OTG Customer Seminar in London

Thursday 20th of April, 2023
The Bakers Hall
7 Harp Ln, London EC3R 6DP
12:00 – 18:00

Meet our guest speakers

Programme

Registration

Welcome 
Quick overview of the day and safety briefing.

OTG Keynote: Building Tomorrow Today: How OTG is innovating to power our partners

It’s three years since we formed OTG and launched a common brand with which to support our customers. In this opening session, we will share our vision, reflect on our mission and illustrate the initiatives we are taking to help drive our customers’ success.  

We will give an overview of our development roadmap, and detail our strategy for bringing Fleet Management, Learning & Assessment, and Maritime HR together in a single eco-system. We’ll also look at how we have transformed our approach product development and user experience (UX) design and present a glimpse our next generation software.  

This opening session will include:
Thomas Zanzinger Chief Executive Officer
Johan Gustafsson Chief Revenue Officer
William Brown Group Head of Product Management
Tim Moore Group Head of UX and Design

Industry Keynote Address – Capt. Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General | InterManager

Our seafarers and those that support them ashore are under greater pressure than ever before. Unpredictable global and local events are putting pressure on supply chains and crewing, whilst digitisation and technology present opportunities to transform how we work and live onboard. Capt. Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General of InterManager, shares his thoughts and perspectives on the key issues affecting our Industry and our people in these times of change.  

Closing the digitalization gap – Thomas Zanzinger, CEO | OTG

Digitalisation is often held up as the solution to staying on top of the demands of our quickly changing industry. Everyone is being told that the data in their business is gold, but as companies accelerate in their adoption of technology, many fall foul of the gap between digitising their information and digitalisation of their business. We’ll consider how best to close that gap and show some examples of how we are working with data to uncover opportunities to improve safety find efficiencies, eliminate waste and wasted effort, and maximise fleet performance.  

Shipping’s Just Transition: Ensuring a Green Future Workforce – Martha Selwyn, Manager | UN Global Compact  

The availability of skilled labour and the right education will be a condition for shipping’s green transformation. To ensure no seafarer is left behind, a ‘Just Transition’ to a zero emission maritime industry is increasingly essential. This presentation will demystify the concept of ‘Just Transition’, highlight the growing business case for action, and present an overview of future skills and competences for green shipping jobs.  

Maritime Innovation: Automation, Autonomy and Alternative Fuels, Are our people ready? – Captain John Lloyd, RD, MBA, FNI, CMMar CEO | TheNautical Institute

In a period of unprecedented change and challenge this presentation will draw upon the key factors identified during a global engagement programme made by the Nautical Institute as part of its 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2022. 

Drawing upon real-world experience from today’s experts, John will explain NI perspectives on how different regions have different priorities.  Despite these differences, there is much that unities us and there has never been a more important time for leadership, direction and commitment if we are to meet the social and environmental challenges ahead. 

John will make the case for increasing our focus on professional development and ask the key question of how will we ensure our seafarers are equipped to manage the increasing levels of sophistication in on-board equipment and high levels of data. 

How to prepare for SIRE 2.0 – FransUbaghs, Senior Vetting & Deputy Marine Director | INTERTANKO  

Updating the Ship Inspection Report Program (SIRE) with the upcoming SIRE 2.0 represents a huge step change in the vetting of tankers with updated inspection guidelines, a move to digital reporting, improved data analysis, and an enhanced focus on environmental protection. It also follows the renewed focus on human factors with the inclusion of several Proforma Inspection Form (PIF) items related to human factors. In this presentation Frans will consider how ship operators can ensure their crew are ready for this change. 

Coffee break 

Setting up for success, strategies to support our teams onboard and ashore 

This session will focus on a range of aspects and tools to help support our teams to help drive performance that ensures commercial success whilst maintaining the highest levels of operational reliability, environmental sustainability, social responsibility and good-governance. 

Clear Channels: The Importance of Effective Communication in Ensuring Maritime Safety and Efficiency – Catherine Logie,Director Direct to Consumer Services | OTG

As the industry evolves, effective communication is more important than ever for ensuring safe and efficient operations and wellbeing of crews. In addition to complying with international regulations and industry best practices, communication skills are now seen as essential in preparing crews for future roles.

Catherine will draw on her many years of experience in Maritime English assessment and skills development to look at these aspects and suggest strategies to improve communication across teams. 

Powering Maritime HR – Christoph Koenig, Business Development Director | OTG

The ability of our crews to adapt to the changing industry will be paramount. Technology presents opportunities to make maritime HR manageable, reduce workloads, and make our industry a more attractive proposition for the people we need. Christoph will explain how we are making it easier to leverage smart tools empower HR professionals to manage their teams. 

Advances in Learning and Assessment – Raal Harris, Chief Creative Officer  | OTG

In bringing our learning brands together, there are more opportunities than ever to build out your e-learning strategy. Alongside presenting an update on the Learning library and competency management, we will demonstrate the new principles of content authoring at OTG and give a preview of the adaptive learning approach to development. We’ll also suggest ways to personalise your use of Ocean Learning Platform to drive your initiatives and create an improved employee experience  

Transforming Maritime Professionals – Moderated Panel Discussion with Q&A  

Digitalisation and increased connectivity at sea is rapidly changing the way we work onboard and on shore. The new fuels and technologies that will drive our decarbonisation goals will only see this accelerate and place new demands on skills and the profiles of the teams we build.
Advances in technology and proliferation of software offer us opportunities to automate processes and bring greater insight than ever into the performance our vessels and our maritime professionals will be vital to ensuring success.  

In this session, the panel will discuss how technology can be used to support our maritime professionals onboard and ashore in their vital work.  

This opening session will include:
Neil Dulling, Manager Environmental CoE Europe, MOL LNG Transport Ltd
Yvette de Klerk, Business Development Manager, Warsash Maritime School
Capt. Arvind Natrajan, Senior Marine Adviser (Crewing & Training), ICS
Martha Selwyn, Manager, Ocean at United Nations Global Compact

Closing address and thanks

Drinks reception 

Dinner

Our guest speakers

Yvette de Klerk, MSc, AFNI

Yvette joined Warsash Maritime School, part of Solent University, Southampton as Business Development Manager in March this year. Throughout her career in the maritime industry, she has held various crewing and training portfolios, worked in several countries across the globe and represented South Africa at International Maritime events as part of different Government delegations. 

Most recently before taking up her position with Warsash, Yvette was the Head of Training at Wallem, where she worked extensively on defining the training policies and requirements to contribute to a better safety culture.  

Yvette is an Associate Fellow of The Nautical Institute and holds a bachelor’s degree in Sport Psychology, National Diploma in Maritime Studies, and Master of Science Degree in Maritime Affairs (MET) from the prestigious World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden. Yvette is passionate about transforming the maritime education and training (MET) landscape through collaboration and currently co-chairs the ‘Career Pathways’ sub-group of the UK MCA’s Education, Policy, and Technical Consultation Group.

Capt. John Lloyd, RD, MBA, FNI, CMMar

John joined The Nautical Institute from the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in Tasmania where he was a Professor in the National Centre for Ports and Shipping. During his seven years at AMC he had a two years leave of absence to set up the Angolan Maritime Training Centre. Before joining AMC he spent two years working in the Vanuatu Maritime College. 

John’s varied career prior to these appointments included four years in senior positions with Flagship Training in the UK, 10 years with Warsash Maritime Centre as a senior and principal lecturer in simulation and operations, and two years as a marine pilot in Walvis Bay. He served at sea from 1975 for 16 years, gaining command in 1987. 

Capt. Arvind Natrajan

Arvind is the Senior Marine Adviser (Crewing & Training) at the International Chamber of Shipping. His current role involves developing training standards for seafarers who will work on alternative fuel-propelled ships that will help IMO achieve the revised GHG strategy that will be adopted at MEPC 80. To realise this, Arvind works with the IMO Secretariat and key IMO Member States towards reviewing and revising the STCW Convention and Code within a target year of 2026.   

After a seafaring career in command of Oil and Chemical Tankers, Arvind was briefly involved in academics as a Nautical Science Lecturer with University of Suffolk. Prior to joining ICS, he was also involved in enforcing IMO and UK legislation through the Paris MoU Port State regime. A person of diverse interests, when not immersed in a book, he can be found exploring the great outdoors or inflicting crunching tackles as a centre-back on the football field.

Martha Selwyn

Martha Selwyn is currently a Manager at the United Nations Global Compact. In her role she works with employers, workers and policymakers across the blue economy  – from shipping, ports and offshore wind – to support the implementation of ambitious sustainability goals, including climate (mitigation and adaptation) and biodiversity targets and human and labour rights standards. At present, Martha leads work on the social-climate nexus with the Maritime Just Transition Task Force established at COP 26 by industry, the UN and seafarers’ unions. The Task Force is a global-first, dedicated to ensuring a human-centred transition to a zero emission shipping industry by 2050.

Before holding her position at the UN, Martha completed her Master of Public Policy with a Summa Cum Laude Honours at Sciences Po, Paris. Prior to Sciences Po, Martha spent one year at the Berlin-based public affairs consultancy KekstCNC in 2017-18 and one year at the German Federal Foreign Office. She completed her First Class undergraduate studies in German and Philosophy at  the University of Edinburgh from 2012-2016.

Capt. Kuba Szymanski

Captain Kuba Szymanski is the Secretary General for InterManager, the international trade association for the ship and crew management sector.
During his sea career he sailed gas/chemical/product tankers and continues to maintain his Captain’s Licence. Moving ashore he gained a Certificate in Ship Superintendence and an MBA and worked as a Marine Superintendent, HSEQ Manager, Fleet Manager and General Manager.

Through his role with InterManager, Capt Szymanski has participated in many industry-wide projects. He chairs the Human Element Industry Group Enclosed Space Committee.

Capt Szymanski is a member of the Maritime Professional Council of the UK, and a fellow of the Nautical Institute and member of its Executive Board. He chairs the HR and Renumeration Committee of the TK Foundation, is Chair of the Board of the Seafarers Hospital Society, and holds an Honorary Doctorate by Solent Southampton University in recognition of his contribution to the maritime industry.

In his leisure time, Kuba is a keen yachtsman and sails competitively.

Frans Ubaghs

Frans obtained his “Master in Nautical Science” certificate from the Antwerp Maritime Academy. 

After an extensive career at sea on different types of vessels, he sailed as Master on chemical tankers. Frans holds various advanced qualifications including an MBA in Shipping & Logistics. 

He worked as marine superintendent, inspector, DPA, HSQE Manager, General Manager and Vetting Manager for tanker owners and in various tanker management companies in Belgium, France and Germany. 

Frans joined INTERTANKO in August 2018 as Vetting Manager where he is responsible for responding to queries and provide guidance to members on issues pertaining to Vetting and general HSQE matters. Development of INTERTANKO Vetting Guides, organising Vetting Seminars and Forums and supporting the further development and upgrading of INTERTANKO internal database and benchmarking tools form part of his daily duties. He further develops the crucial collaborative work with OCIMF/CDI and other industry organisations.