Speakers 2024
Frederik ERDMANN
Moderator and contributing correspondent Shippax
Frederik Erdmann is a Shippax correspondent since 1996 and professionally involved with shipping since 1999 when he joined the German port agency network, Sartori & Berger, on a vocational training program. After his graduation as Shipbroker & Liner Agent and subsequent studies of Business Administration, Frederik held various positions with Sartori & Berger until 2010. After a period of working for the Flensburg Chamber of Commerce, he belonged to the management team of Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei, a leading German domestic operator, from 2015 to 2021, with responsibilities among others for Safety/Security as well as for Environmental and Quality Management. He then became self-employed under the brand of Frederik Erdmann Maritime Consulting, specialising in Passenger Ship Management, Quality and Environmental Management, Risk & Resilience Management, Emergency Management, related crew education/training as well as all aspects of Dangerous Goods Transportation. Frederik is a permanent visiting lecturer at the Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, teaching in the Maritime Transport, Nautical Sciences & Logistics as well as the Ship Operation Engineering degree programs. He regularly contributes to maritime business publications in the UK, Scandinavia and Greece, and is a member of the Tourism Committee as well as the Transport & Infrastructure Committee of the Flensburg Chamber of Commerce. After a decade of activity in municipal politics, June 2023 saw Frederik being elected Mayor of Rügge, the municipality which he is living in. His professional involvement in the shipping sector is complemented by a genuine passion for maritime history and ferry design, with a particular focus on ships built between the 1950s and the 1980s. His private collection encompasses ferry-related literature, numerous technical documents of ships, as well as a collection of ship models. Other interests of Frederik include motorcycling and, somewhat more exceptional, agricultural aviation.
Alan LAM
Co-moderator and correspondent and analyst Shippax
Based in Hong Kong and Austria, Alan Lam is a freelance journalist and maritime transport business researcher. He has been collaborating with Shippax since 2010, regularly contributing articles to both its monthly and yearly publications. He also writes for other shipping publications worldwide and compile customised market reports for investors, lenders, and suppliers.
Mo ALGERMOZI
CEO GIT Coatings
Mo is the visionary leader behind GIT Coatings, driving the company's extraordinary growth with the creation of groundbreaking graphene-based hull and propeller coatings. As a seasoned innovator, Mo has co-invented four cutting-edge technologies in the coatings sector, securing patents globally. His strategic focus is on transforming the maritime industry by significantly reducing fuel consumption in large ships and eliminating toxic materials from marine coatings.
Hailing from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Mo holds Engineering Degrees with a specialization in advanced materials engineering, and advanced industrial engineering showcasing his academic excellence. Beyond the academic realm, Mo is an entrepreneur with a track record in building businesses, most specifically in renewable and solar energy generation.
In addition to his entrepreneurial spirit, Mo is a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability in the shipping industry. His commitment to global change is evident through engaging presentations to diverse audiences worldwide, emphasizing the importance of an environmentally conscious shipping sector. Mo's leadership and unwavering dedication position GIT Coatings as a driving force in commercial innovation and environmental responsibility, making it a standout player in the dynamic business landscape.
George ANAGNOSTOU
Chief Operations Officer at Attica Group
George Anagnostou is the COO of Attica Group, one of the leading ferry operators worldwide, based in Greece. He has been with the Group cumulatively for seventeen years and has served the Company from various positions, as the Chief of Operations since 2015. Mr. Anagnostou is also a member of the Board of Directors of several Attica Group subsidiaries. He has more than 30 years of experience in shipping operations and new-building design & construction projects. Aside from Attica Group, he has held the position of Newbuilding Manager at Cardiff Marine, responsible for the construction of 50+ bulk carriers, oil tankers, LNG carriers and offshore drill ships. He holds a bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan and a Master of Science & PhD in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Oskar BERNDTSSON
Managing Director Nordic Jetline
Oskar Berndtsson graduated from Arcada University of Applied Sciences in 2003 (Bachelor In Business Administration). His career started in Arctic Chartering Ltd as a shipbroker, and continued in Thunship Ltd where he was later appointed Managing Director. Most of brokered contracts and vessels were related to ice-classed tonnage. After a decade as broker, he was recruited to the Euro Work Group to develop the short-sea ferry business, that later developed in to a major subsidiary and run under the brand Nordic Jetline. Nordic Jetline and it’s sister company Pörtö Line today operate almost 20 vessels: smaller ro-pax ferries, commuting vessels, sightseeing vessels and hovercrafts. Mr Berndtsson has since 2012 been successfully participating in dozens of public tenders giving him a vast experience of governmental procurement and contracts. Through his career, he has been working hands on in various fields from chartering, crewing and operations, to insurance, finance and M&A’s.
Francisco DUARTE DA SILVA BETTENCOURT
Chairman of the Board Atlânticoline
Francisco Duarte da Silva Bettencourt is a qualified professional with over two decades of experience in the areas of business, public management, and leadership. His expertise encompasses various areas, including maritime ports, electric power systems, retail and services.
Currently, Francisco is the Chairman at Atlânticoline, S.A., a position he was appointed to in May 2023 (Member of the Board of Directors at Atlânticoline since March of 2022). He has also held prominent positions at Electricity of Açores, S.A., including Chief Financial Officer (1994-1999), Marketing Director (2000-2004) and Coordinator of HR Development (2006-2008), and at Portos dos Açores, S.A., including Port Director (2008-2010), Strategic Planning Director (2011-2020) and Internal Audit and Innovation Director (2021-2022).
Born in Azores, Portugal, in 1968, Francisco holds a Postgraduate Degree in Public Management from Azores University and a degree in Business Management specializing in Financial and Commercial areas in the same University.
Fluent in English and conversational French, Francisco possesses strong computer skills and extensive experience as a trainer in HR, Management and Entrepreneurship.
Francisco actively participates in seminars, conferences, and workshops, evidencing his dedication to professional development and knowledge sharing.
Arnfinn BRAUTASET
Sales Manager Brunvoll
Mechanical Engineer – Bergen Eng. Highscool
1983-1996 Diff. non-Maritime Engineering
1996-2006 MMC / Optimar AS – Project Engineer
2006-2008 Scana Volda AS - Project Manager
2008-2017 Scana Volda AS - Sales Manager
2017-2024 Brunvoll Volda AS - Sales Manager
Christer BRUZELIUS
Senior Partner & Project Owner Gotland Tech Development AB / Rederi AB Gotland
As a senior partner with Gotland Tech Development, Christer drives innovation in shipping, enabling the industry to become more sustainable by advancing the technical solutions of tomorrow. Gotland Tech Development was launched in 2021 by Rederi Gotland to drive technical development by building partnerships with leading maritime companies. Christer Bruzelius has more than 20 years of experience in senior management positions, as CEO and MD, for shipping companies in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. For 9 years, Christer was the CEO of Destination Gotland (part of the Rederi Gotland Group), which operates the RoPax ferry traffic between the island Gotland and mainland Sweden. During his time as a CEO, Christer led several initiatives to place the company at the forefront in sustainability, including adding two RoPax-ferries powered by natural gas and biogas to the fleet.
Giulio CASTALDO
Sales Manager Newbuilding Wärtsilä Marine
Giulio Castaldo has over 20 years of experience in the maritime industry. He has a maritime Engineering degree, with experience as engine officer on PCTC and Cruise.
Long experience in business development, project management, sales, currently responsible for newbuilding sales in Sweden .
During the last 6 years has supported ferry operators and other segments operators for a smooth transition to decarbonize the marine industry
Levan CHIKVILADZE
CSO ShoreLink
Levan Chikviladze is a highly accomplished professional in the field of engineering, holding a Master of Science degree with a specialization in renewable energy and related technologies. With an impressive tenure of three years at ShoreLink, Mr. Chikviladze has consistently delivered exceptional technical consultancy services and has been instrumental in providing innovative shore power solutions to clients worldwide. His expertise and dedication contribute significantly to the success and growth of ShoreLink in the maritime industry.
Robert CLIFFORD
Chairman Incat
Robert Clifford, founder and Chairman of the Incat group of companies has been credited with pioneering the world’s high-speed vehicle/passenger ferry industry.
Over more than five decades he has steered Incat to progress from boats to small commercial ferries through to very large ocean-going vehicle carrying wave piercing catamarans for which Incat is now world renowned.
The vessels delivered to date operate on marine distillate or LNG however Incat’s research team now focus on low emission fuels with the goal of zero emission vessels.
Anders COLLIANDER
Key Account Manager Cavotec
Anders Colliander has worked at Cavotec for 13 years, with a high focus on the ports and maritime sector. He's highly adept at managing products such as radios, crane electrification, shore power and MoorMaster automated mooring systems. As a key account manager, Anders oversees Finland and the Baltic countries, crafting tailored service agreements to meet industry needs. With an electrical engineering background, Colliander aids in identifying commercial solutions for advancing maritime electrification and automation.
Mike CORRIGAN
CEO Interferry
Mike Corrigan is CEO of Interferry, the trade association that represents the worldwide ferry industry. Mike’s focus leading Interferry is to ensure that it continues to be the voice of the worldwide ferry industry in matters of safety and operational best practices, is the industry’s voice with regulatory agencies such as IMO, and that the trade association’s value continues to grow for existing and new members. Mike brings extensive executive experience in the ferry industry, most recently as the CEO of BC Ferries, one of the world’s largest ferry operators. Before joining BC Ferries, he held various senior management roles at WestCoast Energy’s operations across Canada. Mike holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Victoria where he was awarded the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award for the business school.
Panos DIKAIOS
CEO Attica Group
Panos Dikaios is the CEO of Attica Group, one of the leading ferry operators worldwide, based in Greece. He joined the Group in 2012 and from 2013 until 2023 he served as the Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Dikaios is also a member of the Board of Directors of Attica Group as well as its subsidiaries. He has more than 20 years of experience in shipping finance and investment banking. Prior to joining Attica Group he held the position of Shipping Manager at the Investment Bank of Greece, responsible for financing and investment banking services to the maritime sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in maritime studies from the University of Piraeus in Greece, and an MBA from the RSM Rotterdam School of Management, in Netherlands.
Anne-Marie EKLUND LÖWINDER
Leading IT security expert
Anne-Marie Eklund Löwinder is one of Sweden’s leading experts on information and IT security. In 2013 Anne-Marie was the first Swede to be inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame. For almost 20 years she was the Chief Information Security Officer at The Swedish Internet Foundation. Currently, she is the founder and CEO of her own company Amelsec.
She is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), Section XII, Information Technology. She is also a board member of the Swedish Law and Informatics Research Institute (IRI), the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and the Irish top level domain registry authority, .IE. Anne-Marie is also a member of the information security council of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB). She is appointed by the Swedish Ministry of Infrastructure as a member of the Swedish National Digitalisation Council.
In 2010 Anne-Marie was appointed and still serves as Trusted Community Representative by ICANN, in the role as Crypto Officer, where she participates in the generation of DNSSEC signing keys for the internet root zone. She is also a member of The Registry Services Technical Evaluation Panel (RSTEP), a technical team under the GNSO (Generic Name Supporting Organization).
Anne-Marie has a degree in Computer Science from the University of Stockholm.
Mia ELG
R&D Manager Deltamarin
Mia has over 15 years of experience with various ship energy efficiency and machinery design related tasks. Mia Elg’s current role as R&D manager is related to leading the development of Deltamarin’s products and services. Mia's areas of expertise include: Thermal engineering, product development and productization of different energy- and environmental services, energy balance calculation, energy flow simulation and environmental impact assessment. In addition to this, she has led the development of zero emission ship machinery in several projects. Mia has a Master’s degree in Thermodynamics. At the side of the work at Deltamarin Mia is also committing doctoral studies at Aalto University in the field of energy efficiency in marine applications. As a "high level task" both at Deltamarin and in the studies, Mia develops an advanced energy efficiency analysis method, suitable for maritime and offshore domain.
Håkan ENLUND
EVP, Sales and Marketing Rauma Marine Constructions
Håkan Enlund graduated as M.Sc. (Applied Mechanics) from the University of Oulu, Faculty of Technology. His career started 1981 with the performance yacht builder Baltic Yachts. Within the Hollming group he was the key person in establishing the new Materials Technology Division, where he took on the management responsibility for the fairing hulls of the MIR I and II deep-sea submersible research vessels project. Mr. Enlund has in his 35 year carrier in the Shipbuilding Industry, carried management responsibilities for car and passenger ferries as well as special vessel technology development and sales. He is one of the key executive persons in Rauma Marine Constructions Oy since the new shipbuilding company’s beginning in 2014. Mr Enlund holds positions of trust as board member of Interferry, chairman of the DNV Ferry Committee and advisory board member of the Aalto University, Research Centre of Excellence for Arctic Shipping and Operations.
Mattia FERRACCHIATO
Head of Carbon Markets BRS Shipbrokers
Mattia Ferracchiato is the Head of Carbon Markets at BRS Shipbrokers Geneva, with over 8 years of expertise in energy markets and carbon emission trading. He manages support for 2000+ vessels navigating European Climate Regulations, EU ETS, and Fuel EU Maritime compliance. Throughout his career, Mattia facilitated transactions exceeding $2 billion in CO2 emissions, pioneering maritime emission trading and assisting shipowners in generating carbon offsets through eligible vessel retrofits.
Mattia's academic background in Petroleum and Mining Geology, coupled with Energy Engineering and Sustainability Management, enhances his understanding of energy markets and CO2 regulations. Notably, he contributed to a feasibility study for a CO2 capture and storage project in Spain, demonstrating his commitment to advancing sustainable solutions for all the industries.
Kadri HAUFE
Vice President, Digital Transformation Nortal
Kadri Haufe is a driving force behind digital transformations across Scandinavia and Europe. Specializing in maritime, port, and ferry industries, Kadri leverages her extensive experience in consulting to lead innovative initiatives that redefine operational efficiency and customer experiences.
Kadri represents Nortal, the world's leading e-government consultancy and executer, with a remarkable track record of success in delivering pioneering solutions.
Mike HOWIE
Regional Sales Manager Trelleborg Marine and Infrastructure
Mike Howie joined Trelleborg in February 2022 as Regional Sales Manager for Docking and Mooring. With extensive experience in automated mooring systems, he began working on automated mooring products in 2003 as a designer and developer, during which he spent much of his time in ports working on prototypes for commercial, ship-to-ship and military applications.
Mike's role has since expanded to encompass product development, implementation challenges and solutions analysis, front-line sales and market entry strategy development, and the management of an automated mooring intellectual property portfolio.
Before transitioning into automated mooring, he had extensive experience in the wood processing industry, primarily automating hazardous tasks previously performed manually.
Mike holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and an executive MBA.
Nikias IOANNIDIS
Business Development LMG Marin
The connection to sea and to the ferry world started at a very young age for me.
My "Greek summers" always included good Cycladic time...and ferries always were the first step to the Islands.
30 years on, I managed to turn this childhood affair into a job that is also a passion.
At LMG Marin I am mostly in charge of identifying markets, developing relationship with partner shipyards and ultimately to promote the LMG Marin brand in the ferry industry.
Before stepping in to the ship design industry I worked for 7 years within the line management of French container carrier CMA CGM.
Rikard KARLSSON
Head of Vessel Technology & Connectivity Stena Line
Rikard Karlsson has over 20 years of experience in various IT and engineering roles, mainly within the automotive industry. He is currently the head of vessel technology and connectivity at Stena Line, a leading ferry operator. He is passionate about standardizing data interchange for connected vehicles and applying this knowledge to the maritime sector. This will be a key success factor for vessel operators that base their optimization of business on data and future technologies such as AI.
Guldar KIVRO
Member of the Management Board TS Laevad
Master Mariner diploma and Master in International Business Administration degree.
Have been sailing on ferries and Offshore ships, acted like owner representer during 4 new ferries building process as Project Manager in Turkey and in Poland shipyards.
Current position: TS Laevad OÜ Member of the Management Board and Head of Shipping Department.
Company: Daughter company of Port of Tallinn, TS Laevad OÜ, shipowner, 5 double ended ferries, operating in Estonian waters between mainland and 2 biggest islands.
Goals: To be a reliable partner to our passengers and the state, ensuring the provision of effective and high-quality service. This way we contribute to the development of entrepreneurship and tourism on the larger islands.
Our most impressive achievements: TõLL retrofitted battery hybrid, which gave us 18% fuel savings, Installing Blueflow energy management system which gave us 6% fuel savings.
Oliver LENZ
Sales Application Manager at Voith Marine
Oliver Lenz is responsible for the project acquisition & planning of propulsion and maneuvering solutions for Voith’s ferry and yacht projects in the sales phase. The Voith Marine Division is a supplier of mechanical and fully electric direct driven propulsion and maneuvering solutions known to be highly efficient whilst maintaining lowest noise and vibration values.
Starting as a Sales and project manager for rim driven thrusters in 2015, he was a companion of the development of the gear-less direct driven electric Voith Schneider Propeller, combining well proven rim thruster technology with the robustness and precision of a Cycloidal Propeller.
A passionate marine professional dedicated to marine propulsion with almost 9 years’ experience in electric propulsion, product management and Sales & Marketing. Mr. Lenz holds a master’s degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from the Bremen City University of Applied Science.
Tim MOONEY
President/Owner Fire Island Ferries, Chairman of Interferry
Tim Mooney is president of Fire Island Ferries, Fire Island Water Taxi and Fire Island Terminal, responsible for providing ferry, water taxi, freight and parking services originating from their Long Island, New York facility and servicing the communities of Fire Island, a 32 mile-long barrier beach. With a fleet of 25 vessels they provide transportation and related services to over 1 million passengers a year. Tim has a BS/BA from Nichols College in economics and computer science and started his career in the computer industry. He spent 25 years working with IBM, Wang Laboratories and Parametric Technology Corporation. In 2003 Tim left the computer industry to join his father to help run Fire Island Ferries. Since joining his father, he and his staff have worked to implement many new systems in support of websites, ticketing, freight billing, parking and advertising creating numerous incremental ridership and revenue opportunities for the organization. Tim has served on the Interferry Board since 2013.
Niclas MÅRTENSSON
CEO Stena Line
Niclas Mårtensson is holding the position as CEO of the Stena Line group since 2016. Mr. Mårtensson has over 10 years’ experience of working in different senior positions within Stena Line, including responsible for commercial and operational activities in both Germany, Poland and Sweden. 2013 he became the Chief Operation Officer and later heading the position as Deputy CEO.
He has worked in different industries and companies within hospitality, transportation and manufacturing, both in Europe and Asia.
Niclas Mårtensson is in the boards of a number of Stena companies and also in the German-Swedish chamber of commerce, The West Sweden Chamber of Commerce and has been the consul of the republic of Poland in south Sweden. Since 2020 he is a member in the Swedish Government Electromobility Commission with the aim to increase the electrification of transport.
Christian NAEGELI
Marine Advisor Maritime Safety, Nautical & Technical Affairs, Environment German Shipowners' Association
Christian, a licensed Master Mariner with a Diploma Engineer degree in Maritime Transport and a Master of Science degree in International Maritime Management, currently serves at the German Shipowners' Association. In this capacity, he oversees Maritime Safety, Nautical & Technical Affairs, and Environmental Protection. Christian is deeply engaged in ongoing discussions concerning the potential revision of international regulations, particularly focusing on the carriage of vehicles and safety requirements for RoRo & RoPax vessels. As a representative of the German Shipowners', he regularly participates in relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) Committee and Sub-Committee meetings, either as a member of the German IMO delegation or, in his capacity as the Chair of the ICS Container and Dangerous Goods panel, representing the International Chamber of Shipping.
Paavo NÕGENE
CEO Tallink Grupp
Chairman of the Management Board since 01.05.2018, Chief Executive Officer.
Secretary-General, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia, from 2013 to 2018. General Manager of Vanemuine Theatre, Estonia from 2007 to 2012. Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of the Art Museum of Estonia, the Estonian Film Institute, Estonian Drama Theatre and Vanemuine Theatre. Member of the Supervisory Boards of Estonian Public Broadcasting, Estonian National Opera, the Gambling Tax Council. Graduated from the University of Tartu, Estonia, in 2012 with a degree in Journalism and Communications.
Kim NØRBY CHRISTENSEN
Senior Mechanical Engineer and Project Manager Knud E. Hansen A/S
Kim Nørby Christensen graduated from university with degrees in mechanical engineering and naval architecture. He holds more than 20 years of experience divided into a decade at a shipyard and a decade in the consultancy field. For the last 6 years he has been at Knud E. Hansen A/S working as a senior mechanical engineer and project manager. Highly experienced in novel fuels and energy optimization for retrofit and new design. Currently he is project manager for a large ROPAX design and has previously worked with a variety of ship types.
Patrick OLANDER
Vice President Customer Insights Consilium Safety Group
Consilium is a world leader in fire, flame, and gas safety solutions.
Patrick has been with Consilium for more than 24 years and has held various positions with a proven track record of success, including Business area Manager, Project Manager, Sales Manager, and President of Consilium Marine US between 2008 and 2016.
As VP Customer Insights at Consilium Patrick is gathering knowledge from various sources and areas for example, people's experience from incidents, risk factors, incident statistics, incident investigations, market research, insights from other industries, looking for new or non-marine technology, marine safety initiatives/projects, research, crew's way of working, time-lapse, challenges, cost, Management views, company drivers and KPI’s, and more.
Patrick is today also involved in Concilium’s innovation work which focuses on digitalization.
Per OLOVSSON
Area Sales Manager, Sweden & Denmark Cavotec
Per Olovsson has over 15 years of extensive professional experience in both the marine and industrial sectors. Having held roles in sales and product development in the Middle East and Belgium, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Currently serving as a Sales Manager in Sweden and Denmark, Per specializes in the electrification and automation of ports and ships. Leveraging Cavotec's innovative shore power products and the Moormaster automated mooring system, he aids customers in meeting current and forthcoming regulations while enhancing operational efficiency.
Achille ONORATO
Vice chairman Moby S.p.A and CEO Moby S.p.A
Mr. Achille Onorato, the eldest son of Vincenzo Onorato, represents a fifth-generation shipowner. He graduated in Business Administration at Bocconi University in Milan. He later received his Master in Logistics and Transport Infrastructure at Bocconi.
Even before his degree, he already participated actively in the business of the company, working on board of ships of the fleet of the family alternately to studies from the age of 13 years old until the end of university, spending on board a total of more than three years. He then later started to work in the commercial area of the group and then became the Hospitality and Onboard Services Director of the company Moby SpA.
On January 2012 he became the CEO of the company Toremar, first public shipping company that was privatized in Italy, achieving a radical turnover, revolution and innovation of the company.
Mr. Achille Onorato has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Moby and Tirrenia – CIN since 2015 and he has also served as the sole director of both companies from its formation until its conversation into a joint stock company and the subsequent appointment of the Board of Directors.
On July 2015 Mr. Achille Onorato has become the Vice Executive Chairman of Moby SpA and subsequently in April 2016 he became the Chief Executive Officer and in the same time he still keeps the position of Vice Executive Chairman of the company. Mr. Achille Onorato is also the Vice Chairman of Assarmatori, the most representative Italian ship owner association.
In addition to the shipowner's family tradition, just like his father, he has also the passion for sailing on regattas.
Summary of Current Position in the Company:
- Moby CEO and Vice Executive Chairman
- Chairman of the BoD of Toremar
- BoD Member of San Cataldo
- Chairman of Agemar and Renzo Conti srl
Bruce PETER
Professor of Design History at the Glasgow School of Art
Bruce Peter is Professor of Design History at the Glasgow School of Art. He has a life-long interest in merchant ship design and passenger shipping operation and has written extensively on these subjects. His latest maritime publications are a history of the Danish liner, ferry and logistics company, DFDS, and a history of Tor Line, which DFDS purchased in 1981. He is also currently working with colleagues in Finland on a history of Finnish shipbuilding, has written for the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) a book about the design of the Kappel propeller and is assisting the Victoria & Albert Museum in London to curate an exhibition about ocean liner travel.
Tom PIPPINGSKÖLD
President and CEO Finnlines
Tom Pippingsköld has served as the President and CEO of Finnlines since May 2022, leading the strategy and operations of the company with around 1,800 employees and a total revenue of EUR 680 million. He has been working in Finnlines since 2013 and previously served as Vice President & Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He has been responsible for Finance, Legal, IT, HR and Communication. He has been a member of Finnlines Executive Committee since 2013.
Prior to joining Finnlines, Tom Pippingsköld worked in the energy sector, in project finance and in investment banking both in Finland and abroad. He has extensive experience in financial management, risk management, treasury operations, strategy implementation and business development.
Rene PÄRT
Head of Business Development Port of Tallinn
Rene Pärt has been the Head of Business Development at Port of Tallinn since 2021. From 1st of May he joined the Management Board of Port of Tallinn. In addition, Rene has been the Member of the Supervisory Board at TS Laevad and TS Shipping. Pärt has graduated from TalTech with a degree in Logistics and is currently finalizing his Masters in Business and Management at Aston University. Previously he has worked in the international logistics corporation Kühne + Nagel as the Business Development Manager and in shipping corporation DFDS as the Baltic Sales and Partnership Manager.
Marcus RISBERG
CEO Destination Gotland
Marcus Risberg (born 1975) joined Swedish domestic ferry operator Destination Gotland as CEO in March 2021. Marcus has extensive experience from passenger ferry industry through a long career in Silja Line and Tallink Grupp. Between 2015 and 2021 he held the position as Managing Director at TallinkSilja AB. Prior to this he worked within the industry in various finance roles such as Chief Controller and Finance Director at Silja Line and later TallinkSilja between 2002 and 2008.
During a period of six years, he left the industry and was engaged in IT and telecom working for Nokia and Microsoft. In 2014 the desire for shipping grew strong again and he decided to rejoin TallinkSilja as Sales Director.
Marcus grew up on Åland where the passenger ferry sector is a natural and integral part of everyday life.
Finn Arne ROGNSTAD
SVP Sales & Business Development Corvus Energy
Finn Arne Rognstad graduated from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy in Bergen in 1986 as a Master Mariner. After serving several years at sea as a navigator and warfare officer in the Royal Norwegian and other Nato navies, he joined Norwegian Cruise Line as 1st officer in 1993.
In 1996 he moved to the equipment supply side and embarked on an international career covering shipbuilding, sales and support services that spanned 9 years with residence in Malta, Houston, and Miami employed by Ulstein and later Rolls-Royce. A further valuable experience with shipbuilding was gained working with the great team of Aker Yards at the height of their remarkable period of achievement.
Since 2008 he has focused on environmental technologies and has been a strong advocate for the increasing adoption of LNG as an alternative marine fuel. His current role within the Corvus Energy organization is focused on further developing the market for energy storage and hydrogen fuel cells.
He is based in Oslo, Norway where he lives with his wife and 3 children.
Vollrath SCHUSTER
CEO R&M Group
After completing his shipbuilding studies at Bremen University of Applied Sciences in 1989, Vollrath Schuster began his career as a junior engineer in the shipbuilding division of what was then Rheinhold & Mahla AG. In the years that followed, he held various positions within different shipbuilding departments in Germany inside Rheinhold & Mahla group until he became Managing Director of the German companies within the Shipbuilding division in 2002.
As a shareholder and managing director, he accompanied the management buyout of the shipbuilding division from Rheinhold & Mahla AG to Nordholding in 2006. Until 2012, Vollrath was responsible for the international repair business beside of his role as Managing Director in Germany. In 2012, Vollrath moved from R&M to TTS Group, where he became SVP Deck Equipment for the companies in Germany and Korea, as well as for two JV’s China. In 2015, he returned to R&M and became EVP International Business Execution, responsible for the Group's expansion into Japan and China.
Following the coronavirus pandemic in April 2022, Vollrath was appointed as CEO by the new owners of the Rheinhold & Mahla Group. He has spent his entire professional life in the field of interior fittings for cruise ships and ferries.
In addition to his main professional activity, Vollrath holds two advisory board positions, within MAZA and in the technical-scientific advisory board of the Bremen University of Applied Sciences, Department of Shipbuilding & Marine Technology.
Vollrath is married and has two grown-up daughters.
Martti SIMOJOKI
Loss Prevention Manager The Swedish Club
Martti Simojoki is Loss Prevention Manager at The Swedish Club. In addition, he is a member of the CEFOR Technical Forum and the IUMI Loss Prevention Committee. He has 28 years of experience within the shipping industry, both onboard and ashore. Martti is Captain with an Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics and he is passionate about the work with professional safety culture. Martti Simojoki is subject matter expert in Alternative Fuel Vehicle transports and fires within the PCTC and Ro-Ro/-PAX segments.
David SOPTA
President of the Management board Jadrolinija
David Sopta is president of the management board of Jadrolinija, Croatia’s largest passenger shipping company with a 100 year long tradition. He graduated as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and has finished Postgraduate study from the Faculty of Economics and Business. Prior to Jadrolinija, he was Manager of International Affairs at an international marketing agency. During his professional career David was Deputy Minister in Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was also Board Member of the Croatian largest insurance company. Through his career he gained experience in management of foreign investments and capital projects. Furthermore, David has a large experience in business development and corporate management with high sense of initiative and entrepreneurship.
Pino SPADAFORA
Senior Director Marine Commercial RINA
Pino Spadafora currently serves in the marine sector as RINA's Global Commercial Senior Director and has been living and working in Northern Europe for 17 years to continually enhance the profile of the group throughout the region. His current responsibilities encompass group strategy and external corporate development, both commercially and technically.
In terms of group strategy, he is specifically responsible for the rollout across business streams into a global plan and ensuring consistency with the company's vision and mission. Working closely with RINA's CEO and individual business streams, his role is to identify potential partners with whom to collaborate to grow and build the business.
Pino has acquired a wealth of experience in fleet management principles, classification services, advisory services, project management, key account management and customer service, including customer retention and satisfaction. He also has excellent knowledge and technical experience of all aspects of the marine industry, including environmental and regulatory matters.
Brian THOMSON
Managing Director Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
Brian is a maritime leader with a wealth of experience working in the maritime industry around the world. With a background in naval architecture and marine engineering, Brian began his professional career with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency before moving on to work for The Gibraltar Maritime Administration and the American Bureau of Shipping. He relocated to the Isle of Man eight years ago to work as a Surveyor for the Isle of Man Ship Registry and, in 2019, was promoted to Principal Surveyor. Brian joined the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 2021, taking up the role of Managing Director.
Brian THORSTED HANSEN
CEO Fjord Line
2021 – CEO Fjord Line AS
2006-2020 – Vice President, DFDS A/S
2017-2020 - VICE PRESIDENT - HEAD OF BUSINESS UNIT GROUP PASSENGER, DFDS A/S
2012-2017 - VICE PRESIDENT - HEAD OF B.U. PASSENGER & GROUP MARKETING, DFDS A/S
2006-2012 - VICE PRESIDENT - SALES, MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION, DFDS A/S
2002-2006 – MANAGING DIRECTOR – GLOBAL REFUND SVERIGE AB & GLOBAL REFUND DANMARK A/S
1996-2002 – DIRECTOR, SEB KORT AB
Markus TOMPURI
Chief Stability Officer, Safety Solutions, NAPA
Markus Tompuri brings over 13 years of specialized experience from NAPA, where his journey has shaped him into a leading expert in ship stability, safety, and regulatory compliance within the passenger ship industry. Throughout his tenure at NAPA, Markus has held various influential roles, focusing extensively on collaborating with class societies, regulators, and ship operators to enhance passenger ship safety and stability management. His expertise is particularly recognized in the realm of NAPA Safety solutions, dealing with intricate rules and regulations.
Markus has played pivotal roles in communications concerning rule interpretations and type approvals, striving to make shipping not only safer but also more sustainable. His contributions extend to participating in IMO committee meetings, where he serves as an expert advisor on both intact and damage stability. Markus is dedicated to influencing the development of regulations grounded in physics to elevate maritime safety significantly. Markus holds an M.Sc. in Naval Architecture.
David TYLER
Commercial Director Artemis Technologies
David is a co-founder and board member of Artemis Technologies, a global leader in transformative clean maritime solutions based in Belfast, UK. David was instrumental in the creation of the Belfast Maritime Consortium, led by Artemis Technologies, including securing of a £33m grant from UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund to develop the company’s transformative eFoiler® technology and launch the world’s first 100% electric foiling passenger ferry.
David is Chair of Maritime UK’s Regional Council, a member of the UK Department for Transport’s Maritime Council which was established in 2023 to provide the top level of governance across all themes and drive delivery of the UK Government’s Maritime 2050 recommendations, and a member of Operation Zero working groups, a UK government initiative launched during COP26 with the mission to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vessels for offshore wind operations and maintenance in the North Sea's wind farms.
A former international hockey player and law graduate from the University of Birmingham, David has a wealth of experience in Sales and Marketing. Having previously worked at IMG and Havas Media, David founded Tyler Sports Management in 2009, representing an impressive portfolio of clients including Mo Farah, Mike Brown, Iain Percy OBE, Christine Ohuruogu MBE, and Allan Wells MBE. After Tyler Sports Management was acquired in 2014, he joined Artemis Racing to lead the Swedish America’s Cup team’s commercial programme, before co-founding Artemis Technologies. David is also a founding trustee of the Andrew Simpson Foundation.
Sigbjørn TYSSEN
Sales Director Teknotherm
Sigbjørn Tyssen boasts over 25 years of experience within the marine HVAC sector. With a background in several companies such as Novenco and DNV, he offers extensive expertise in delivering reliable solutions tailored to maritime environments. Sigbjørn's commitment to excellence and broad experience have made him unique for securing energy efficient solutions.
Per Kristian URKEDAL
Area Sales manager Ulmatec Thermal Solutions
Per Kristian Urkedal, Area Sales manager at Ulmatec, has been working in sales within the maritime industry since 2007, gaining valuable experience at companies such as Rolls-Royce, Sperre Air Power, and Ulmatec Pyro. With a great focus on energy optimization, particularly in utilizing engines' waste heat to improve central heating systems. Per's practical expertise and dedication have made him a respected figure in the field.
Sigbjørn Tyssen, Sales Director at Teknotherm, boasts over 25 years of experience within the marine HVAC sector. With a background in several companies such as Novenco and DNV, he offers extensive expertise in delivering reliable solutions tailored to maritime environments. Sigbjørn's commitment to excellence and broad experience have made him unique for securing energy efficient solutions.
Giosue’ VEZZUTO
Executive Vice President RINA Marine
Giosue’ Vezzuto, naval architect and marine engineer, joined RINA in 1997, after having worked in a ship repairing yard of the Italian Navy.
Initially involved in the classification dept. for both ships in service and new buildings, subsequently he took up the responsibility of the fire protection drawings approval team, at the RINA engineering department in Italy. During this period, he regularly attended meetings at IACS WG/FP, ISO, and IMO.
He then moved to the RINA Marine Operations, where he developed his entire career: from being the Deputy Manager of branch office in Napoli (Italy), to Head of Singapore Office and then Country Manager for South-East Asia. He has been RINA Regional Manager for North Europe based in Rotterdam, and subsequently Regional Manager for Asia, based in Shanghai and in Singapore.
Since 2018, Giosue’ moved back to RINA HQ in Genoa, initially taking different roles at corporate level, and then, since the end of 2019, he took the overall responsibility of RINA Marine.
Per WESTLING
Managing Director Stena RoRo
Per Westling has been employed by Stena since 1985. In addition to a M.Sc. degree in Naval Architecture from Chalmers Technical University of Gothenburg, Sweden, Per is trained as an Engineer within the Royal Swedish Navy. Within the Stena group he has been project manager for several newbuildings and major conversion projects but also served for five years within the Stena Line Shipmanagement division. In 2001 he moved to Stena RoRo as Conversion Manager, took on the role of Deputy Managing Director in 2008 and subsequently Managing Director in 2011. Mr Westling is since 2013 a board member of Interferry Inc.
Zhou ZHIYONG
Vice President Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI)
After graduated from Harbin Engineering University in 2003, Mr. Zhou Zhiyong joined SDARI as a Naval Architect.
He worked for the general arrangement and stability in the very beginning. Before focusing more and hull lines development and CFD since 2009, he finished several ship designs including Ropax Ships. Later he developed series of hull lines development procedure and CFD technology coupled with parametric model to further optimize the hull lines. He also led to establish the hydrodynamic team of SDARI and related software system. Now this team ensures SDARI to be competitive and efficient considering ship design’s key performance.
In 2014, he became the director of R&D Department. Together with the team, he strengthened fundamental technology to improve ship designs’ competitiveness. As well, he was very active to comply with the coming rules and regulations with the real acceptable technology solutions. Many designs developed by R&D Department were awarded by RINA’s Significant Ships and/or Shippax.
In 2019, he became SDARI’s Vice President in charge of business development. Much focusing on promotion of SDARI’s technology, designs and experienced team, he is very successful to achieve the stable high market share of SDARI. Now promoting SDARI and its independent designs to more owners is his task with highest priority.
Petter ÖHMAN
Sales Manager ABB Marine & Ports
Petter Öhman is a Sales Manager at ABB Marine & Ports, with responsibility for Propulsion System sales in the ferry and navy markets. He has a master's degree in Naval Architecture from Aalto University in Finland. Now based in Amsterdam, Petter’s professional background is in ship design and engineering at shipyards that have built unique and complex vessels. Joining ABB in 2021, Petter brings both a design house and ship building perspective to the increasingly integrated propulsion system design, construction, and operation of vessels.
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