The Virginia Maritime Association (VMA) recently held its annual conference in Norfolk, Virginia. The conference featured numerous panels and fireside chats that addressed many of the industry’s most pressing concerns.
Two of the most talked about topics among attendees were the Red Sea diversions and the ILA Strike. During his panel discussion Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel suggested that the only way to stop the yearlong attacks by Houthi rebels on merchant vessels was to find a diplomatic solution. Here was what he said:
While stakeholders across the shipping industry are hoping for an end to the Red Sea crisis, Vespucci Maritime CEO Lars Jensen offered that when the crisis ends a new problem, congestion, will become a problem when merchant vessels start going through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Here is his take:
VMA attendees were also treated to hard-hitting insight from maritime shipping’s movers and shakers. Among the most highly anticipated panels was a fireside chat moderated by OEC Group President Anthony Fullbrook and featuring the presidents of the three carrier presidents that call the Port of Norfolk: Takashi Masuda from ONE, Nissim Yochai from ZIM USA, and George Goldman from CMA CGM.
During their conversation, the carrier presidents discussed topics such as carbon neutrality, infrastructure development, and the changing alliance landscape. They also gave the audience privileged insight into the negotiations between the USMX and the ILA. C-M-A-C-G-M President George Goldman was not thrilled with how negotiations went. Here is what he said:
Other topics discussed at the conference included the strength of the U.S. economy, alliances, and automation. Click here to watch all the speeches, panels, and chats from VMA 2024.