Date: 31 October 2024
Location: Grand Bergen

Nedre Ole Bulls plass 1

1 Nedre Ole Bulls plass 5012 Bergenhus, Norway

Time: 12:00 – 19:30

Meet our guest speakers

Programme

Registration & lunch buffet 

Welcome | Nicolay Henschien – Area Sales Manager, OTG
Welcome, a quick overview of the day and safety briefing

OTG’s Strategic Vision: Empowering Transformation | Thomas Zanzinger, Chief Executive Officer, OTG

In this opening session, CEO Thomas Zanzinger will reflect on another exciting year at the helm of Ocean Technologies Group and share perspectives on how our organisation and global team of Oceaneers have orientated in their mission to help customers meet the challenges and opportunities of an industry in transition. Sharing OTG’s vision and examining the company’s dual focus on Human Capital Management (HCM) and Operational Software Solutions, Thomas will explore the synergy between these focus areas and explain the initiatives that will help shape the future of maritime. 

New Horizons in Customer Support and Global Excellence | Colin Leech – Senior Director, Customer Support, OTG

Like our industry OTG never stops moving, in this session we will focus on pivotal strategic initiatives to enhance our customer support capabilities worldwide. We’ll look our newly established Centre of Excellence in Manila, strategically positioned to bolster support for our global clientele with local presence.

We’ll introduce our next generation global ticketing system and highlight key team enhancements, including new roles in development, professional services, and global key account management, aimed at further elevating customer experience and business continuity across the maritime industry. 

OTG’s Journey to a Unified Maritime Platform | Nicholas Goubert – Chief Product Officer, OTG

In this wide-ranging product strategy update, we’ll address our progress in integrating our applications into a unified modular platform. Discover how we connect learning and assessment, crew management, fleet management, and regulatory intelligence for enhanced operational efficiency and customer experience. Experience “Ocean Launch”, our unified portal, enabling seamless access to multiple services. Learn about the pathway to cloud migration for fleet management and advancements in crew management, including our agnostic payroll tool. We’ll share insights into our new architecture and shared services driving this transformation, and see how our digital delivery empowers customers with self-service updates. 

Unlocking Insights: OTG’s Next-Gen Data Dashboards | Robert McLaggan – Director, Data,  OTG

Get ready to dive into the world of data-driven decision-making as we unveil our new visualisation and reporting tools. We’ll explore the possibilities of data to inform crucial business decisions and consider the possibilities of an OTG Data Lake, where disparate elements converge to provide comprehensive insights. Experience our latest innovation in reporting dashboards with a demo of the enhanced Learning and Assessment dashboard, showcasing improved insights, streamlined information retrieval, and enhanced user experience. 

We’ll also provide insights into our roadmap for future dashboard releases and understand the implications of these advancements for our stakeholders. 

Introducing DanDocs Marine Regulations | Ronni Ø. Palmqvist – Director, DanDocs

Regulations are an essential cornerstone for ensuring the safe, efficient, and sustainable operation of the maritime industry, protecting both human and environmental health, and supporting global trade and economic growth. This session will introduce DanDocs MarineRegulations, the most recent addition to the OTG suite, address common compliance challenges and demonstrate how its comprehensive library of over 80,000 regulations, ease of search, offline access, and features like automatic updates, and version history, provide innovative solutions to keeping your teams up to date.  

Personalising Learning: OTG’s Innovations in Adaptive Education | Nicholas Goubert – Chief Product Officer, OTG

Discover our new Programme Builder tool, designed to create customised learning pathways that align with specific educational goals. We’ll explore various use cases, including onboarding, compliance training, and continual professional development, and understand how different learning activities can be combined. We’ll demonstrate our new Adaptive Learning System, leveraging pre-assessment and advanced metadata that enables computer-generated individualised learning pathways to be automatically prescribed. Learn how this system efficiently adapts to learners’ needs, optimizing engagement and enhancing learning efficiency and effectiveness. Discover the latest updates to the Ocean Learning library, featuring new content additions key updates and revisions to existing courses making essential titles ‘adaptive ready’ micro-learning units, ideal for our Adaptive Learning System and Programme Builder. 
We’ll also take a look at our product bundles offering ‘turnkey’ solutions to building competence for SIRE 2.0, TMSA, Rightship, and Dry BMS and explain how these solutions empower maritime professionals with essential knowledge and skills for operational excellence. 

Panel Q&A

Previous speakers take questions from the floor 

Coffee break

Panel Discussion: Inspection excellence in the data spotlight  

Inspections play a pivotal role in ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. They help protect seafarers, safeguard the environment, uphold legal requirements, and maintain operational efficiency and quality. The launch of the SIRE 2.0 inspection regime brings a new digital dimension and an increasing focus on human factors. Meanwhile advances in connectivity, technology, big data and the appetite for ESG ensure even more transparency in your operations. Ensuring your team are prepared to perform inspections has never been so important. 

In this session, our expert panel will delve into the operational challenges associated with inspections, shine a spotlight on the crucial elements that inspectors from PSC, SIRE, Rightship, and other key audits scrutinise, and offer insights into strategies to equip your onboard and onshore teams and help ensure a positive result.  

Moderator:

Panellists:

Carlos Gonzalez | Research and Technology Manager, INTERTANKO

Sven Atle Halvorsen | PMS Manager, Utkilen AS

Capt. Jan Ove Ødegård | Marine Manager – Fleet Bergen, Odfjell

Andrew Easdown | Maritime Consultant

Panel Discussion: Building net-zero heroes. Decarbonisation, the human element. 

As the timeline in which to meet our decarbonisation targets begins to narrow, the enormity of the task and the reality of what must be achieved is taking shape. This has led to a welcome shift in focus to what this transformation will mean for maritime professionals- at sea and ashore and a growing appreciation of the knowledge and skills revolution that will be required. The transition to new fuels, adoption of new technologies and increased energy saving measures needed will all be dependent on the readiness of our people and coordinated efforts will be needed across the industry to make it happen.  

In this expert panel, we will discuss the practical initiatives underway to prepare our teams and what more we must do to ensure we meet the goals on which our planet depends. 

Moderator:

Raal Harris | Chief Creative Officer, OTG

Navigating the Future: The Impact of Automation and Technology on Seafarers | Anas Alamoush, Post-doctoral Research Associate, World Maritime University (WMU)

This presentation will address a report titled “Transport 2040: Impact of Technology on Seafarers – The Future of Work,” conducted by the World Maritime University (WMU) and financially supported by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). The report explores how automation, digitalization, and technological advancements will reshape the maritime industry and its workforce.

The presentation will cover key findings, including:

• The major global trends reshaping the maritime industry.
• How these trends align with technological advancements, including automation and digitalization.
• The impact of these developments on the workforce, focusing on the need for targeted reskilling and upskilling to prepare seafarers for a more digitalized, automated, and green maritime industry.
• The effects on seafarers’ occupational safety, health, and overall working conditions.

Panel Discussion: Powering Maritime into the AI Era 

The maritime industry stands on the brink of a transformative shift with the acceleration of technology, the rapid expansion of connectivity and a clear pathway to autonomy, remote operations and artificial intelligence already being deployed. In this thought-provoking panel discussion, industry leaders and technology experts will delve into the pivotal role of digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation in reshaping the maritime landscape. 

This session will explore how emerging technologies are revolutionising operations, enhancing efficiency, driving sustainability and presenting new risks and rewards in the maritime sector. Our panellists will share insights on the latest trends and innovations, providing real-world examples of successful technology adoption across various segments of the industry. 

Moderator:

Peter Schellenberger | Director and founder, Novamaxis

Panellists:

Closing address and thanks 

Drinks reception and canapés 

Our guest speakers

Anas Alamoush

Dr. Anas works as post-doctoral research associate at the World Maritime University (WMU). Anas embarked on his academic journey after serving as a ship captain in Jordan Navy. Anas has a Master of Science degree in Shipping Management and Logistics, and PhD in maritime affairs from WMU. 

As a proud alumnus of WMU Sasakawa and the UN Nippon Research Program on the Law of the Sea, Anas focused on developing sustainability frameworks for the Port of Aqaba in Jordan. Anas’s drive for excellence extends beyond his academic pursuits. He actively participated in high-level projects, collaborating with industry professionals, such as EU Bonus Baltimari, which focuses on enhancing maritime safety, and the WMU/ITF Future of Work project, which explored the integration of cutting-edge technologies in the shipping industry. 

Anas still plays a pivotal role in the EU Horizon Seanergy project, dedicated to facilitating the transition of ports towards cleaner energy sources, reinforcing his commitment to sustainable port operations. Currently, Anas also works at WMU on IMO impact assessment of the GHG med term measures. Demonstrating his aptitude for research, Anas has published numerous studies in internationally renowned, peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, Anas has leveraged his expertise by serving as a reviewer for internationally peer-reviewed maritime transport and sustainability journals. 

Beyond academia, Anas has engaged with diverse nations, fostering international partnerships and contributing to the development of comprehensive transport strategies. Anas’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, as he has been honored with prestigious accolades, including the Queen of Denmark Maregerate Second Medal for his outstanding service in the realm of international affairs. 

Johan Ekvall

Johan joined Wärtsilä in 2006 after 10 years as a Navigation and Diving officer with the Swedish Marines where he was involved in developing and implementing several navigational training programmes. 

Johan has held positions within almost all functions related to simulation and training at Wärtsilä over the years. 

Since 2015, Johan has been focusing on simulation products and has now the role of Head of Simulation and E-Learning, ensuring that the simulators and training services exceed the market expectations. 

Johan holds a BSc in Shipping & Logistics from Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg. and is a graduate of the Royal Swedish Naval Academy.   

Carlos Gonzales

Carlos is originally from Spain but currently resides in Bergen, Norway. He holds a PhD in Marine Engineering and Shipbuilding, specializing in Sustainability and Decarbonization of Maritime Transport. With 14 years of experience in the shipping industry, Carlos has worked both on board ships as an engine officer and onshore in various technical roles. 

Throughout his career, Carlos have gained extensive experience in strategy, decarbonization, optimization of processes, technologies, and digitalization of shipping. He has worked with several companies across different countries, including Acciona, OSM Maritime, and CMA CGM, and he is currently working as the Research and Technology Manager at INTERTANKO. 

In recent years, Carlos has been involved in various projects related to the digitalization and decarbonization of shipping from multiple perspectives, ranging from advisor to project manager to business strategist. 

Simon Grainge

Simon was appointed as Chief Executive of ISWAN in June 2021. In a previous career, Simon was a Police Officer for 20 years before moving into the charity sector where he gained substantial experience of leading organisations working in the fields of homelessness and poverty reduction. Simon has also worked in international development in the disability sector, leading programmes in Nepal and Pakistan. He describes the maritime sector as a hidden gem and wishes he’d discovered it earlier.  

Sven Atle Halvorsen

Sven Atle Halvorsen is the PMS Manager at Utkilen AS, a leading transporter of bulk liquids. With over 27 years of experience in fleet management systems, he began his career in 1997 as a project engineer at Tero Marine, where he spent a decade. Since 2007, he has worked with various shipping companies, focusing on fleet maintenance systems and IT.

Sven brings extensive expertise in system development, support, implementation, conversion, and training, with deep knowledge of multiple fleet management platforms.

James Helliwell

James recently joined V. Group as their Decarbonisation Manager after five years at Shell delivering decarbonisation projects for their shipping fleet.

James is the lead for FuelEU Maritime at V. Group, focused on supporting the group’s clients in preparing for the upcoming regulations. He also supports clients interested in decarbonising their vessels with advice on new fuels, energy efficient technologies and retrofit solutions.

James is also the Vice Chair of the UK Chamber of Shipping Alternative Fuels working group, holds a Master’s degree in Marine Engineering and is a chartered engineer. 

Capt. Jan Ove Ødegård

Captain Jan Ove Ødegård has been in the chemical tanker industry for more than 30 years and has navigated as a Captain aboard chemical tankers. Currently serving as Marine Manager at Odfjell SE, he oversees navigation, cargo handling, and vetting results for the company.

He actively participates in the CDI Technical Committee and Intertanko Vetting Committee, providing valuable insights into the chemical tanker segment. Captain Ødegård’s extensive experience and involvement in industry committees underscore his expertise and understanding of the sector’s operations.

Peter Schellenberger

Born German and multilingual, Peter has spent 34 years in Asia in executive positions in various areas such as trading, manufacturing and the maritime/logistics industry. Now living and travelling out of Germany and enjoying geographic flexibility. 

The maritime part of his career started 16 years ago in Singapore when he managed two leading Ship Chandling companies before joining the VGroup to head the Supply Chain and the Marcas Asia procurement pool, Maritime Service business in Asia development and the VGroup global agency portfolio. the 

In leading ship management company OSM Peter set up smart maritime services company OSERV as Managing Director to create a digital e-procurement platform for fleet and third-party clients and is responsible for procurement and future-driven Maritime services and Ecosystem. 

In the major ship management company Thome he had a similar portfolio and also looked after the Group’s Global Supply Chain and logistic functions as Vice President of Supply Chain. 

Peter was also Managing Director of Supply Chain Specialist Thome subsidiary Vanir Marine Pte Ltd building a smart industry digital marketplace with outsourced service procurement functions and catering services. 

Since April 2023 he set up Novamaxis Pte Ltd, running a supply chain and maritime consulting network specialised in digitalisation, sustainability and start-up financing and nurture. Including own investments and board or ambassadorial positions. Based in Singapore but operating globally for both shipowners/managers and suppliers/service providers addressing bottlenecks and strategic growth areas. 

Tor Egil Skumsnes

TBC

Kirsten Birgitte Strømsnes

Kirsten Birgitte Strømsnes is heading a global program in DNV Maritime, with special considerations on safe operations that embrace safety aspects within: technical, organizational and human factors.

She has a long career in DNV within different business areas (Naval, Maritime, Energy) and different roles and management positions. The red thread in her career is safety risk management from different perspectives as technical safety, safety management systems and safety culture.

Her experience spans from plan approval, advisor within safety and risk management, training/coaching, strategy- service- and organizational development, lecturer at UIB within safety risk analysis.

 Kirsten has a MSc degree in Marine Technology from NTNU, and a second Master degree; Executive Master of Management within Organizational Phycology and an Executive leadership program training from IMD, Lausanne- Switzerland.

Michael North

Michael North is Lloyd’s Register’s Strategic Business Partner and Senior Representative for Norway. He leads LR’s commercial activities in the area and has many years of experience in the Marine industry having started his career as an Electro-Technical Officer sailing on cruise vessels before moving into shore-based sales and project roles.

Originally from the United Kingdom, he started working regularly in Norway in 2007 then moved permanently to Oslo in 2009 and now is also a Norwegian citizen. 

Nathalie Quiquempoix

Nathalie Quiquempoix is the Senior Vice President of Process Efficiency at Zeaborn Ship Management, where she leads business process improvement initiatives across global maritime operations.

Beginning her maritime career as a deck officer, Nathalie has amassed three decades of expertise in shipping, specialising in optimising operations, managing complex offshoring projects, and implementing large-scale change management programs.

Her leadership in digitizing ship management systems and streamlining operations has delivered significant improvements in performance and cost efficiency, making her a key driver of innovation and excellence in the maritime industry.

OTG speakers

Thomas Zanzinger

Thomas Zanzinger brings over 30 years of leadership experience working at global SaaS and software vendors that provide mission critical Enterprise B2B solutions.

Most recently he served as CEO at inriver, a global leader in digitization through product information management. At inriver Thomas accelerated international growth across all regions, increased customer retention, brought new and additional solutions to market as well as added strategic capabilities via M&A. Prior to Inriver Thomas worked for software engineering simulation and 3D design software business ANSYS as well as market-leading companies Aptean and Software AG.

Raal Harris

Raal Harris is the Chief Creative Officer of Ocean Technologies Group with responsibility for leading brand development, marketing and communications activities ensuring a great brand experience for all stakeholders..

He is also responsible for developing and driving strategy and efforts in developing direct to consumer services across online courses, assessment and other value-added streams.

Prior to taking his group role, Raal was Managing Director of Videotel, where he spent fifteen years gaining extensive experience in Maritime E-Learning and the production of maritime training content and software solutions.

Raal’s diverse background includes university lectureships in interaction design, information product design, and computer games design. An active participant in the maritime industry Raal is involved with numerous seafarer welfare, ship management and trade associations.

Nicholas Goubert

Nicholas Goubert is Chief Product Officer at Ocean Technologies Group with responsibility for the strategic leadership and management of the company’s products, overseeing their development, and ensuring their alignment with business objectives, market needs, and customer satisfaction. He is a highly experienced product leader with over 15 years of experience in fintech, media and music, location services, mobility and big data.

Nicholas is passionate about building strong product creation teams, with an emphasis on cross-functional work to deliver innovative products that shape the future of industries, having demonstrated this in a number of sectors and verticals across Clark, SoundCloud, Native Instruments, HERE and Nokia. He enjoys mentoring product managers, uniting cross-functional teams and building great products for his customers.

Ronni Palmqvist

Ronni has dedicated over two decades to the maritime industry, building an impressive career rooted in regulatory expertise and business acumen. After earning his degree as a Mechanical Engineer in 2004, he embarked on his maritime journey with Alfa Laval, where he gained foundational insights into the industry. His passion for maritime operations led him to further his education with a degree in International Business.

In 2009, Ronni joined Pres-Vac Engineering (later acquired by G&O Maritime Group), where he deepened his understanding of maritime rules and regulations. Six years ago, Ronni took a bold step and founded DanDocs, a company specializing in regulatory compliance for maritime businesses. Under his leadership, DanDocs rapidly grew into a market leader, recognized for its flagship product, MarineRegulations.

In 2024, DanDocs was acquired by Ocean Technologies Group, and Ronni continued as CEO, driven by a mission to enhance regulatory compliance across the maritime sector. Throughout his career, Ronni has established himself as a leading expert in maritime regulations, dedicated to helping companies navigate complex regulatory landscapes. His contributions have significantly impacted the industry, ensuring safer and more compliant maritime operations worldwide.

Colin Leech

Robert McLaggan

Vibeke Nordahl-Paulsen 

Andrew Easdown