By
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Interferry is expecting to welcome record numbers at its 44th annual conference in London on 5-9 October 2019, with a 30% increase on previous early bird sales. The event will cover many topics under its theme of large-scale innovation, including autonomous vessels, nuclear power and data-fuelled personalisation.
The association’s call for papers stressed that the conference would focus on initiatives offering step change rather than incremental improvements.
“The overwhelming response confirmed that the ferry community is drawing ever closer to the next big things on the horizon,” says Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry. “Our speakers programme will explore technical, operational and commercial innovations with revolutionary potential that will help delegates future-proof their businesses.
“The combination of conference content and London’s predominant position among world maritime centres leads us to expect record attendance for the event.”
In the first of two opening keynote presentations futurist and writer David Rowan will use insights from his recent book Non-Bullshit Innovation: Radical Ideas from the World’s Smartest Minds to suggest how the ferry industry can build new revenue streams and attract talent. Guy Platten, head of the International Chamber of Shipping, will then give his take on where ferries fit into the future of shipping.
During 19 sessions over two days, an international line-up of speakers will explore transformation case studies; progress on zero-emission and automated ferries; how shipyards are improving the construction process; terminal berthing and bridge navigation technologies; advances in IT and satellite telecommunications networks; customer service innovations involving terminal interfaces, billing systems and the internet; and an analytics-based risk model providing a paradigm shift for insurance cover.
Each day of the conference will end with discussion panels in which ferry company CEOs from Australia, Canada, Greece, Sweden, Thailand, the UK and the US will debate the best approaches to the opportunities arising from ever-increasing technological and customer demands.