05 pm - 26/may/2021 07:35 pm

  General Session

  A Mighty Offshore Wind: What a Wind Energy Boom Would Mean for Project Logistics

  For wind developers, equipment manufacturers, and project logistics service providers, news that the Biden administration will push the United States' nascent offshore wind energy industry to install 30 gigawatts by 2030 means an already-thriving industry segment is set to boom. With this commitment, the US joins a massive global drive to build out offshore wind. However, offshore logistics are highly specialized and strongly affected by regulations such as the Jones Act. Enthusiasm is high, but can everyone participate? During this session, experts in this specialized sector will examine the focused logistics scope and significant barriers to entry that characterize offshore wind project logistics, particularly in the US. 

  • Speakers:
  • Brent Patterson Regional Director, Americas, Energy & Projects Blue Water Shipping
  • Andy Young Traffic and Logistics Manager Bechtel
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["A Mighty Offshore Wind: What a Wind Energy Boom Would Mean for Project Logistics", "Brent Patterson", "Andy Young", "Janet Nodar", "General Session"]

• 3:40pm - 3:55pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 07:40 pm - 26/may/2021 07:55 pm

  General Session

  The Jones Act: Implications for US Offshore Wind

  Offshore wind is poised to boom in the US, but understanding the ins and outs of the Jones Act is crucial for project owners, EPCs, and logistics service providers who want to participate. The Jones Act, strongly supported by the Biden administration, requires that cargoes moved between US ports be carried by US-flagged and -crewed ships — including between US ports and offshore wind installation sites. In this session, Charlie Papavizas, chair of the maritime practice with Winston & Strawn, will discuss the implications of the Jones Act for offshore wind construction and project logistics.   

  • Speakers:
  • Charlie Papavizas Partner Winston & Strawn
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["The Jones Act: Implications for US Offshore Wind", "Charlie Papavizas", "Janet Nodar", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 4:00pm - 4:15pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 08:00 pm - 26/may/2021 08:15 pm

  General Session

  Breakbulk and the Crew Change Crisis

  In the wake of COVID-19, the crew change crisis continues to affect global shipping, including the breakbulk sector. This humanitarian crisis is complicating shipping schedules, adding to operating costs, reducing safety at sea, and jeopardizing project supply chains. What can or should shippers do to help mitigate the risks? Global logistics consultant Dennis Mottola offers a framework of specific actions that breakbulk and project shippers can take to address the crisis and associated risks. 

  • Speakers:
  • Dennis Mottola Global Logistics Consultant
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Breakbulk and the Crew Change Crisis", "Dennis Mottola", "Janet Nodar", "General Session", "Main Program"]

• 4:20pm - 4:50pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 08:20 pm - 26/may/2021 08:50 pm

  General Session

  Post-Pandemic Project Assessment: What Did We Learn?

  Assessing the financial strength and business sustainability capacity of shippers and logistics service providers gained glaring new importance in 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions upended global trade. A whipsaw late-COVID market continued into 2021, pushing up freight transportation rates and squeezing capacity even as projects began moving again and growth in renewables continued to be strong. What lessons did COVID-19 teach the project sector? What stays, what goes, and what is increasingly important? This panel of shippers and service providers will share their takeaways in this roundtable discussion.

  

  • Speakers:
  • Yuliana Wu BGL Operations Lead Bechtel Global Logistics (BGL)
  • Peter Tirschwell Vice President, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Post-Pandemic Project Assessment: What Did We Learn?", "Yuliana Wu", "Peter Tirschwell", "General Session"]

• 4:50pm - 5:00pm (EST) / 26/may/2021 08:50 pm - 26/may/2021 09:00 pm

  General Session

  Closing Remarks

  • Speaker:
  • Janet Nodar Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC, Maritime & Trade IHS Markit
  ["Closing Remarks", "Janet Nodar", "General Session"]