1. 32 BC Shipping News May 2016
PORTS
P
ort Expansion — The Challenges
will form the central theme of
the upcoming 10th
International
Harbour Masters’ Association Congress
which will take place at the Pinnacle
Hotel Vancouver Harbourfront from
May 30 to June 2 this year. This year
marks the 10th
Congress but also the
20th
year since the inception of the
Association and the Congress Project
Management team plan to celebrate in
style and deliver the best Congress yet.
The International Harbour Masters’
Association (IHMA) is a non-profit
professional body that unites Harbour
Masters from around the world. With
more than 200 members in 40 coun-
tries, the Association strives to bring
together all those who hold a manager-
ial position in aspects of the control of
Marine Operations within a port. Past
Congresses have been held in Reykjavik
(1996), Amsterdam (1998), Dubai
(2000), Cape Town (2002), Bremen
(2004), Malta (2006), St Petersburg
(2008), Perth (2010), Cork (2012) and
Bruges (2014).
Taking place in the fourth largest
port in North America, the 2016 IHMA
Congress program appeals to Harbour
Masters from ports across all levels of
the industry spectrum. Congress papers
focus on the opportunities and chal-
lenges facing the Harbour Master today
and also address the key issues of how
Harbour Masters, who are the key cus-
todians of port safety and the environ-
ment, balance these responsibilities
with the challenges of port expansion
and increasing vessel size.
The three-day conference will exam-
ine a range of key themes facing port
operators today including; Planning
and Infrastructure, How Ports Operate
Expanded Facilities, Social Acceptance,
Harbour Master Special Interest and
Marine Labour. The program will out-
line local and international case studies
on the central theme of Port Expansion
— The Challenges, as well as delivering
more traditional updates in marine
operations, security, environment and
technology.
The program
The program features papers from a
range of industry representatives and
keynote presentations from some of the
most influential organizations in the
industry. Captain Kevin Richardson,
President of the IHMA, will open the
Congress alongside Chris Wellstood,
Director of Marine Operations and
Security and Harbour Master at Port of
Vancouver. Peter Xotta, Vice President,
Planning and Operations, Port of
Vancouver, will give a keynote address on
‘Charting a Course toward Long-term
Growth and Sustainability.’ This will
shortly be followed by a keynote speech
from RAdm Roger Girouard, Assistant
Commissioner, Western Region,
Canadian Coast Guard, on ‘From the
High Seas to your Harbour.’ The discus-
sion on Planning and Infrastructure will
continue for the remainder of the first
day where there will be presentations
from a range of organizations including
the Harbour Masters of Port of Québec
(CAN) and Port of Cork (IRE), the
Upcoming Harbour Master Congress
focuses on port expansion
By Niamh Horan, Project Manager, IHMA Congress 2016

2. May 2016 BC Shipping News 33
PORTS
Director for Environmental Assessment
from Port of Prince Rupert (CAN), and
the Marine Operations General Manager
of Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited
(AUS).
Captain Stephen Brown, immedi-
ate past President of the Chamber of
Shipping of British Columbia, will open
the second day of the program with a
keynote address on ‘Western Canadian
Port Expansion — The Challenges and
Opportunities.’ Captain Brown will
be followed by a keynote address from
Francis Zachariae, Secretary-General,
International Association of Marine Aids
toNavigationandLighthouseAuthorities
(IALA) (FRA), who will cover ‘The
Expanding Role of VTS including the
Impact of e-Navigation.’ The discussion
on how ports operate expanded facilities
and the challenges and opportunities
this brings will continue with presen-
tations from the General Manager of
Operations from Pilbara Ports Authority
(AUS), the Harbour Master of Port of
Prince Rupert (CAN), the Harbour
Master of Port of Hamburg (GER), and
the Harbour Master of Port of London
Authority (UK).
Discussions will continue into the
third day of the program with Harbour
Master Special Interest and Marine
Labour on the agenda. Captain Simon
Pelletier the President of International
MarinePilotsAssociationwillgiveakey-
note address on ‘Megaships, advanced
Pilot Technology and the prospects
for e-Navigation.’ He will be joined by
the Ports and Shipping Administrator
from the OECD, the Harbour Master
of Fremantle Ports (AUS), the Head of
the Maritime College of Ireland, the
Harbour Master of Port of Newcastle
(AUS) and a representative from the
Australian Maritime College at the
University of Tasmania (AUS).
Networking and social activities
The three-day conference will run
alongside an exciting networking pro-
gram. There will be an Official Welcome
Reception held at the historic Vancouver
Rowing Club; Exhibition Networking
Drinks; and The Official Congress
Dinner, the social highlight of the week,
which will take place at the Terminal
City Club. The Congress Dinner is
the perfect ending to three days of net-
working, knowledge sharing and stra-
tegic planning. There is also a Partners
Program running alongside the Congress
providing activities for any other halves
that make the journey to Vancouver, too.
Activities will include private tours of the
Vancouver area, Whistler Village and the
local wineries.
Following the conclusion of the
Congress proceedings, attendees have
the opportunity to embark on a tour
of the current facilities of Port of
Vancouver on the morning of June 2.
Enjoy a guided waterborne tour of the
busiest and most diverse port in Canada.
See you in Vancouver
Captain Kevin Richardson, IHMA
President is excited to welcome every-
one to Vancouver saying:
“Not only is there one of the best
technical papers program we have ever
put together but we also have a fabulous
Partners’ Program that means that there
will be something for everyone to enjoy
in Vancouver.
“The Association’s biennial ‘flagship’
event is an important event for all sorts
of reasons: it will help you get up-to-
date with developments in the indus-
try in a convivial atmosphere where
you have the opportunity to meet like-
minded colleagues.”
Captain Richardson also encourages,
not only members of IHMA, but also
non-members and industry profession-
als to “make your attendance a priority,
for all these good reasons, and not least
because it will be a thoroughly enjoy-
able event in a splendid location. Indeed
it will be the first such congress to take
place in North America.”
Harbour Masters from around the
world will gather to discuss the key
themes and issues mentioned above.
One such Harbour Master is Port
of Cork Company’s Captain Paul
O’Regan who will be attending and
presenting a paper at the Congress.
When asked about the central theme
of the Congress, Port Expansion — The
Challenges, Captain O’Regan told us:
“Ports are expanding to cope with lar-
ger and faster cargo throughput’s in
a very competitive market. Channels
are being deepened, berths are being
constructed and cargo handling equip-
ment is bigger and advancing towards
automation.”
When it comes to future expansion of
the port and demands on the Harbour
Master role, Captain O’Regan says
“The HM has all the necessary practical
knowledge required to advise and assist
directors, senior management and ser-
vice providers on what may work best in
his/her own port. Further to the prac-
tical knowledge, HMs should be able
to function at the senior management
level when appraising development
plans, compiling planning applications
and working with financial institutions
to assist them in understanding the
dynamics of their particular ports.”
When asked why a Congress such as
this is important to the industry, Captain
O’Regan told us the “Congress gives a
fantastic opportunity for HMs and other
port professionals to meet and discuss
new initiatives and common issues that
are being experienced right across the
industry. It is also an opportunity to
build up a valuable network of HMs and
friends that will assist and offer advice
when possible, in the future.”
If you are interested in learning more
about the 10th
IHMA Congress, the
social functions, the Partner Program
or sponsorship and exhibition oppor-
tunities, check out the website www.
globalportoperations.com or join us on
LinkedIn at www.globalportoperations.
com/linkedin.
Your involvement would heighten
the spotlight on the innovation in this
region and the IHMA is delighted to
be able to offer you and your organiza-
tion a $200CAD saving on Congress
registration!
To take up this offer, enter promo
code: CLC10 upon completing your
online registration at www.globalpor-
toperations.com/clc
We hope to see you there!