Executives from Some of World’s Largest Container Liners and Terminal Operators Convene in Houston

A distinguished group representing the giants of the global maritime industry will address the 25th International Association of Ports and Harbors World Ports Conference when it convenes April 27 through May 4, 2007, in Houston.

Speakers will represent Simply the Best companies in the maritime industry!

The chairman of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, USA Inc. (MSC) Captain Nicola Arena will provide the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the conference on Monday, April 30. MSC is the leading provider of direct port calls, serving six continents and 215 ports. MSC operates 326 container vessels with an intake capacity of 1,062,638 TEUs.

Others to address the conferees are:
Marine Terminals Corporation (USA) Steve Lautsch, executive VP, will be a panelist during Work Session IV. Marine Terminals Corporation (MTC) is a shipping community leader with a wide-ranging array of stevedoring, terminal operations and handling services for all types of cargo. MTC was the first to operate a public container terminal on the U.S. West Coast.
SSA Marine (USA) Mark Knudsen, vice president, project management and development, will also be a panelist during Work Session IV. SSA Marine is the world’s largest cargo terminal operator. Last year, SSA Marine was approved for a joint venture container terminal operation in Vietnam.
APM Terminals International B.V. (The Netherlands) John Verschelden, vice president and head of government and regulatory affairs, will be a panelist during Work Session IV. A world leader in the maritime industry, APM Terminals operates more than 40 container facilities in 24 countries.
NYK Line (Japan) Yuji Hirano, advisor to NYK president will speak as part of Work Session I. NYK Line was established in Japan in 1885. Today, NYK Line operates more than 700 vessels.

Representatives from Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk Line will address conference attendees on Wednesday, May 2, during the 30-year anniversary celebration of BCT and the technical tour of the facility. Both companies have been long-term customers of the Port of Houston.

Williams

Sweet

Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams and U.S. Homeland Security Chief of Staff Chad Sweet and local elected officials will address international guests during the celebration that culminates the reunion of the conference in Houston during the 10th anniversary IAPH Conference in 1977. The celebration will include a reception, revealing the items sealed in the time capsule and filling the capsule with new items to be opened in 2039. Guests will have the opportunity to have a technical tour of both PHA’s Barbour’s Cut and Bayport terminals.

Maersk Line is one of the leading liner shipping companies in the world, serving customers all over the globe. The company has a fleet numbering more than 500 container vessels and more than 1.4 million TEUs and employs 35,000 people.

Hapag-Lloyd deploys 141 container ships featuring more than 480,000 TEUs in capacity across five regions worldwide: North Europe, South Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. In the same year, Hapag-Lloyd transported 5.0 million TEUs worldwide.

You still have time to register online today to ensure your place at this year's conference. Registration fees include one accompanying person, as well as admission to the plenary and work sessions, exhibit hall and all social activities.

IAPH Member: $2,250 USD
IAPH Non-Member: $2,600 USD

The Hilton Americas Hotel is the official headquarters for the conference. All work sessions, the exhibition and many other activities will take place at the host hotel, and we don't want you to miss out.