Finance in focus at TradeWinds Shipowners Forum in Hong Kong.

With cash-flow topping shipowners concerns, alternative sources of finance, including deals with Chinese lessors will be discussed during a high-level get together in Hong Kong being organised by shipping news provider TradeWinds on October 12th.

ICBC Financial Leasing Executive Director – Shipping, Bill Guo is the latest to join an impressive line up which includes Jack Xu, Associate Director, Shipping Finance of China Merchants Bank Leasing, Vincent Lai, Executive Director & CFO of Wah Kwong Maritime Holdings, James Stove-Lorentzen Jr, Co-Managing Partner of NorthCape, Andreas Østern, Head of Shipping, Offshore & Logistics Asia at DNB Bank, Erik Strømsø, Managing Partner of Pareto Securities – Asia and Nigel Anton, Global Head, Shipping Finance at Standard Chartered Bank. With traditional lenders focused on the same core of ‘high end’ owners, the panel will discuss what this means for top quality owners not in that ‘club’.

Shipowners will have their chance to comment on this and other challenges in the session immediately following featuring a mix of well-established names and newcomers on their way up. Joining Edward Buttery, CEO of Taylor Maritime on the panel is Jack Hsu, Managing Director of Oak Maritime (HK), Surinder Brrar, Director, Chartering – Pacific of Pacific Basin Shipping, Mark Young, CEO of Asia Maritime Pacific and Thomas Söderberg, Director of Tribini Capital. Traveling from London for the event, respected broker, Richard Fulford-Smith, Managing Partner of Affinity Shipping brings his extensive experience and plain-speaking approach to the panel.

Transport and Housing (Transport) Permanent Secretary Joseph Lai JP will welcome guests at the top of the afternoon's programme and subsequent sessions will be moderated by Watson Farley & Williams Partner Frank Dunne.

Setting the scene, a panel of experts will discuss critical external factors, including China’s far ranging role in shipping’s recovery, developments in vessel design, construction and operation, new and secondhand vessel valuation, social, environmental and regulatory challenges, scrapping the way out of surplus and keeping Hong Kong attractive for shipping. Recognised globally for their expertise and forthright views, the opening panel comprises Armin Sass Managing Director of H. Schuldt Shipbrokers, Nicholas Brown Marine & Offshore Director of Lloyd's Register, Peter Cremers Executive Chairman of Anglo Eastern Univan Group, Richard Hext Chairman of Vanmar Shipping, Martin Rowe Managing Director of Clarksons Platou Asia HK and Mark Yong Director of BMT Asia.

“Today’s shipping markets are throwing out huge challenges to everyone – owners, shipyards, brokers and banks,” says Julian Bray, TradeWinds’ Editor-in-Chief. “That is sure to provoke plenty of passionate debate among the big players we are delighted to host at our Hong Kong forum.”

TradeWinds Shipowners Forum - Greater China is supported by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and sponsored by Pictet, Nautisk, Lloyd's Register, IRI / The Marshall Islands Registry, The Baltic Exchange, The American Club and Winterthur Gas & Diesel.