Shipping’s sharpest minds clash in Singapore: what’s at stake on September
Splash Singapore’s inaugural agenda locks in 30+ industry leaders for unscripted debate on geopolitics.
The inaugural Splash Singapore conference will bring together leading figures from the global shipping industry for a day of high-level debate and networking. Scheduled for September 24 at the Fairmont Singapore, the event builds on eight previous editions of the Maritime CEO Forum, offering a platform for shipowners, charterers, technology leaders, and investors to discuss the sector’s most pressing challenges.
The conference will open with The Big Issues, a session moderated by Sam Chambers, editor of Splash. The panel will feature executives such as Bjorn Hojgaard (CEO of Anglo-Eastern Univan Group), Hor Weng Yew (managing director of Pacific Carriers and chairman of the Singapore Maritime Foundation), and Nick Potter (president and CEO of AET). Topics will include geopolitical risks, regulatory changes, fuel transitions, and technological advancements shaping the industry.
Following this, a tanker-focused session will examine supply and demand dynamics amid geopolitical shocks. Participants include senior leaders from Foreguard Shipping, Performance Shipping, Borealis Maritime, Al Seer Marine, and MOL Chemical Tankers.
Pacific Basin Shipping
The agenda: unscripted debate on critical industry issues: Singapore
The afternoon will shift to technology, beginning with the SplashTech Digital Leaders Forum. Executives from Viasat, Klaveness Digital, Kpler, TMV, and Wilhelmsen will discuss digitalisation trends, investment strategies, and the challenges of scaling maritime tech companies. A subsequent panel on AI, Digitalisation and the Maritime Workforce will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming jobs both at sea and onshore, featuring representatives from Marcura, Complexio, Rio Tinto, BW Group, and Cetus Maritime.
The Chartering Spotlight session will bring together Fednav, Vale, AXSMarine, Western Bulk, and Heidelberg Materials Trading to debate how AI, data transparency, and emissions performance are reshaping vessel chartering. The day will conclude with a dry bulk discussion chaired by Tim Huxley of Mandarin Shipping, featuring Jan Rindbo (CEO of Norden), Martin Fruergaard (CEO of Pacific Basin), and other industry leaders. The panel will assess market cycles, Chinese commodity demand, and whether current freight rates can withstand an expanding orderbook.
A unique format for meaningful industry engagement
Unlike traditional conferences, Splash Singapore will feature no scripted presentations or sales pitches. Instead, every session is designed as an unscripted debate among decision-makers. Grant Rowles, co-founder of the event, emphasised the approach: “We’ve assembled panels of leaders who are actively shaping the market—owners, charterers, managers, and technology executives. The goal is for delegates to leave with a clearer understanding of where shipping is headed in the next year and to foster genuine business connections.”
The event is supported by the Singapore Maritime Foundation and precedes the Singapore Shipping Association’s annual gala dinner, making it a key fixture in Asia’s maritime networking calendar. With hundreds of delegates already registered, including representatives from AET, Alfa Laval, BPG Shipping, BW Group, and Cetus Maritime, the conference offers unparalleled opportunities for collaboration.
Registration remains open, though the S$750 fee is expected to increase as the event approaches. Attendees are advised to secure their places and take advantage of special hotel rates at the Fairmont Singapore before the September 7 deadline.
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