NAMEPA's Houston Conference Focuses on Solutions

North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is holding its Environmental Intelligence in Shipping Conference “Focusing on Solutions- the role of CSR and Profitability” on Feb. 23, 2017 at the Houston Pilots Center in Deer Park, Texas from 0800 to 1700hrs. Hosted by the Houston Pilots, this conference is designed to help companies understand the social license to operate in today’s marine environment, and the steps needed to be effective and profitable.

The maritime industry is experiencing the most aggressive regulatory change in history, with the adoption of a global sulphur cap of .5%, adoption of the ballast water management convention, a roadmap and strategy for greenhouse gases, including mandatory reporting of fuel efficiency by 2019, a NECA proposal for the Baltic and North Seas, restriction of HFO in the Arctic and more.

Discussion topics will include setting the stage for environmental compliance, meeting the future of regulations, strategies for success in this new order, and a look at what’s next.  Speakers include the USCG’s RADM Paul Thomas, Captain Shearon of the Houston Pilots, Sherman Hampton of ExxonMobil, Jon Waldron of Blank Rome, Texas A&M’s new Superintendent Captain Michael Rodriguez, Leah Oberlin from the Port of Houston Authority, William Burroughs of ABS, Captain Anuj Chopra of Rightship, Christine Wolfe of the Environment Defense Fund, Captain Charlie Tweedel of the Sabine Pilots, Dr. Vis of Viswa Lab, Aziz Bamik of GTT, Cmdr. Jason Smith of the USCG, Dr. Rupa Iyer of the University of Houston, Doug Martin of SMIT and Carleen Lyden-Kluss of NAMEPA.

“We are at a critical junction in the marine world, where CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is increasingly important to the marine industry in order to secure its license to operate,” stated Joe Hughes, NAMEPA Chairman and Chairman/CEO of The American Club.  “Our industry needs to examine the options and solutions for reaching a credible platform for achieving success in in this arena along with profitability.”

To register for the conference and view agenda details, please visit: www.namepa.net/upcoming-events.