This morning the opening of World Maritime Week took place. The act was presided over by Unai Rementeria, General Deputy of Bizkaia. “One of the strengths of our naval sector is precisely what has to do with the offshore world. Shipbuilding, new forms of energy, wind construction, engineering and research. Having prepared people, knowledge and infrastructure is necessary. But this formula is not successful if we do not count on the companies so that these opportunities become effective and real projects”, Rementeria highlighted in his speech.
The plenary session was also attended by Xabier Basañez, General Director of Bilbao Exhibition Centre who stressed that “with World Maritime Week we join with the utmost interest in a strategic commitment to a sector in which the Basque Country is a benchmark”.
For his part, Bittor Oroz, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Policy of the Basque Government, pointed out that changes that appeared on the horizon are no longer possibilities and are more than ever realities. “Defending fishing, defending its sustainability not only environmentally, but also socially and economically, must be an obligation for all of us, institutions and sector”. “Europe, which has an important fleet with representation in all the world’s oceans, has in turn a great challenge and a great responsibility in the regional fisheries organizations. Defending the interests of the European fleet with leadership, rigor and determination”, assured.
Clara de la Torre, Deputy Director General of the European Commission DG Clima, in her online intervention indicated that “events such as World Maritime Week are crucial to help advance the sector”. Thus, she recalled the importance of working together: “We all have an important role to play in the maritime industry but we all have to work together because the maritime sector has a very important role in our economy. And for the economy to be competitive in the future we have to implement changes now”.
Martin Stopford, Director of Marecon LTD and one of the most prestigious analysts in the maritime sector, was in charge of offering the keynote session: Climate change and smart shipping. Prospects for the Maritime Industry towards 2050. “Over the next few years there are going to be a lot of opportunities but we are also going to have to do a lot of work. It’s about managing the speed and modernization of the fleet and achieving better transport services,” he explained.
Subsequently, two round tables were held. The first one discussed maritime transport, shipbuilding and technology vision of the future (decarbonization, digitalisation and market developements). The second round table dealt with topics such as the green and digital transition in ports and the European fishing fleet in the face of the Commission’s legislation: ports as energy centres.
From today until next Thursday, BEC has become a reference meeting point for the maritime industry. This forum, already positioned as a strategic appointment for the sector, will generate new opportunities and will favor access to knowledge, technology and investment in its four events: the naval sector in Sinaval, the fishing sector in Eurofishing, the port sector in Futureport and marine renewable energies in Ocean Energy Conference.
Leave A Comment