ADR – the definitive guide

CHRISTMAS is a great time to be in London, so if you’re looking to pop over for some seasonal shopping, we’re found you the perfect excuse – The 1st International Maritime Arbitration Seminar. Held at the Lloyd’s Maritime Academy in London on December 14-15, the seminar describes itself as ‘the definitive guide to different methods of alternative dispute resolution’. Looking at the programme, that’s exactly what it is.

Ideally suited to those unfamiliar with or relatively new to ADR, the first day of the seminar sets the scene with an introduction to litigation, introduction to arbitration, introduction to ADR, and an interactive workshop on mediation. Representatives from Ince & Co, Barlow, Lyde & Gilbert, Richards Butler, and Holman, Fenwick & Willan make up the speaker panel on the opening day, with CEDR running the mediation session.

Day two is much more lively, with a look at arbitral misconduct under English law, court control of the process and appeals, the enforcement of arbitral awards, and the role of the P&I club. The seminar closes with a chance to prove what you’ve learned at a mock mediation.

Supported by the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), the seminar appears to be a good introduction to ADR for anyone involved in shipping. It is also the ideal networking opportunity for anyone new to the industry and keen to meet some of the leading names in maritime law. At £999 plus vat per delegate, it’s not cheap, but no surprises there.

To find out more call +44 (0)20 7017 5511 or visit www.lloydsmaritimeacademy.com/lm1595.

The place to be

JOURNALISTS aside, there are few people in the shipping industry who can justify leaving their desks to attend the industry’s endless round of conferences and seminars. For those who are let out only once a year the choice is easy – Posidonia one year followed by Nor-Shipping the next.
This year was Posidonia. 2005 will be Nor-Shipping.

Taking place on June 7-10, next year’s Nor-Shipping will once again feature all the leading names from across the industry. Some would argue that it is a more technical exhibition than Posidonia, and they’re probably right. But it still boasts hundreds of exhibitors, thousands of visitors and a jam-packed social programme. It’s true that the weather is colder, but there’s something warming about meeting old friends and new against the backdrop of the Oslo fjords.

If you’re planning to head to Oslo for Nor-Shipping 2005, the advice is the same as ever – book your hotel now. Lillestrom, home to the event, is only 15 minutes from downtown Oslo and its plentiful supply of good hotels. But if you’re not a morning person, why not try the Rainbow Arena Hotel, literally across the street from the exhibition hall. To find out more visit www.messe.no/nor-ship tel. +47 66 93 91 00, fax. +47 66 93 91 01 or e-mail: t...@messe.no.

ITIC Forum gets thumbs up from members

OVER 250 members of the International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) gathered in London last month for the ITIC Forum 2004, held at the Dorchester Hotel. During the forum the members overwhelmingly endorsed the mutual status of the Club and backed its directors in extending the areas of risk shared by members.

Tony Payne, managing director of ITIM, which manages ITIC, told members that since the Club’s last forum in 2000 membership had expanded from 1200 to 1800 companies, and premium income had risen from $19m to $33m. Over the same period claims had risen less fast, from $6.4m to $8.75m, and free reserves had strengthened significantly to $39m.

The two-day forum looked at the current challenges facing the club’s membership which consists of ship agents, ship brokers, ship managers, marine surveyors and other marine professionals. Paul Vogt, who has chaired ITIC since its foundation 1992, told the members, “The purpose of ITIC is to protect us from the consequences of our mistakes.” Following the forum members will make less mistakes as a number of issues were raised which should help them to run their businesses in what Clarksons’ director Martin Stopford described as, “A decade of volatility.”

One major warning was sounded by David Chopping, technical services partner of accountants Moore Stephens. He told the forum that money laundering rules now applied to them. However, a survey of the audience found that only two members were aware that their companies had money laundering compliance procedures in place. Members also heard from Per Christensen, ceo of HudsonTrident, who told them that ISPS enforcement in both the USA and EU would strengthen considerably over the next six months as more and more staff were trained for compliance visits to ships. “Expect to see over 170,000 US officials without much knowledge of shipping but with a lot of power engaged in this enforcement,” he warned the forum. “This is a scary scenario that can cost you a lot of money. Stop complaining about the legislation and get on with complying strictly with it.”

For more information visit www.itic-forum.com