Press release: ITIC and ICS to host a panel discussion on decarbonisation, future skills and challenges during LISW

International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) and the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers' (ICS) London & SE Branch will host a panel discussion as part of London International Shipping Week (LISW). 

The theme of the panel discussion is "The Shipping Debate – decarbonisation, future skills and challenges – is shipping ready for it all?" and will take place on 11 September at 4:45 pm at the London offices of Thomas Miller, management company of ITIC. The panellists will discuss decarbonisation in light of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) updated Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy and the need for the maritime industry to understand the evolving technologies and operational practices, as well as the future skills needed to meet the more stringent regulations. 

The panel will comprise of Elly Howe, Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator at Portsmouth International Port; Ian Metzger, Shipping Analyst at Braemar; Nikki Sayer, Managing Director at Casper Customs and Bjoern Spotte, CEO of Ship Management at V.Group. ITIC's General Manager, Robert Hodge, will chair the discussions.

"The adoption of the IMO’s updated GHG strategy is an important step forward for industry and it is crucial that practitioners across all segments of the maritime value chain, including shipbrokers and other third-party service providers understand how the emerging technologies and regulations could impact them and the potential liabilities they could face, as well as how their businesses may need to adapt. 

“As an organisation representing the interests of shipbrokers, ship managers, agents and other marine professionals, together with the ICS we are taking the opportunity to bring together a panel of highly experienced practitioners to hear their perspectives on how the challenge of achieving the updated emissions targets from the IMO will impact their businesses," said Robert Hodge, General Manager at ITIC. 

“The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers is a professional body that represents many professions in the movement of ships and cargo. It is important that we fully understand what the aims are and the new regulations, any possible impacts and the training required. Global shipping moves significant cargo volumes across the world with the objective of being green and sustainable. The Institute London and South East branch welcomes this panel discussion as part of our contribution to the wider investigation of technical compliance,” said Mike Robarts, FICS, Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (London and South East Branch). 

ITIC and the ICS invite stakeholders and the media to attend the event; spaces are limited on a first-come, first-served basis. To RSVP, please email itic.invitations@thomasmiller.com. 
 
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Notes to the editor

Please see the information on each of the speakers: 

Elly Howe – Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator at Portsmouth International Port
Portsmouth International Port is Britain’s biggest municipal port, with more routes to Europe than any other. Elly is responsible for driving the port forward with its ambitious sustainability goals as they work towards being carbon net-neutral by 2030, and emissions free by 2050. She supports the port by identifying, developing and delivering projects to help them on their journey to decarbonisation, which range from shore power provision through to renewable energy generation. Elly has a passion for the environment and is a second-year student with The Open University, where she is working towards a degree in Environmental Science.

Ian Metzger – Shipping Analyst at Braemar 
Ian Metzger is an analyst with Braemar working on the dry cargo desk. His recent work has focused on analysing the impact of emissions regulations and decarbonisation on the industry, advising clients on how best to navigate shipping's increasingly complexed regulatory landscape. 

Nikki Sayer – Managing Director at Casper Customs 
Nikki is a driven leader with an unrivalled passion for the logistics, shipping and maritime sectors. She has worked for over 20 years in the shipping industry both in the UK and around the world.  She is currently a Director at Casper Shipping Ltd where she proudly heads up their customs division. In 2020 Nikki was invited to be a Commissioner for the Maritime Skills Commission, which is a government and industry lead commission, working through Maritime UK, to lead the sectors work in ensuring the maritime sector has a pipeline of talented people to serve all parts of the sector covering shipping, ports, leisure marine, engineering, science and professional services. Nikki received the Tees Businesswomen Award for the Breaking the Mould category in 2021 and Inspirational Female at the Northeast Chamber of Commerce in 2022.

Bjoern Sprotte – CEO of Ship Management at V.Group
Bjoern joined V.Group from OSM Maritime Group, where he spent four years in a number of senior roles, including chief operating officer, president and, most recently, chief executive officer. His career started at Rickmers Group, where he rose from nautical officer to CEO of maritime services over a period of fifteen years, from which he moved to the position of vice president at Carnival Group, where he was responsible for the development and delivery of ship management strategy. Holding a degree in navigation and maritime transport, Bjoern originally pursued a nautical career at sea and later attended post graduate studies for his Master of Business Consulting.

Robert Hodge – General Manager at ITIC 
Prior to joining ITIC as an Account Executive in October 2010, Robert was a claims executive for three years with the TT Club, another business managed by the Thomas Miller group. Robert began his career at sea, crewing on super yachts, after which he joined the merchant navy as a deck officer. He also holds a First Class Honours law degree from the University of London. 

For further information please contact

Margaret Mentz, Navigate PR
T: +44 203 326 8461
E: mmentz@navigatepr.com 

About ITIC
International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) is the world’s leading provider of professional indemnity insurance to transport professionals across the globe. 

As a mutual insurer, it has over 90 years’ experience providing cover to companies in the marine, naval architecture, aviation, offshore and hydrographic industries. With 3,100 members in over 110 countries and with a worldwide network of correspondents, ITIC is the acknowledged leader in its field.

ITIC’s insurance has been developed primarily to cover claims of negligence – errors or omissions. Cover can also extend to specialist areas such as debt collection, loss of commission income, cash in transit and directors’ and officers’ insurance. ITIC’s wide cover also includes a unique discretionary insurance which could support claims not normally be paid by other professional indemnity insurers.

ITIC is managed by Thomas Miller. More details about ITIC and the services it offers can be found at www.itic-insure.com

About The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers is the professional body for all members of the commercial shipping industry worldwide. It was founded in 1911 and awarded a Royal Charter in 1920. It has 27 branches across the world and sets the exam syllabus for membership. The London and South East Branch represents members in the area providing events on wider topics of shipping business and networking. Members come from a wide range of backgrounds in shipping from shipbrokers, ship operators, agents, law firms, insurers and finance.