The business of international shipping may never have been more complex. Just a quick look at some of the Shipping 2013 topics confirms that: Ship sizes, propulsion options, shifting cargo trade routes, China’s development path, US energy variables, Mid-East politics, environmental regulations, finance uncertainty, mature economies versus emerging markets in trade development, vessel values, derivatives, Private Equity…the number of constantly shifting moving parts make the multi-million dollar decisions complex to say the least! But along with new challenges come new ideas, fresh blood and great opportunities. The major technologies that animate Google and Facebook are becoming vital ingredients in an industrial internet, which for us are smarter ships, clever algorithms that sort through the flood of market data and better and smarter processes to enable talented professionals to literally change productivity and standards of living. This is not the industry of 1993. We still ply the seas, still deliver the goods and raw materials which power the world, take great pains to run the industry safely, but this is an inflection moment when the future is literally being forged before our eyes. Shipping 2.0 is the CMA upgrade, a vision of the bold new version of this great historic industry. As with all CMA events there is a great deal to digest in two and a half days. We are again hugely appreciative of the support we receive from every corner of the industry. We encourage you to bring your own vision of the revolution ahead, convinced that when 2,500 bright, motivated and ambitious people get together some portion of that exciting future will be written. |