Speakers 2027

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.

ABB

Speaker TBA

Diego CARIDE

Business Development Director, Marine Division, Ingeteam

As Business Development Director for Ingeteam’s Marine Division, he leads the company’s global strategy in the maritime sector. With a long-standing background in the naval sector and almost a decade of experience within Ingeteam, including leadership roles such as Managing Director of Ingeteam China and Business Unit Director of former Marine Systems Division, plays a key role in the Company´s international expansion by building strategic partnerships and engaging with clients worldwide. His expertise focuses on developing innovative, efficient, and reliable solutions for propulsion systems on electric and hybrid vessels, driving the transition toward a more sustainable maritime industry.

Heidi Nag FLIKKA

CEO Fjord Line

Heidi Nag Flikka became CEO of Fjord Line on 1 July 2026, succeeding Brian Thorsted Hansen. She has sat on the company’s board since 2020 and was its CFO from 2019 to 2020. She joined from Flekkefjord Sparebank, where she was managing director.

Peep JALAKAS

CEO AS Tallink Grupp

Peep Jalakas is the CEO of AS Tallink Grupp, one of the leading passenger and freight shipping companies in the Baltic Sea region. Prior to joining Tallink Grupp in April 2026, he spent more than 20 years in the financial sector, most recently serving as Head of Corporate Banking and a Member of the Management Board of SEB Estonia. During his career, he held various leadership positions, including responsibility for corporate clients and credit-related teams

Tomas KARLSSON

CEO Eckerö Linjen

Tomas Karlsson assumed the position of CEO of Eckerö Linjen in 2009, bringing whit him extensive experience in leading and developing short-haul ferry operations between Sweden and Åland. In his role, he is responsible for the company's strategic and operational development, whit al clear focus on competitiveness and service quality. Through committed leadership and a strong guest-centric perspective, the company has made significant strides in advancing its operations.

Magnus MÜLLER

Chief Executive Officer Telenor Maritime

Magnus Müller is Chief Executive Officer of Telenor Maritime. With more than two decades of international experience in telecommunications, including senior leadership roles across Europe and Asia, he brings extensive expertise in digital transformation, commercial growth and operational excellence. At Telenor Maritime, Magnus leads the company's mission to make maritime operations smarter and more connected —creating better experiences for passengers and crew.

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.

Marcus RISBERG

CEO Viking Line

Marcus Risberg (born 1975) assumed the position of CEO of Viking Line on 3 November 2025. He previously served as CEO of Destination Gotland, a position he held since March 2021. Marcus has extensive experience in the passenger ferry industry through a long career with Silja Line and Tallink Grupp. Between 2015 and 2021, he held the position of Managing Director at TallinkSilja AB. Prior to this, he worked in the industry in various finance roles, including Chief Controller and Finance Director at Silja Line, and later at TallinkSilja between 2002 and 2008.

During a six-year period, he left the industry and worked in IT and telecom, with positions at Nokia and Microsoft. In 2014, his interest in 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.

Noah SILBERSCHMIDT

Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Member of the Board, Silverstream Technologies

Noah founded Silverstream Technologies in 2010 and has led the company to becoming a market-leading maritime clean technology business, and the fourth fastest growing European business in 2023 as recognised by the Financial Times.

He brought the Silverstream® System, a patented hull air lubrication system (ALS), to market and global commercial success. The Silverstream® System reduces frictional resistance between the water and the hull surface, reducing net fuel consumption and associated emissions by an average of 5-10%. There are now over 100 vessels in the water with the system installed.

Silverstream works with the world's leading ship owners and charterers including Grimaldi, MSC, Shell, Carnival, Maersk, Vale, ADNOC L&S and many others.

Prior to founding Silverstream, Noah spent 17 years in investment banking. He is also a keen windsurfer.

Oier URRUTIA MADARIAGA

Key Account Manager, Marine Drives & Automation, Ingeteam

As Key Account Manager for Marine Drives & Automation, he is responsible for managing strategic client relationships and business development within the marine sector. His work focuses on delivering advanced propulsion and automation solutions that enhance vessel performance, efficiency, and sustainability. With solid experience in both technical and commercial roles, he plays a key part in strengthening Ingeteam’s position as a leading partner for electric and hybrid marine systems.

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.