Dublin Castle · 15th & 16th November 2022

Navigating to 2050

A safe and sustainable maritime future

15th & 16th November 2022
Dublin Castle

A two-day online and in-person event at Dublin Castle, the conference brings key national and international leaders together to debate a safe and sustainable route to 2050.

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The maritime sector is becoming increasingly complex and decision points on key issues are close at hand. Decarbonisation, alternative fuel types, autonomous systems and ships, digitalisation of navigation and related technology, offshore renewable energy development, and maritime spatial planning are all driving significant changes in our industry. This will present challenges and opportunities for all involved in shipping, ports, maritime infrastructure, safety, regulation, and environmental protection. These issues need to be tackled simultaneously, and in a holistic manner if we are to achieve a safe and sustainable route to 2050.

 

Irish Lights is a 24/7 maritime safety organisation, operating around the coast of Ireland, north and south. We play an important role in contributing to safe navigation at sea, ensuring compliance with Chapter V/13 of the SOLAS Safety of Life at Sea Convention and responding to dangerous wrecks.  

 

As a key stakeholder in the maritime sector, Irish Lights is acutely conscious that this future can only be delivered by close interconnectivity and collaboration between all the players and dimensions within the sector. That is why we have a particular interest in bringing together a diverse range of key national and international leaders to facilitate this important debate. We invite you to join us for a stimulating and engaging two days on the 15th and 16th of November in Dublin Castle and online.

Yvonne Shields O’Connor

CEO Irish Lights

Tuesday 15th November

Session 1

Navigating Safely and Sustainably to 2050

Session 2

Will Technology Change the Future of Navigation and What Are the Implications for Safety and Sustainability?

Wednesday 16th November

Session 3

A Changing Offshore Seascape – Keeping It Safe

Session 4

Ports and Regional Infrastructure in 2050

Sponsorship opportunities

There are a small number of high profile sponsorship packages available. For further information, contact Jane McGahern on 01 271 5455 or email jane.mcgahern@irishlights.ie

Speakers

Yvonne Shields O’Connor

CEO, Irish Lights

Minister Hildegarde Naughton

Minister of State, Department of Transport

Dr. Paul Little

CEO, City of Glasgow College and Chair of UK Shipping Skills Taskforce

Anthony Gurnee

Founder and CEO of Ardmore Shipping, Ireland

Maja Markovčić Kostelac

Executive Director, European Maritime Safety Agency, Portugal

Chris Waddington

Technical Director, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)

Prof. Alan Ahearne

University of Galway, Ireland

Caoimhín Ó Ciaruáin

Assistant Secretary, Department of Transport, Ireland

Dr. Kirsi Tikka

Independent Director and International Maritime Advisor, UK

Aoife O’Leary

CEO, Opportunity Green, UK

Ronan Boyle

Director of e-Navigation and Maritime Services, Commissioners of Irish Lights, Ireland

Ann Pletschke

Chief Vessel Operator, Ocean Infinity, UK

Jacob Terling

Principal Administrator, European Commission, DG Move, Brussels

Niels Peter Fredslund

Deputy Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA), Denmark

Carmen Aguilera

Head of Section, Operational Market Development & Safety Critical Applications, EUSPA (European Union Agency for Space Programme), Czech Republic

Francis Zachariae

Secretary General, IALA, France

Dr. Alan Grant

Head of R&D, GRAD, UK

John Pottle

Director, Royal Institute of Navigation

Maria Graham

Assistant Secretary, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Ireland

Martina Hennessy

Principal Officer, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland

Kai Truempler

Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Germany

Carien Droppers

Coordinating Specialist Advisor Shipping, Rijkswaterstaat Sea and Delta, The Netherlands

Nigel Hare

Director of Navigational Requirements, Trinity House, UK

Adam Cronin

Head of Offshore – DP Energy

Cormac Gebruers

National Maritime College of Ireland

Robert Mc Cabe

Chair of the Seafood and Offshore Energy Working Group

Noel Cunniffe

CEO of Wind Energy Ireland

Liam Lacey

Director, Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO)

Prof. Kurt Bodewig

Co-ordinator, Motorways of the Sea - DG MOVE, EU Commission, Brussels

Mary Dunning

Principal Officer, Dept. of Transport, Ireland

Pat Keating

Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce and Shannon Foynes Port, Ireland

Michael Robinson

Port Director, Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland

Catherine Sheridan

EIH2, Chief Operating Officer, Ireland

Dr. John O’Sullivan

COO and Co-founder, dCarbonX, Ireland

Kindly supported by

About

Commissioners of Irish Lights

About

Dublin Castle

Conference Programme
Navigating to 2050
A Safe and Sustainable Maritime Future.

Tuesday 15th November 2022

Session one - Navigating Safely and Sustainably to 2050

8:00 am

Registration and Refreshments

9:00 am
Welcome and Introduction
Yvonne Shields O’Connor, 
CEO, Irish Lights.
9:15 am
Conference Opening
Minister Hildegarde Naughton, 
Minister of State, Department of Transport.
9:25 am
Session 1. Navigating Safely and Sustainably to 2050
Chairperson:  
Opening remarks from Session Chairperson
Dr. Paul Little, 
CEO, City of Glasgow College and Chair of UK Shipping Skills Taskforce.
9:30 am
Conference Keynote Address:  
Transitioning to a Sustainable and Profitable Decarbonised Shipping Future
Anthony Gurnee, 
Founder and CEO of Ardmore Shipping, Ireland.
9:55 am
Safety and Sustainability:  
Ensuring the Resilience of Future Shipping
Maja Markovčić Kostelac, 
Executive Director, European Maritime Safety Agency, Portugal.
10:15 am
Reality 2050:  
Meeting IMO targets, an industry perspective.
Chris Waddington, 
Technical Director, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
10:35 am

Coffee break

11:15 am
Implications of Fit for 55 on the Irish Maritime Sector and Wider Economy
Prof. Alan Ahearne, 
University of Galway, Ireland.
11:35 am
Climate Challenges for the Maritime Sector:  
National and International Targets
Caoimhín Ó Ciaruáin, 
Assistant Secretary, Department of Transport, Ireland.
11:55 am
What Will It Take to Decarbonise the Maritime Sector?
Dr. Kirsi Tikka, 
Independent Director and International Maritime Advisor, UK.
12:15 pm
Unlocking the Opportunities From Tackling Climate Change in the Maritime Sector
Aoife O’Leary, 
CEO, Opportunity Green, UK.

12:30 pm

Panel discussion including all speakers above

1:15 pm

Lunch

Session two - Will technology change the future of Navigation and what are the implications for safety and sustainability?

2:15 pm
Session 2. Will technology change the future of navigation and what are the implications for safety and sustainability?
Chairperson:  
Opening remarks from Session Chairperson
Ronan Boyle, 
Director of e-Navigation and Maritime Services, Commissioners of Irish Lights, Ireland.
2:20 pm
Making Autonomy a Reality
Ann Pletschke, 
Chief Vessel Operator, Ocean Infinity, UK.
2:40 pm
Latest Thinking:  
What Regulatory Framework for Marine Autonomous Surface Ships?
Jacob Terling, 
Principal Administrator, European Commission, DG Move, Brussels.
3:00 pm
Aids to Navigation 2050:  
A View From the Danish Maritime Safety Administration
Niels Peter Fredslund, 
Deputy Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA), Denmark.
3:20 pm

Coffee break

3:50 pm
Space Services and Data for Maritime Safety
Carmen Aguilera, 
Head of Section, Operational Market Development & Safety Critical Applications, EUSPA (European Union Agency for Space Programme), Czech Republic.

4:10 pm

Panel discussion will include speakers and the following contributors:

Francis Zachariae, Secretary General IALA, France.
Dr Alan Grant, Head of R&D, GRAD, UK.
John Pottle, Royal Institute of Navigation, UK.

4:50 pm
Close of Conference Day 1
5:00 pm

Evening Reception at the Portrait Gallery, Dublin Castle.

Wednesday 16th November 2022

Session three - A Changing Offshore Seascape – Keeping it Safe

8:00 am

Registration and Refreshments

9:00 am
Session 3. A changing Offshore Seascape, Keeping it Safe.
Welcome from Chairperson:
Maria Graham, 
Assistant Secretary, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Ireland.
9:10 am
Developing a shared and safe space for offshore renewable energy in Ireland
Martina Hennessy, 
Principal Officer, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland.
9:30 am
Shipping and the Use of Maritime Space in Times of Offshore Wind Energy Expansion: Lessons for Policy Makers and Industry
Kai Truempler, 
Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Germany.
9:50 am
Development and implementation of a safety regime for shipping in relation to offshore wind developments.:  
Carien Droppers, 
Coordinating Specialist Advisor Shipping, Rijkswaterstaat Sea and Delta, The Netherlands.
10:20 am

Coffee break

10:50 am
Offshore Wind Developments and Safe Navigation:  
The Experience of the UK General Lighthouse Authorities
Nigel Hare, 
Director of Navigational Requirements, Trinity House, UK.
11:10 am
A Developer’s Perspective on the Maritime Safety Aspects of Offshore Renewable Energy Development
Adam Cronin, 
Head of Offshore – DP Energy.

11:30 am

Panel discussion will include speakers and the following contributors:

Robert Mc Cabe, Chair of the Irish Seafood and Offshore Energy Working Group.
Cormac Greburers, Head of the National Maritime College of Ireland.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO, Wind Energy Ireland.

12:15 pm

Lunch

Session four - Ports and Regional Infrastructure in 2050

1:00 pm
Session 4. Ports and Regional Infrastructure in 2050
Chairperson:  
Opening remarks from Session Chairperson
Liam Lacey, 
Director, Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).
1:05 pm
The European Maritime Space:  
How the Maritime Transport Sector Is Part of the De-carbonisation Solution
Prof. Kurt Bodewig, 
Co-ordinator, Motorways of the Sea - DG MOVE, EU Commission, Brussels.
1:30 pm
National Ports Policy Review
Mary Dunning, 
Principal Officer, Dept. of Transport, Ireland.
1:50 pm
The Role of the Ports for a Climate Neutral Economy by 2050
Pat Keating, 
Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce and Shannon Foynes Port, Ireland.
2:10 pm
The Role of Ports in Supporting the Energy and Sustainability Transition
Michael Robinson, 
Port Director, Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland.
2:30 pm

Coffee break

3:00 pm
Green Hydrogen Unlocks a Secure, Sustainable and Equitable Energy Future
Catherine Sheridan, 
EIH2, Chief Operating Officer, Ireland.
3:20 pm
Offshore Large-Scale Subsurface Energy Storage:  
A Key Element in Ireland's Transition to Net Zero
Dr. John O’Sullivan, 
COO and Co-founder, dCarbonX, Ireland.
3:40 pm

Panel discussion with speakers

4:20 pm
Conference Closing Remarks
Yvonne Shields O’Connor, 
CEO, Irish Lights.