The conference will be spread over four and half days and is intended to stimulate various debates with the scope of reaching conclusions and make proposals that would be presented to the various stakeholders for their consideration. Thus the theme “The Voice of the Industry”.
MONDAY 5th OCTOBER 2026
Malta Maritime Awards 2026 Ceremony
TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2026
| Global Trade, Geopolitics & Maritime Security | |
| How is the changing geopolitical landscape reshaping global shipping? | |
| 08:00 Registration | |
| 09:00 Welcome opening by John A. Gauci-Maistre K.M: Welcome opening, synopsis from the beginning – today goals & achievements | |
| 09:05 Opening Remarks & Keynote Speeches |
Hon. Ian Borg – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health H.E. Arsenio Dominguez – Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Hon. Chris Bonnet – Minister for Sustainable Mobility Mr. Leonid Mckay – CEO, Transport Malta – presentation |
| 9:35 Presentation by Mr. Leonid McKay | |
| 09:45 Session 1: Maritime Governance in a New Institutional Environment: Rules, Tariffs, Sanctions, Enforcement | |
| Moderator: | Mr. Nigel Lowry, Lloyds List Intelligence |
| Panelists: | Hon. Chris Bonnet – Minister for Sustainable Mobility
Hon. Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus H.E. Arsenio Dominguez – Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization (IMO) |
| 10:30 Session 2: Geopolitics and the Macroeconomic consequences | |
| Moderator: | Prof. Andreas Merikas, Professor of Shipping Finance and Head of Maritime Department, GMS |
| Panelists: | Prof. George Theocharidis, Professor of Maritime Law & Policy, World Maritime University
Prof. Pino Musolino, Past President of MEDPorts Association Ms. Xakousti Merika, Maritime Finance Researcher & Shipping Professional |
| 11:15 COFFEE BREAK |
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| 11:45 Session 3: The New Threat Landscape: Cyber, Drones and Hybrid Warfare at Sea | |
| Moderator: | Prof. Andreas Merikas, Professor of Shipping Finance and Head of Maritime Department, GMS |
| Panelists: | Mr. George Margaritopoulos, Director, Marine Adjusting, Greece, Fellow of the Association of Average Adjusters
Mr. Paris Andrianopoulos, Managing Director, THALPIS CRS S.A. |
| 12:30 Session 4: The Digital Maritime Revolution | |
| Moderator: | Mr. John N. Faraclas, Co-Founder, All About Shipping, UK |
| Panelists: | Ms. Selena Jones, CEO & Co-Founder of Seaman Solutions
Dr. Marika Gillardo, Marketing Manager at Circle Group, member of the Board of YoungShip Italia Dr. Josianne Cutajar, Lawyer and EU policy advisor, former Member of the European Parliament Mr. Charis Stratigis, Commercial Manager of Signal Ocean |
| 14:00 LUNCH | |
WEDNESDAY 7th OCTOBER 2026
| The Green Transition: From Compliance to Circularity | |
| 08:00 Registration | |
| 09:00 Welcome opening by John A. Gauci-Maistre K.M: Welcome opening, synopsis from the beginning – today goals & achievements | |
| 09:05 Session 1: Can Shipping Deliver Net Zero Without Losing Competitiveness? Hon. Ivan Castillo, Shadow Minister for Sustainable Mobility | |
| Moderator: | Avv. Alberto Rossi, Secretary General of Assarmatori |
| Panelists: | Mr. Luis Nunez Vera, Head of Strategy & European Affairs Department
Mr. Rave Al-chamari, Product Manager, Energy Saving Technologies, Wärtsilä Mr. Alessandro Panaro, Head of Maritime & Energy at SRM (Intesa Sanpaolo Group) Mr. James Falzon, Associate Director. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Dr. Fabrizio Vettosi, Managing Director of VSL Investment & Advisory S.p.A. |
| 09:45 Session 2: Regulating the Green Transition: Global Ambition vs Regional Reality | |
| Moderator: | Avv. Enrico Molisani, Adjunct Professor at the University of Genoa |
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Panelists: |
Mr. Nicolo’ Iguera, President, YoungShip Italia | Board Member, Young Shipowners Group, Confitarma
Capt. Fritz Farrugia, Chief Officer & Harbour Master – Ports & Yachting Directorate Ivan Sammut, Head of Office Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) |
| 10:30 Keynote Speech: Hon. Miriam Dalli, Ministry for Energy, the Environment & Regeneration of the Grand Harbour | |
| 10:45 Presentation: Mr. Norbert Grech, Senior Manager, Ports & Yachting Directorate | |
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11:00 Presentation: Mr. Uday Yellapurkar, Founder and Chairman of the Elegant Exit Company (EEC) |
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| 11:15 COFFEE BREAK | |
| 11:45 Session 3: The Last Voyage: Rethinking Ship Recycling | |
| Moderator: | Prof. Gian Enzo Duci, Professor, Managing Director, ESA Group |
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Panelists: |
Dr. Ramat Jalloh, Lecturer in International Maritime Law, IMO International Maritime Law Institute
Mr. Henning Gramann, Managing Owner, GSR Services GmbH Mr. Bert Van Grieken, Commercial Director Sea2Cradle Ms. Gudrun Janssens, Head of EU Engagement, BIMCO |
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12:35 Session 4: The Human Side of the Green Transition |
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Moderator: |
Mr. Paris Andrianopoulos, Managing Director, THALPIS CRS S.A. |
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Panelists: |
Dr. Shiv K. Tripathi, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Berlin school of Business and Innovation
Mr. Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Mr. Rave Al-chamari, Product Manager, Energy Saving Technologies, Wärtsilä Ms. Maja Markovcic Kostelac, Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
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14:00 LUNCH |
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THURSDAY 8th OCTOBER 2026
| Legal, Regulatory & Commercial Excellence | |
| 08:00 Registration | |
| 09:00 Welcome opening by John A. Gauci-Maistre K.M: Welcome opening, synopsis from the beginning – today goals & achievements | |
| 09:05 Opening Remarks & Keynote Speeches | Ms. Marily Fragkista, MISA President |
| 9:15 Keynote Speech | Hon. Silvio Schembri – Ministry for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects |
| 09:25 Session 1: Readdressing the Shipping Finance | |
| Moderator: | Prof. Andreas Merikas, Professor of Shipping Finance and Head of Maritime Department, GMS |
| Panelists: | Dr. Christos Sigalas, Professor at Deree-The American College of Greece
Mr. Kostantinos Economou, Head of Shipping Finance, CrediaBank and General Secretary of the Association of Banking Executives of the Hellenic Shipping Ms. Vanessa Tzouannou, Partner, Stephenson Harwood’s Athens Ms. Fanny Lossy, European Shipowners | ECSA’s Senior Director for climate, environment and maritime |
| 10:10 Bank Of Valletta interview for: Mr. Simon Grech, Chief Commercial Officer of BOV | |
| 10:20 – Session 2: The renewal of the World Fleet and the protection of the Owners’ investments in the Arbitration forum | Avv. Francesco S. Lauro, Managing Partner of Studio Legale Lauro |
| 10:45 COFFEE BREAK | |
| 11:15 Session 3: Future of Maritime Law | Avv. Francesco S. Lauro, Managing Partner of Studio Legale Lauro
Avv. Enrico Molisani, Adjunct Professor at the University of Genoa |
| 12:00 Session 4: Maritime Governance in Practice: Regulation, Compliance and Enforcement (Sanctions) | |
| Moderator: | Dr. Sarah Engerer |
| Panelists: | Dr. Geraldine A. Spiteri Lucas, CEO & Registrar, Malta Business Registry
Dr. Alessia Carbone, Director for Transnational Threats and Sanctions at Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Mr. Bud Darr, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cruise Lines International Association Dr. Ivan Tabone, Registrar General of Shipping & Seamen, Merchant Shipping Directorate |
| 12:45 Session 5: UNCLOS Under Pressure: Freedom of Navigation and the International Framework Governing Global Shipping | Dr. Murat Sümer, Professor in International Maritime Law, IMLI
Mr. John C. Lyras, Principal of Paralos Maritime Corporation S.A. Prof. Simone Borg, Legal Adviser to Ministry for Foreign Affairs Mr. Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
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| 14:00 LUNCH | |
FRIDAY 9th OCTOBER 2026
| Global Yachting & Nautical Tourism Forum | |
| Shaping the future of the Mediterranean’s yachting and nautical tourism sector. | |
| 08:00 Registration | |
| 09:00 Welcome opening by John Gauci-Maistre K.M.: Welcome opening, synopsis from the beginning – today goals & achievements | |
| 09:05 Opening Remarks & Keynote Speeches | Hon. Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Tourism
Dr. Roberto Demarchi, Vice Presidente Assagenti |
| 09:35 Presentation on Sea Tourism at a Crossroads | Mr. Theodoros Kontes , Director, Majestic International Cruises |
| 09:55 Discussion on Sea Tourism at a Crossroads: Balancing Growth, Sustainability and Destination Competitiveness | Mr. Thoedoros Kontes, Director, Majestic International Cruises
Mr. Bud Darr, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cruise Lines International Association |
| 10:35 Presentation: Market Dynamics: Financial, Legal and Sea Tourism Development | Mr. Leslie Vella, Deputy CEO & Chief Officer Strategic Development, Malta Tourism Authority |
| 11:15 COFFEE BREAK | |
| 13:30 Session 3: Sport yachting and sailing tourism | |
| Moderator: | Mr. Michael Mifsud, Chief Executive Officer at Yachting Malta Ltd |
| Panelists: | Mr. Christian Bajada, Secretary General. c/o Royal Malta Yacht Club
Mr. Georges Bonello Du Puis, Director at Air Tours Services Co Ltd Mr. Niki Travers Tauss, Group Managing Director Tauss Holdings Mr. Godwin Zammit, President and former Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club |
| 14:00 LUNCH | |
