National Maritime, in partnership with the University of Greenwich, will host a two-day conference and exhibition exploring sustainable practices and business opportunities in the maritime realm.
The 4th Society & the Sea International Conference 2024 will take place on the 9th and 10th of September 2024 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich. The theme of the conference is ‘To be truly blue, we must also think green: developing a sustainable blue economy needs both environmental protection & economic activities to go hand-in-hand.’
Green and blue agenda
A dual-themed ‘green and blue’ agenda will explore the strategies required to develop a sustainable blue economy. The 'Green Waves’ conference stage will focus on energy transition and sustainability in the maritime and coastal arena.
The ‘Blue Invest’ conference stage will explore business opportunities and the societal benefits that can be leveraged through supply chain collaborations.
Speaker lineup
The conference will bring together industry pioneers and key political stakeholders to give insightful presentations
The conference will bring together industry pioneers and key political stakeholders to give insightful presentations across a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration, and conversations that matter.
The speaker lineup includes the CEO and managing director of NatPower UK, Stefano Sommadossi, and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen. Other key speakers include industry pioneers from the Celtic Freeport and Freeport East, the UK Marine Energy Council, Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs), the Crown Estate, the Port of London Authority, BMT, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register, Marine Zero, OceanMind, SeaRegs Training, pH3 Capital, HMM (Europe) Ltd, Solis Marine Engineering and Formula E.
SOCSEA Charter 2024
Conferenced delegates will be invited to contribute to a new SOCSEA Charter 2024 that will help anchor stakeholders and strive towards a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable approach to working in the blue economy.
Peter Green, chief executive of National Maritime said, “The importance of the world's coasts and oceans for our collective future is undeniable. They also have a tremendous potential for boosting economic growth, employment, and innovation. However, increased stress on marine resources risks their depletion or even irreversible harm."
Economic growth in maritime
"Realising the full potential of our coasts and oceans and the growing ocean economy will require a responsible and sustainable approach to its economic development and strong collaboration and cooperation among all stakeholders."
“We are proud to bring SOCSEAto the maritime industry and hope the conference supports our aims to increase economic growth in the maritime sector through collaborations and also encourages the sustainable clean-up of the sector by championing green initiatives. A prosperous and green shipping industry will contribute to a blue economy and as we say, a greener industry is equal to a blue economy.”
A responsible and sustainable approach
Simon Goldsmith, Head of Strategic Sustainability, University of Greenwich, “We’re delighted to be hosting this event at our Greenwich campus and we look forward to welcoming pioneering experts and practitioners from across the globe to discuss the future of sustainability with the maritime industry."
"We depend on our seas, oceans, and our maritime industries to meet many of our needs. Ensuring we act sustainability in our actions is essential and this conference will create the dialogue and precipitate actions to help.”
Net-zero
Conference delegates will hear from those in leadership positions making progress on net-zero finding ways to effectively address the biodiversity crisis while adapting to the evolving set of global regulations.
Special guests include experts working on alternative marine fuels, vessel decarbonisation, new technology pathways, and energy solutions. The session topics include:
- New technologies
- Safety and Regulations
- FutureEnergy and Fuels (Clean Fuels and Energy Efficiencies)
- Funding(Early-stage funding and Green Finance)
- Energy
- Defence
- Freight
- Sustainability
- Environment
Charity ball
On the evening of the 9th of September 2024, the SOCSEA24 Grand Maritime Ball will see 350 guests on board the WoodsFleet, Silver Sturgeon on the River Thames at Greenwich Pier. The charity ball will include an evening of entertainment including a silent auction.
Funds raised on the evening will support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s 200th anniversary. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and organisations can also book exhibition stands.