Since late last year, we’ve been getting a barrage of announcements about this or that conference scheduled to take place somewhere on the planet. This year-long convention binge makes us wonder: how many times does the industry have to discuss piracy, the state of container shipping, the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 or the supply of qualified seafarers? It’s a series of talkathons – an orgy – which reminds us of everything that we dislike about conferences.
We’ve said it before. With very few exceptions, maritime conventions are stodgy affairs offering as much enlightenment as a cocktail party and less entertainment than YouTube. Organisers of these events are not helping their cause by recycling speakers – as one would re-arrange old furniture in a house that is then presented to visitors as new and trend-setting. Indeed, conferences tend to be templates, with speakers delivering their two cents’ worth on a podium whilst bigwigs and other speakers sit behind a long table on the stage. It’s rather reminiscent of a graduation ceremony, except that the participants are handed certificates instead of diplomas.
Enough of it. Let’s have more maritime trade shows and exhibitions, which should be free and open to the general public. Why limit the viewing audience to conference delegates in dark business suits who are more interested in sipping coffee in between sessions than in watching the simulators on display? An area in the exhibit hall can be designated for buyer-seller meetings in the tradition of the Agora. Such market events will stimulate more buying and selling – which is what the marine industry needs, not more conference papers and speeches. ~Barista Uno
Excellent article.
Hi, fully agree it is just too much and expensive.
Delegate in a dark suit
Fully agree, let’s have a conference to discuss how to reduce conferences.
For a few thousand Euros I can come over (preferably the Seychelles) to explain my view on this point. 🙂
Krgds,
Alain
Hello
Although as a conference organiser I cannot agree with every point in this blog, I can see your point of view. 🙂
I would just like to point out that TOC Events (container shipping exhibitions) are free to attend to everyone, including free seminar sessions.
Best regards
Sam Whelan
Hooray to exhibitions!
Well said! It amazes me how so many similar sounding conferences can happen.
Hi,
Well said. Conferencing has become big business and organisers have run out of ideas. Few speakers ever offer anything new and everybody goes out of their way not to be controversial. It’s just a huge waste of time and money.
Terry Hutson
I agree, great comments on conferences….at least it is a good practice to perfectly wear the good-bye suit!
These comments fairly describe some but not all conferences. As a regular speaker worldwide at public and bespoke private seminars and workshops, I am always pleased to see how needed they are, especially by industry “experts” who then discover how much they do not remember or know! Without training younger practitioners, we are all in danger of creating a large hiatus which will be difficult to fill when their senior colleagues retire.
Jeffrey, thanks very much for your comment. The article was a satirical commentary on maritime conferences. It did not in any way seek to denigrate seminars and workshops, the value of which we recognise.
MMB = Maritime Men in Black
Hello Barista. Agree with this for the most. Esp. when we see so many conference organizers competing with each other in green shipping conferences. ON the other hand, our firm started 8 years ago and being able to introduce and present our services did help us get some visibility and several new shipowner customers. But now we have backed off of speaking engagements. I do attend a conference as a delegate occasionally such as the Intertanko Conf. in Singapore next week, because tanker companies do get a lot of value from our services and being face to face with tanker professionals somehow makes us more credible.
I agree with you Barista. I’m now on board and so much loaded (with) paper works due to these shipping conferences. Even during my navigation watch I have to do all the paper works sacrificing the safety of the vessel just for all this nonsense paper works. And if I don’t do it during navigation I will not sleep at all. Main office keep sending work order and they themselves are being audited. That’s what they call safety in maritime commerce.