First Global Maritime Environmental Congress
The global maritime environmental congress (gmec) is the first inter-industry, international conference on maritime environmental protection. The conference will be held at CCH-Congress Center Hamburg on 7 and 8 September 2010 – on the occasion of SMM, the world’s premier shipbuilding trade fair. In the future, gmec is to take place every two years.
The gmec provides a platform for representatives of IMO, the European Commission, governments, port industries, shipping and the shipbuilding industry to discuss what has been achieved and to set targets for 2020. These may determine the course for the environmental future of the global maritime industry.
Organized by the Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH (HMC), represented by Bernd Aufderheide, the initiator is Jochen Deerberg, CEO of Deerberg-Systems. The principal Congress Chairmen are Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO Carnival Corporation; Corrado Antonini, CEO Fincantieri; and Spyros Polemis, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
The main focus of the conference is on ecological challenges for the maritime industry and the opportunities that sustainable action gives for the economic strength of the industry. Discussions will include representatives of IMO and the European Commission, and decision makers from governments, the business community, scientific institutions and environmental protection organizations. They will address subjects such as reduction of emissions to the air and water and on shore. Other major subjects will include sustainable waste management and sensitive handling of ballast water.