The SMN Vision
As we start to turn our thoughts to meeting face to face again, we are also able to start focusing our attention on the big questions that the past year has accelerated.
Smart Maritime Network has spent the last 12 months looking at key issues surrounding data exchange, data ownership and data interdependency. With digitalisation at the top of every to do list, there is more discussion than ever about what really drives value – for the customer and for the business. But this time there is another layer to the discussion – resilience. How do companies factor resilience into their digital transformation goals?
There has also been increased discussion around digitalisation’s impact on trade facilitation – particularly the role of mainstreaming digital technologies, including the implementation of paperless trade and new platforms and frameworks for data exchange (such as via single window systems). A recent report released by IAPH & the World Bank describes how “collaborative use of digital technology can help streamline all aspects of maritime transport, from cross-border processes and documentation to communications between ship and shore”.
SMN Rotterdam 2021 will take the opportunity to review how digitalisation can be harnessed to propel Maritime’s ongoing recovery and the future of global trade.
Details about our registration policy and response to ongoing travel and country restrictions may be viewed by clicking on the Registration button above. For more information about this programme please get in touch with SMN here: cathy.hodge@smartmaritimenetwork.com
Confirmed Speakers include:
- Bjoern Sprotte, CEO Ship Management, V.Group
- Dr. Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director, International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)
- Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Deputy President & COO, Inmarsat Maritime
- Leo Brand, CIO, Vopak
- Mare Straetmans, Director Digital Transformation, Van Oord
- Thomas Christensen, Secretary General, Maritime Connectivity Platform Consortium
- Niels Nuyens, Program Director, Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA)
- Dita Bruijn, Director Of Operations, PortXchange
- Fernando Liesa, Secretary General, ALICE, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ETP LOGISTICS)
- Hanane Becha, Transport & Logistics Vice Chair, UN/CEFACT
- Jan Egbertsen, Manager Innovation, Port of Amsterdam
- Nick Chubb, Founder & Managing Director, Thetius
- Mikael Lind, Advisor, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
- Rob O’Dwyer, Chief Network Office, Smart Maritime Network
- Cathy Hodge, Chief Operating Officer, Smart Maritime Network
Learning
Learn from our expert speakers and get up to date on the latest technology developments.
Sharing
Share ideas on how to transform the shipping business using digital technologies.
Networking
Reconnect with your peers in the maritime IT sector and make new contacts to benefit your business.
Conference Agenda // May 27, 2021
- Registration and Welcome Refreshments 8.15 AM
- Introduction & Welcome from Smart Maritime Network 9.00 AM
Cathy Hodge, Chief Operating Officer, Smart Maritime Network
- Mare Straetmans, Director Digital Transformation, Van Oord 9.05 AM
Opening Notes from Conference Chair
Welcome to the day's events - Bjoern Sprotte, CEO Ship Management, V.Group 9.15 AM
Keynote: How Digital Readiness Can Drive Resilience and Power Agility
- Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Deputy President & COO, Inmarsat Maritime 9.40 AM
Digitalisation Uncovered
- Dr. Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director, International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) 10.05 AM
Accelerating Digitalisation: Critical Actions to Strengthen the Resilience of the Maritime Supply Chain
- Tea/Coffee Break with Technology Display Zone 10.30 AM
- SESSION 1: Digitalising Global Trade
- Leo Brand, CIO, Vopak 11.00 AM
Digitalisation as a Critical Success Factor for the Future of Logistics Chains
- Hanane Becha, Transport & Logistics Vice Chair, UN/CEFACT 11.25 AM
Cross-industry Supply Chain Track and Trace
A UN/CEFACT cross-Industry Project - Niels Nuyens, Program Director, Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) 11.50AM
Enabling the End-to-End Digitalisation of Trade - Standardising the Bill of Lading
- Panel Discussion: Getting the Measure of your Data – Friend or Foe? 12.15 PM
Hosted by Nick Chubb, Founder & Managing Director, Thetius
Panellists include:
Jan Egbertsen, Manager Innovation, Port of Amsterdam
Mikael Lind, Advisor, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Dita Bruijn, Director Of Operations, PortXchange
- Lunch 1.15 PM
Enjoy some food and take the opportunity to tour our partners’ Technology Display Zones to learn how they are working towards a smarter shipping future.
- Roundtable Discussion Groups – Hosted by our Partners 2.30 PM
Each table will focus on a unique topic centred around the Smart Maritime Network goal of establishing better collaboration and standardisation in maritime technology. The roundtable discussions will take place simultaneously and will last 50-minutes with each table host then asked to summarise their discussions for the whole room, to ensure that all participants get the most from their attendance. There will be a total of 10 table discussions to choose from. Delegates are sent the list in advance and invited to choose the table they would most like to join.
- Short Break for Delegates to Return to Seats 3.30 PM
- SESSION 2: Frameworks for Digitalisation of Maritime & Transport Sectors
- Fernando Liesa, Secretary General, ALICE, Alliance for Logistics Innovation through Collaboration in Europe (ETP LOGISTICS) 3.50 PM
Physical Internet Roadmap and the Implications for Maritime from the Users Perspective
- Thomas Christensen, Secretary General, Maritime Connectivity Platform Consortium 4.15 PM
The Maritime Connectivity Platform (MCP)
An open-source digital maritime domain which wants to bring common Internet standards to maritime navigation and transport systems. - Panel Discussion: The Smart Maritime Network 4.40 PM
A review of recent work and projects driven by the Smart Maritime Council Members to enhance collaboration and standardisation in the maritime industry
Hosted by Rob O’Dwyer, Chief Network Office, Smart Maritime Network - Closing Keynote Address 5.20 PM
Speaker to be Announced
- Conclusions, followed by the SMN Rotterdam Networking Party 5.45 PM
Summary of conference conclusions followed by the SMN Rotterdam Networking Party - at Queen's Lounge, SS Rotterdam
Kindly sponsored by Inmarsat Please note - all sessions, times and speakers are subject to change.

Registration
*SMN Events Registration Statement:
Smart Maritime Network is working towards hosting SMN conferences in 2021 as “in-person” as possible – with all local and international restrictions and guidelines being monitored very closely, along with all health and safety protocols as advised by our venues, suppliers and host authorities. We are aiming to hold the conferences with a live audience, synchronised with a virtual broadcast and audience where necessary (should on-site attendance numbers be limited).
The number of “live” (physical) delegates will be dependent upon the in-country restrictions at the time. For this reason, we are currently only taking registrations by email request and in-person registrations will be allocated on a first come first served basis when local restrictions are clearer.
Please note, for both free attendance and in-person attendance, priority will be given first to SMN Sponsors and Speakers, then to end users**, followed by Smart Maritime Council Members.
All other applicants may join SMN conferences by purchasing a delegate ticket. This is €675.00. You may register for your in-person delegate ticket by contacting us using this form. We will contact you 3 weeks prior to the conference to collect payment. Please note: Any tickets that remain unpaid will not be given access to the conference.
In the event that we are not able to offer you a physical delegate place you may be offered either a free virtual place or a credit to a future SMN conference.
NOTE: As it is SMN’s aim to return to hosting in-person events as soon as possible, there is no guarantee that there will be a parallel virtual conference. Each event will be managed on an individual basis and decisions to proceed live and/or virtual will be take ad-hoc on the situation/restrictions/limits on numbers in each respective location. Therefore, please be advised that registering now does not guarantee attendance.
We hope you will understand that in the current climate we need to be resilient and able to react to any changing circumstances, especially those that are outside our control. There may be changes to conference dates, locations, agendas and attendance numbers. We will always do our best to minimise any disruption and we apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused. We cannot accept any responsibility for any travel, accommodation or other costs that may be incurred as a result of changes to event programmes. We advise you to book flexible tickets/accommodation where possible. All participants attend an SMN conference at their own risk. SMN will send a pre-event health & safety screening questionaire and all participants will be obliged to fill this in. Participants may be refused entry.
**For SMN conferences “end users” refers to ship owners/managers, ports and terminal owners/operators, BCOs and other targeted operators as defined by the organisers. If you are not sure whether you qualify for free registration, or if you would like to discuss becoming an SMN Sponsor, please contact cathy.hodge@smartmaritimenetwork.com
Shipping Company VIP Pass
- Free conference registration for qualifying vessel operators (includes ship owners, ship managers, ship builders, ports & terminals, and other selected industry stakeholders - subject to confirmation by the organisers).
Conference Delegate Pass
- Delegate pass for admission to all conference sessions, and the evening Networking Party. (*Early Bird discount expired January 19, 2020. Discounts are available for multiple delegate bookings)