Shanghai Hosts OSV World Forum 2012

Shanghai Hosts OSV World Forum 2012

Offshore Support Vessel World Forum (OSV World 2012), was held on 11-12 Sep 2012 in Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel.

The event is jointly presented by The Oriental Pro-Energy Consulting Organization (Topco) and Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group. OSV World 2012 has attracted more than a hundred industry professionals. It is a platform for oil and gas producers, designers, builders, OSV owners, operators, contractors, classification societies, equipment suppliers and legal/financial service units to discuss and address the future opportunities and challenges.

Carrying the theme of “Maximizing Commercial Opportunities Amid OSV Market Recovery By Meeting New Technical Challenges and Regulations”, the event falls into four tracks respectively touching on market fundamentals, technical, legal & financial service and regulation issues. The conference is chaired by Gunnar Larsen, Senior Vice President Market & Business Development for Havyard Group AS. More than 20 speakers and panelists have shared their experiences and perspectives at the conference.

In the first track on September 11, Cai Tian, Deputy General Manager of Shipping Division for China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL), analyzes the status of Chinese offshore market and OSV demands. Jiang Qiang, CO-CEO for Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group gives a presentation entitled “Riding the Waves as Niche Market Leader” to assess the critical role of China’s OSV sector and shares Sinopacific’s successful experiences in developing its niche market, such as prospective of strategic drivers and technology innovation on OSV R&D, production and finance. Gunnar Larsen leads the technical track and representatives from Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Co.,Ltd of CSIC, Ulstein, Wartsila and Platou give their updates on key design & technology trends in OSV sector.

Day Two focuses on legal, financial service and regulation issues. Wikborg Rein Law Firm’s presentation highlights the legal standard and protection for shipbuilding contract. The Export-Import Bank of China and China Minsheng Bank Co.,Ltd addresses the current status and future trend of finance as well as the role of Chinese banks in funding global OSVs.

The event also features panel discussion, Q&A as well as a mini-exhibition. The panel draws interaction from audience to discuss how to maintain tight collaboration amid OSV owners, shipyards, design and equipment suppliers in China. Optimism is returning to the global offshore markets, supported by the prompting more yards to wade into the OSV market. China has emerged as largest contributor to the explosive growth in world’s OSV market place and many Chinese shipyards are flocking to the OSV market. But challenges and uncertainties need to be addressed by enhance their own competitiveness.

On September 13, 51 delegates are going on a yard trip to the world’s top OSV builder Zhejiang Shipbuilding owned by Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group, which co-organizes the event with the leading event organizer Topco. In order to set up the most influent communication platform for OSV sector in China, the first cooperation for both sides aims to improving the development of the offshore engineering industry and helping the Chinese OSV shipbuilders take more global market shares by the first ship yard visit.

As an eminent networking platform for OSV industry, the event is also sponsored by Wartsila China, Havyard, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited, LTI Steel Wire Rope (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd, Stonel(USA)/ Pt-BRIDGE(Shanghai,China) and GSHYDRO Piping System, with the supports of Shanghai International Shipping Institute, UCIBN, chinaoffshore.com.cn, The Shanghai Shipbrokers Association (SSA) and CNPI.

The OSV World Forum will repeat next year with an even more powerful panel to be lined up to address new topics and challenges.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, September 12, 2012; Image: sinopacificshipbuilding