From 22–24 May 2012 the exhibition and conference RORO will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden. A number of challenges[ds_preview] lie in front of the roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) industry, most of all environmental issues. Over the coming years, RoRo operators across Europe will have to embrace new, innovative ways of working in order to meet the European Commission’s environmental regulations. Shipping lines will have to reduce sulphur emissions and fuel consumption, whilst other stakeholders will be examining their own operations. Sophie Ahmed, Event Director of RORO, comments: »There is plenty of scope for innovation and originality in the RoRo industry and these are the exact issues and topics we will be focusing on at RORO this year.«
Debating the way forward
However, the environment is not the only item on the agenda. For the first time in its history, RORO will feature free-to-attend conference sessions with experts working within the RoRo industry:
Mike Garratt, Managing Director of MDS Transmodal, who is regarded as one of the most informed observers of the rail, shipping and ports industries in the UK, will kick-off the conference sessions on 22 May. He will offer an insight into the global RoRo industry and examine future trends, opportunities and threats. Following Mr Garratt’s presentation, key territories, including the Mediterranean, Asia, North Sea, UK and Ireland, will be analysed in detail. Experts from each region will present their views on the current state of their market. Port infrastructure is also on the agenda for day one. Dr. Gernot Tesch, Managing Director of Scandlines Deutschland, and Lennart Scensson, Executive Vice President Port and Logistics at TTS Group, will explain what rolling cargo shipping lines currently require from terminals and how their demands might change in the future.
As part of a special »green RoRo« session on day two, Sara Sköld, an environmental specialist at the Clean Shipping Project – which was founded in order to increase focus on the environmental issues of shipping – will speak about the latest »green« initiatives being rolled out across Europe. She will be joined by Åsa Wilske, an Environment Manager at the Port of Gothenburg, who will discuss a wide range of topics, including onshore power supply, and explain the terminal’s latest »green« practices. On day three a special session will run throughout the morning, devoted to the RoRo industry in the Baltic states. Organised by the »Baltic Transport Journal«, a number of experts based in the region will discuss important issues facing the operators over the next few years.
Closing the conference, different solutions of optimising the combined transport of passengers and freight will be presented and discussed.
Major market players exhibiting
During the last edition of the event, visitors from more than 52 countries were present on the exhibition floor. This year, companies from across Europe will be displaying their latest products and services to buyers from car manufacturers, freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping lines and road hauliers. Two of the major RoRo shipping lines, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Stena RoRo, have confirmed their presence at the RORO event. In addition, TTS Marine, Wagenborg Shipping, Godby Shipping, the BLG Logistics Group, Seaports of Niedersachsen, Ockero Maritime Centre and Finnish RoRo owners are exhibiting. Moreover, the Ports of Gothenburg, Vigo, Bilbao, Hamina/Kotka as well es the Port of Hanko and the Port of Helsinki will present their plans for the future.
Further information: www.roroex.com
