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Maritime Leaders Deliberate on Challenges and Opportunities in Times of Change at the Singapore Maritime Foundation New Year Conversations 2023

January 13, 2023
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Panel discussion moderated by BW Group Chairman Andreas Sohmen-Pao discussed how shipping can successfully navigate the cross-currents of geopolitical tensions, changing energy and trade flows, environmental pressures and an evolving workforce

Singapore, 13 January 2023—Three hundred industry leaders across the diverse spectrum of Singapore’s maritime ecosystem gathered at the Singapore Maritime Foundation New Year Conversations 2023. The event was held at Shangri-La Singapore.

Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport, graced the event as the Guest-of-Honour and delivered a speech.

Mr. Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman of BW Group moderated a panel discussion on “Shipping in Times of Change.” The panel deliberated on key issues shaping the outlook of the global maritime sector as businesses navigate an increasingly complex landscape of geopolitical tensions, changing energy and trade flows, environmental pressures and an evolving workforce. The other members of the panel were:

  • Alex Hartnoll, Head of Business Transformation, X-Press Feeders
  • Edward Koo, Chief Operating Officer, TCC Group
  • Frederik Guttormsen, Managing Director of Shipping, IMC Industrial Group
  • Lars Christian Kastrup, Chief Executive Officer, PIL

 

“The maritime industry has emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic resilient and relevant. Even so, the near-term macro-outlook heading into 2023 remains uncertain due to a confluence of global factors. The SMF New Year Conversations as Maritime Singapore’s first industry event of the year provides leaders of the sector an opportunity to connect, exchange views on issues of strategic interest, and sets the cadence for the year ahead,” said Mr. Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation.

Mr. Chee Hong Tat delivers his opening address to welcome maritime business leaders and discuss the port statistics for 2022.
Mr. Hor Weng Yew delivers his welcome remarks, celebrating milestones in the past year and outlining key initiatives for 2023.
The panel consisting of speakers Mr. Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Mr. Alex Hartnoll, Mr. Edward Koo, Mr. Frederik Guttormsen and Mr. Lars Christian Kastrup discusses the future outlook of shipping amidst global uncertainties.

                                                                                                                                      –END–

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About the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF)

Established in 2004, the Singapore Maritime Foundation is a conduit between the public and private sectors to accomplish the twin mission of developing and promoting Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC); and to attract, engage and grow a talent pipeline to position Maritime Singapore for continued growth. For details, visit www.smf.com.sg.

Media Contacts

David Lee
davidlee@sgmf.com.sg
+65 9119 8044

Joshua Ong
joshuaong@sgmf.com.sg
+65 9011 6304

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Mr. Lars Kastrup

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LINES

Mr. Lars Kastrup is the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd (PIL).

Prior to joining PIL, Mr. Kastrup was CEO of NOL/APL, and subsequently assumed the role of Executive Vice President, Strategy and M&A at CMA CGM Group. A veteran in the global shipping industry with over 30 years of experience, Mr Kastrup’s other roles include Executive Vice President of Assets at CMA CGM Group heading up CMA Terminals, CMA Ships, Container Logistics as well as regional carriers such as MacAndrews, OPDR and Mercosul; as well as Vice President at AP Moller-Maersk.
Mr. Kastrup complemented his tertiary education with leadership and management training at Penn State University and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Angeline Teo

MANAGING DIRECTOR & HEAD, GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION & OFFSHORE, OCBC BANK

Ms. Angeline Teo is the Managing Director and Head of Global Transportation and Offshore, Global Corporate Banking at OCBC Bank which focuses on the maritime, aviation, land & port ecosystems.
Ms. Teo has spent over three decades in maritime finance. Prior to OCBC, Ms. Teo was working at ING Bank, ABN Amro and DnB in Singapore focusing on maritime and offshore.
Ms. Teo graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Business Administration.

Mr. John Martin

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GARD SINGAPORE

Mr. John Martin began his career in London in 1989 with Richards Hogg Lindley Average Adjusters, and qualified as a Fellow of the UK Association of Average Adjusters in 2000.
At RHL he worked in their offices in Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In 2003 he joined Gard Hong Kong, as a claims handler. Mr. Martin also worked in Gard Japan, and in 2014 he moved to Singapore to set up the Gard Singapore office.
Besides running Gard Singapore, Mr. Martin also heads the P&I and H&M claims units and is the Senior Claims Representative for Gard in Asia.

Mr. Cyril Ducau

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EASTERN PACIFIC SHIPPING

Mr. Cyril Ducau is the Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte Ltd, a leading shipping company headquartered in Singapore for the past 30 years.

He is also currently the Chairman of Kenon Holdings Ltd and a member of the board of directors of Gard P&I (Bermuda) Ltd. and of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation Limited, which was established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. He was previously Head of Business Development of Quantum Pacific Advisory Limited in London from 2008 to 2012 and acted as Director and Chairman of Pacific Drilling SA between 2011 and 2018.
Prior to joining Quantum Pacific Advisory Limited, Mr. Ducau was Vice President in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley & Co. International Ltd. in London between 2000 and 2008.
Mr. Ducau graduated from ESCP Europe Business School (Paris, Oxford, Berlin) and holds a Master of Science in business administration and a Diplom Kaufmann.