Conference Speakers 2020

CEO
ADNOC Logistics & Services

Capt Abdulkareem Al Masabi is leading ADNOC Logistics & Services, an ADNOC company formed in 2017 from three ADNOC Group companies (ADNATCO-IRSHAD AND ESNAAD).
Before assuming his current role in April 2018, Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi was the Executive Vice-President of the Ports Unit at Abu Dhabi Ports, where he was responsible for all of Abu Dhabi Ports’ day-to-day operational activities.
Prior to this role, Al Masabi was the Vice President at Khalifa Port. He joined Abu Dhabi Ports as Senior Operations Manager in 2009 with over 11 years’ experience in the shipping and ports industry.

Before joining Abu Dhabi Ports, he was marine operations manager with the National Gas Shipping Company, an ADNOC Group company. Before that, he was a senior marine superintendent with Gulf Energy Maritime. For the eight years before that, he was with NGSCO, where he rose through the ranks on board the company’s LNG/oil tankers, from third officer to master/chief officer, where he provided operational leadership for the ports’ growth. While there, he led the Khalifa Port to being named Port of the Year in 2014 and 2015. He also was recognized as the Outstanding VP/ EVP at the Abu Dhabi Award of Excellence in 2017.

Capt Abdulkareem graduated from South Tyneside college from UK as a Master Mariner in addition he has an executive Masters in Business Administration, business Administration and management, general (2013-1014).

Chairperson and Managing Director
The Shipping Corporation of India

Mrs. H.K. Joshi, Chairperson and Managing Director, Shipping Corporation of India Limited also holds the additional charge of Director (Finance). She has close to four decades of corporate experience and over six years of Board level experience in the maritime domain. She is also on the Board of eight other companies related with the Industry while also being on various Board committees.

With a very rich and diversified professional experience as well as an impressive academic background she specializes in Financial Management and has a record of successful business turn around in companies she has been associated with. Keen acumen, sharp foresight, prudent financial management and a balanced strategic approach accompanied with aptitude for risk taking, tough-mindedness and unwavering focus are her USPs which renders her an unassailable leader skilled to excel irrespective of adversities, market volatility related or otherwise. She heralded a change in the organization through “Change Makers” a concept devised with the objective of looking at crucial areas of functioning for operational/commercial strengthening. Performance-driven and pragmatic she is known for her excellence in constituting effective task forces from a diverse mix of manpower delivering the desired outcomes.

At the onset of the COVID outbreak in 2020, she instituted the first Business Continuity Plan and Ship Outbreak Plan way ahead before imposition of lockdowns ensuring an uninterrupted seamless functions and operations of the Organization with due efficacy. SCI not only sustained its operations but excelled, obvious from the financial and commercial performance through 2020 and 2021 some breaking decade old records. Very inspiring through her innovative skill sets, commitment and diligence, with unwavering insistence on discipline, timely deliverance and professionalism, she enjoys the challenges and guides, mentors and motivates the employees to raise their bar. These were demonstrated even during the constrained scenario when the organization met all the statutory obligations well before the timelines and without availing concessions granted by the authorities. Quality has been the driver for her performance evidenced in crew changes effected judiciously with “Safety First” approach also exemplifying her spirit of compassion-empathy and ability to manage the unpredictable. She kept constant communication with shore and fleet personnel to uplift and maneuvered them towards focusing on productivity. She personally saw to a wide range of knowledge sharing sessions on mental well-being/resilience conducted by experts evidencing empathy. Individual monitoring on day-to-day basis and constituting of COVID Task Force to ensure informed and rapid decision-making ensured seamless functions and safety of the personnel, fleet and shore.

She advocates Diversity and Inclusion in all spheres and has permeated a culture of positivity and confidence to deliver. She was fundamentally instrumental in showcasing ‘inclusivity’ in seafaring. A first-ever ‘All Women Officers’ Sailing’ was executed on board the tanker m.t. Swarna Krishna on the eve of the International Women’s Day 2021 on 6th March 2021, under her leadership, which is hailed as a historic and a landmark achievement in the national and global maritime effecting a perception shift in ‘seafaring’ being traditionally seen as male-dominated.

Milestones were achieved by the organization through her enterprising vision, the most recent ones being foray into inland waterways transport, through its subsidiary, executing a historic MOU with the Inland Waterways Authority of India to operate cargo vessels across the National Waterways 1 and establishing the route. India Maldives Liner Service was commenced in 2020 connecting the Island to the mainstream trade. Aligning to the need of the nation to augment exports in the backdrop of shortage of containers and increased shipping freight rates, a container vessel deployed on the coastal trade was diverted to cater to the EXIM Trade in October 2021.

She believes in continuous learning and has been conferred with various awards while she has figured third among nine luminaries who have been recognized as ‘Women of Steel’ by the TradeWinds controlling the largest merchant fleets in shipping by gross tonnage (3.50 million GT).

A passionate leader with high standards of work ethics, she has sailed across, sustaining through the uncertain times and continually outperforming previous standards of excellence.

Managing Director
Abu Dhabi Maritime

Leading the execution of the Government mandate for Abu Dhabi Maritime Sector from all aspect of Developing and supervising the execution of the whole sector strategy that covers regulations, compliance, licensing and registrations of vessels, development of maritime public infrastructure and Maritime Activates, waterways management and the operations of public water transport and public maritime facilities.

Manager – Oil Terminals Commercial
DP World UAE

Shehab Al Rahma has 19 years of progressive experience in Terminal Operations, Strategic Planning, and business growth throughout various international market sectors. He has maintained the highest performance standards within a diverse range of management level roles and adept at working within local and international guidelines to achieve exceptional results.

His records shows a track of success in leading the commercial and business development by developing and implementing effective strategies aimed at strengthening the company's market position.

Graduated in 2001 from U.S., holding bachelor’s degree in Science and Business Administration from University Of Colorado. He has also obtained a Graduate Diploma in Maritime & Port Management from the National University of Singapore in Singapore and Master of Quality Management from the University of Wollongong in Dubai; in addition to completing international leadership programs.

Currently, Shehab holds the position Manager – Oil Terminals Commercial UAE Region, overseeing major international liquid bulk terminals as a support to their port operations, and facilitating their storage tank developments and expansions within DP World UAE Region - Jebel Ali port.

CEO
Drydocks World

Rado Antolovic is a maritime and port management expert who descends from a family of naval and maritime business professionals. He started working as a deck boy in the merchant navy and worked his way up to becoming the youngest master on a Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) chartered vessel. During a career ashore, Rado has served as CEO of some of the most complex P&O Ports and DP World port terminals globally. His experience as a CEO comprises a portfolio of international ports in Australia, Hong Kong, Europe and Russia. Rado is presently leading DP World Maritime Services Division as CEO and Managing Director and this includes overall responsibility for Drydocks World Dubai.

Global Director of Special Projects and Services
DNV

Ali Shehab is the DNV Global Director of Special Projects and Services where his role to streamline the regional and global ongoing projects and services, as well as development of market share and strengthen the position of DNV in the Maritime and Oil & Gas Industries. Before assuming this position in July 2021, he was the former Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), the Maritime Transportation arm of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), after having serving there for almost 36 years in various positions of the Company, including 7+ years as Deputy Chief Executive Officer Fleet Operations where he oversaw KOTC’s Oil Tanker Fleet Operations, Marine Agency, and the main Gas Filling Branches that supply domestic and industrial LPG to the whole of State of Kuwait.

He is a marine engineer professional educated in the South Tyneside College north of England in the United Kingdom, trained and worked on KOTC vessels as a seagoing Marine Chief Engineer from 1985 to 2001, after which he operated fleet vessels in the capacity of Technical Superintendent and further developed in his carrier to General Superintendent and later assumed various managerial positions for Fleet New-building Group, as well as, Fleet Personal Group of the Fleet Operations Directorate, including 3 years as Site Manager at Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan Korea in 2005 to 2007, overseeing the construction of the fleet new tankers. His mid-level management development was from 2005 to 2013 during which he was involved and managing the company crucial tanker fleet development for 26
tankers of different types and sizes, built to the latest industry requirements, digitally ready and designed eco-friendly.

In July 2013 he was placed in the higher management position in the capacity of Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Fleet Operations and then in addition to this role, he assumed the position of Acting Chief Operating Officer in June 2018 till he reached by his retirement time with KOTC in Feb 2021 completing almost 36 years of service. During his senior position role with KOTC, he focused on the development of KOTC position in the Maritime and Oil & Gas Industries, and primarily for KOTC to continue being a leader in the safe transportation of hydrocarbons by sea, in addition, he focused on the development of KOTC employees both on ships and onshore.

He is an active individual who has been involved in various executive roles and positions primarily in the maritime industry, nonetheless, he also actively involved in the oil and gas industry where he assists individuals and organizations to excel in their business and provide them with opportunities of collaboration and growth.

Global Gas Segment Manager
Lloyd’s Register

Panos Mitrou has been with LR for more than 16 years and currently holds the position of Global Gas Segment Manager, based in Piraeus. His primary focus is on areas like the seaborne gas supply chain, LNG and other gas as fuel, as well as gas floating solutions, delivering an enhanced service portfolio to shipping community. He has held commercial and technology positions since 2012 and has been deeply involved in the setup and materialization of several funded projects related to alternative fuels and innovation in the maritime sector. Since 2013, he has initiated Poseidon Med, a key cross-border European project, introducing LNG bunkering in Easter Mediterranean marine transportation. During his seven year service with Lloyd’s Register Piraeus Technical Support Office, he has dealt with series of statutory and other reviews, ranging from BWM to MARPOL and the IBC and IGC Codes. In this context he has supported and lead the implementation of several pieces of new legislation. Since 2007 he has represented Lloyd’s Register in a number of international forums, conferences and projects. Panos holds a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer Diploma from NTUA and an MBA in Shipping from ALBA Business School. He is currently a PhD candidate in Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, at University of Strathclyde with focus on optimizing the shipping decarbonization pathway.

Director ,
Drewry Maritime Research

Navin has 18 years of extensive experience in various domains of maritime research and advisory. He has undertaken several research and advisory projects related to port development, port expansion, port traffic estimation, vessel valuations, offshore oil & gas, and offshore shipping projects. His area of expertise includes gas and offshore shipping. He has extensive knowledge of asset markets, exploration activities & shipping. Navin has advised multilateral financial institutions and shipping companies on financing and market entry strategies. Navin has an MBA from IMT, Ghaziabad. He is a keen observer of proliferation of technology, big data, and data analytics in shipping and maritime space.

Partner
WFW

Andrew is a Partner in the Finance Group at Watson Farley & Williams and head of the firm’s Dubai office.

Andrew specialises in cross-border asset and project finance, with particular emphasis on the marine transportation and offshore sectors. He has acted on loan and leasing transactions as well as structured financings and products.

He also represents shipping companies in relation to non-contentious commercial shipping matters, including sale and purchase, newbuilding contracts and resales, joint ventures and strategic alliances, pooling arrangements, COAs, charters and other contracts of employment for ships, shipping related assets and offshore assets.

Another key practice area is Islamic finance, where Andrew has acted on a wide range of transactions for banks and owners of assets of all classes, from shipping and offshore through to real estate. His experience encompasses not only Islamic banking products but also funds and capital markets products.

Andrew is recognised as a leading shipping finance lawyer by legal directories Legal 500 EMEA, Chambers UK and Chambers Global. In 2019, Chambers Global recognised him as a “ great lawyer with lots of regional experience”, with one client styling him “absolutely superb”.

Area Manager, Middle East & Africa
DNV

Ian Edwards is a naval architect with an international career in the maritime and offshore industry spanning 25 years.

Ian holds a Master of Engineering in Ship Science from the University of Southampton and spent the first 10 years of his career working for ship owners in Norway and the Middle East, covering both operations and newbuildings.

He joined DNV in Norway in 2006 where he worked within plan approval for ship and offshore structures. Prior to moving to Dubai to take on his current role, Ian spent 7 years in South Korea leading DNV’s plan approval centre.

Vice President, Commercial for the Middle East, South Asia & Africa Region
Inchcape Shipping Services

Saleem is currently the Vice President, Commercial for the Middle East, South Asia & Africa Region as well as being part of the Regional Leadership Team at Inchcape Shipping Services. In this role, he has the responsibility for the overall development within the Region, while working with customers in the Region towards global business.

Saleem has a broad maritime experience and has worked in the ports, shipping and logistics environments for the past 22 years, with experiences in the Middle East Denmark, Kenya & Horn of Africa countries with King Abdullah Port, Gulftainer and the AP Moller – Maersk Group.

Saleem has a strong commercial background, is experienced with competitive analysis, project development, business intelligence, mapping out value propositions and executing sales strategies. He has experience covering port & terminal operations, liner shipping and supply chains having also worked with the investment in and development of liner routes, trucking fleets and container depots as well as larger infrastructure concession agreements.

He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate with a MISE diploma from Maersk Shipping Academy and an MBA from Copenhagen Business School.

CEO
Emirates Ship Investment Company

Chris Peters Joined Eships in May 2009 and took over as CEO in March 2017, having previously been the CFO. Chris joined Eships from GE Commercial Finance and was previously at Nordea Bank, having almost 20 years banking experience, of which the last 13 years were directly in shipping/offshore finance. Chris attained an MBA from Cass (formerly City University) Business School London, majoring in Finance and Strategy. He has worked on multiple senior debt and project finance facilities as MLA and has overseen several shipping IPO facilities. Whilst at GE he was responsible for structuring and negotiating several equity acquisitions from a shipping fleet to a shipping bank. As CEO, Chris is directly responsible for the implementation of the shareholders strategy for the business ensuring not only the financial targets are met, but met, whilst upholding the groups commitment to safety and good corporate governance.

Market Leader- Tanker owners & adjacent stakeholders
Bureau Veritas

Jonathan (Jonny) Hudson has been a tanker man since leaving university with a BSC in Marine Geology in 1994. In a rich and colorful career to date, spanning over a quarter of a century, Jonny has worked in the tanker industry from most perspectives. Jonny's career has spanned commercial tanker operations, freight trading and commercial leasing to spot and project broking, sale and purchase, and most recently, before joining Bureau Veritas earlier this year, Jonny held the position of global head of tankers for Inchcape, the world's biggest ship agency network. Today Jonny's role is being Bureau Veritas' market leader for larger oil tankers, based between London and Paris. He works with all super tanker stakeholders including energy majors, oil traders, tanker brokers, major owners and ship financiers globally. Jonny has three teenage children, is married to a successful doctor and enjoys sailing, skiing, cinema and travel. In work and play Jonny is is never too far away from the maritime world.

Founder & President
Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies

Prof. Mustafa Amin Massad is the Founder & President, Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies, a leading quality maritime education and training provider in the Middle East (www.jams.edu.jo). Mustafa Amin Massad started his career in Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies as a president in 2004.
In 1996, Dr. Massad’s idea of establishing the first ship management company in the region was realized and he was the Managing Director of the company till 31/12/2007. He is still a member of the Board of Directors of the company. In 2003, when Jordan National Shipping Lines Co. was privatized, Dr. Massad was appointed as the Managing Director of the company until Dec. 2007. He is still a board member of the company.

Dr. Massad studied marine Engineering, and obtained his chief Engineer’s certificate of competency in 1982. He got his MSc degree in Fleet Management form the World Maritime University of Malmo, Sweden in 1988, and his PhD degree in Maritime Transport and Technology in 2000.

Dr. Mustafa Massad is a well-known name in the Arab world as a leading distinguished expert in the shipping industry in general and maritime education and training in particular.

Dr. Massad worked at Jordan National shipping lines from 1984 as a technical superintendent until he became the assistant general manager of the company in 1995.
Dr. Massad has a membership in many of the professional institutes. During his service in the shipping industry, Dr. Massad has served in various important positions such as a board member of Jordan Maritime Authority, a governor at the board of the world Maritime University and many other national and international institutions.
Dr. Massad is the author of many research papers and books.

Awards:

• Oxford – UK 20/12/2016: 'Oxford Academic Union Award'
• Oxford – UK 2018: 'Socrates Award Winner in the Education Category' • The Maritime Standard Awards 2018 – Dubai: 'the winner of Lifetime Achievement Award'
• Hela2018: Venus International Foundation – India: 'Lifetime Achievement in Maritime Leadership Award'
• Hela2019: Venus International Foundation – India: “Excellence in Education Award’.

Mayor, Sparta & Former Deputy Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs
Greece

Mr. Petros Doukas has a Ph.D. in Economics from New York University. He studied Economics and International Relations at George Washington University (Bachelor of Arts), Management and Fiscal Relations at Columbia (MBA) and Economics at New York University (MA and Ph.D. in Economics). From 1979 to 1985 he worked as an Economist and Currency Analyst for Citibank in New York, and also as Foreign Exchange Exposure Management Advisor, Foreign Exchange Dealer, and Money Market Dealer. In 1986 he took over as Citibank Investment Banking Country Head and Country Treasurer for Greece, and in 1990 also took over as Country Head for the Institutional and Corporate Banking sectors. From August 1992 to October 1993 he was Deputy Minister of Finance in the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakis, with the Public Debt and Public Assets among his responsibilities. In 1994 he returned to Citibank, and in 1996 he founded Capital Partners SA., which deals mainly in strategic partnerships and company takeovers and mergers. In March 2004 he was elected deputy for the Precinct of Attica and was appointed Deputy Minister for the Economy and Finance, Head of the General Accounting Office. His responsibilities included the formulation and implementation of the Budget, Central Government Debt & Operations, Government Security Auctions, Public Trusts, Loans and Bonds, the Public Corporation for Moveable Assets, Subsidy Programs and Management of Public Funds, the State Bursar’s and Payments Office (State Treasury), Fiscal Relations with the EU, Fiscal Validation of the Ministries, Prefectural Governments and Legal Entities under Public Statute and Civil Servants Pension Funds. In September 2007 he was re-elected MP for Attica and appointed Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy.

Senior Advisor- Board Member
Marcura Group

Jesper Kjaedegaard is an independent Board member of several Maritime related companies and a Senior Advisor at the Marcura Group, whose products include DA-Desk, Martrust, and Mardocs.

Mr. Kjaedegaard had a long career with the A.P.Moller-Maersk Group where he served as a member of the A.P.Moller-Maersk Group’s Executive Board for all Container related Business, whilst also heading up the company's global liner division, known then as Maersk-Sealand.

He currently serves/has served as a Non-Executive Board Director for a number of both listed and privately owned transport related companies in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. This includes V-Group, Hafnia Tankers, Red Sea Gateway Terminals, Seatruck Ferries, APMT Bahrain and BIMCO.

Jesper Kjaedegaard is also past President of the British Chamber of Shipping and Chairman of Maritime UK – a body which represents all maritime interests in the UK including ship-owners, ports, banks, legal firms, classification societies, and insurance companies.

Director
LUKOIL Marine Lubricants DMCC

A senior executive with over 20 years of experience, June is presently a Director at one of the largest marine lubricant organisations in the world, Lukoil. During her career June hasn’t just broken the proverbial glass ceiling. She has shattered it. In a largely male dominated industry, her determination and appetite for challenges has proven her sceptics wrong. Time and time again.

June came to the Middle East in the early 1990s, initially working for BP in both Oman and Dubai. Then in 2010 she was approached by Lukoil to set up a marine lubricants operation in the region. She has not looked back since. She currently oversees the Lukoil Marine Lubricants business for the Eastern Hemisphere, which stretches from Africa to Australia. Having set up offices in Middle East, Hong Kong, Singapore and representative offices in South Africa, India, Japan and China, the company has recently ventured into Australia as well.

With June at the helm, Lukoil now enjoys an impressive 50 percent marine market share in the Middle East and 12 percent overall globally.

An active member of the WISTA (Women's International Shipping and Trading Association), June is also a big supporter of Mission to Seafarers.

Sales Director – MESA
Gulf Oil Marine Limited

Amit Singh is an experienced maritime executive with 21 years of industry experience. A graduate of Marine Engineering & Research Institute, Kolkata, Amit spent eight years at sea with Chevron Transport Corporation and American Eagle Tankers. He joined Gulf Oil Marine (GOM) in 2011 and has been a part of the company’s growth story ever since.
Amit set up the Gulf brand in the Indian marine market and subsequently GOM has gone on to become a major lube supplier across South East Asia, in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He moved to Dubai in 2020 with a mandate to promote GOM’s unique value proposition to the marine segment in Middle East markets, a vision he is fully committed to.

Amit is an avid Meditator and believes this to be an effective tool for improved work-life balance.

Managing Director - Dubai
Glander International Bunkering

As Managing Director of Glander International Bunkering in Dubai, Morten Langthjem has been steering the leading marine fuel and lubricant firm since 2014. His vast experience in the shipping and bunkering industry since 1998 includes his tenure at Peninsula Petroleum and O.W. Bunker & Trading. Through his foresight, in-depth supply knowledge and hands-on experience, Morten has been integral in expanding business globally and developing markets to their full potential.

Managing Director
Constellation Marine Services

Capt. Zarir Iràni, FIIMS, FICS, AFNI, HCMM, Asso. CII, NAMS-CMS, MBA
The Chair at Board of Directors at Constellation Marine Services, London, UAE & SINGAPORE.
Current Board member & immediate past global President of – International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) – (2018-2020)
Global Assurance committee member at Nautical Institute, UK.

“A Surveyor delivers trust, accountability and competency via his independent report first and then knowledge and efficiency – much later.”- as quoted by Zarir Irani.

Zarir represents Antiqua & Barbuda Maritime & Flag State Administration as their sole representative and Regional Director for UAE & Singapore.

Over 29 years of work experience in the Maritime and Offshore oil gas industry of which 16 years as an Independent surveyor having concluded 22,500 nominations as principal of Constellation Marine. (A Master Mariner holding MCA class I license Unlimited foreign going (FG) (valid until 2022.)

Industry Expertise:
• OCIMF Accredited, OVID Inspector(valid 2020)
• Maritime Law-Southampton-short course
• Expert witness @ DIFC courts and courts of Appeal.
• Advanced Accident investigation course
• Member of Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)-UK
• Full Member of NAMS CMS Global, USA
• HAZMAT Course, Warranty surveying course
• NEPIA Loss Prevention course.
• Associate Fellow of Nautical Institute and member of Global Assurance committee UK
• Lead Auditor (IRCA approved)
• Life member of Honorable Company of Master Mariners India & Annual member HCMM in UK.

Today Capt Irani will share with us 3 cases indicative of how complex the world of claim is, oil contamination pollution and putting a finger on “Proximate Cause” V/S assumed causes, that may be discussed endlessly or maybe the “obvious cause”.

He puts forth caselets today from his 16 years of claims experience how one may understand a tanker claim better and what role independent experts play.

Director
Seamaster Maritime

Mr. Ramee Rashid is at the helm of his family group of companies, based out of Dubai – United Arab Emirates, Seamaster Maritime L.L.C. Graduating from Durham University in the United Kingdom with honours in 2009, he started his shipping career serving a large FSO conversion project in the Dubai dry-docks. He then joined his father Mr. Rashid Al Heddi at Seamaster Maritime L.L.C. in 2010, learning the ins and outs of the maritime industry, rapidly gaining knowledge. Ramee helped expand the group by opening the office in Sohar – Oman, making it the first office outside of the UAE. With the experiences gained, he took over the reins of the family group in 2018, and has continuously improved along with the guidance from his father and his peers, elevating the company’s profile and international recognition. Now the organisation boasts 6 offices, 4 crew/supply vessels with another on the books, and a growing team. Investments in the company is still at the forefront, with the current aim to digitalise the company with new systems and work methods, bringing it into a new age.

Director, International Business Development
JMP Ingenieros-Drone Hopper JV

Experienced Chief Legal Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the international affairs industry. Skilled in Government, International Relations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Conflict, and International Law. Strong legal professional with a Master's Degree focused in Law from Murdoch University