WSB Seminar 2024 Program

08:30 – 09:00h – Welcome Coffee

09:00 – 09:30h – Opening

09:30 – 10:15h

Panel 1: The Future of Offshore Wind in Brazil’s Renewable Energy MatrixTheme: Offshore Wind Energy in Brazil—Is it a Vision or a Reality?

With offshore wind emerging as a key element in Brazil’s energy transition, this panel will explore whether it will become a reality and examine the regulatory and operational challenges ahead.

  • Is Offshore Wind in Brazil an inevitable reality or just a distant dream?
    What are the main challenges and opportunities driving or hindering its development, and can the current pace of progress keep up with expectations?
  • Regulatory Challenges: How are environmental and territorial issues navigated in mature offshore wind markets?
    Will Brazil’s regulatory framework learn from these precedents, and how long should stakeholders expect to wait for a well-defined, actionable framework?
  • Oil & Wind: A Synergistic Relationship or Competing Forces?
    Why do we see oil companies leading the charge in Brazil’s offshore wind space? Is this the same dynamic observed globally, and how do these industries collaborate operationally?

10:15 – 11:00h

Panel 2: Navigating the Future of Brazil’s Shipbuilding IndustryTheme: Fleet Renewal and Regulatory Challenges in Brazilian Shipbuilding

This session will focus on the pressing need for fleet renewal in Brazil, the challenges facing the dormant shipbuilding industry, and the regulatory issues impacting cabotage, offshore support and port towage.

  • How can Brazil’s shipbuilding industry recover from its current dormancy?
    What immediate actions are necessary to stimulate fleet renewal and meet the demands of the country’s maritime sectors?
  • Is the restrictive model of port towage a blueprint for other sectors?
    Should this protectionist approach be applied more widely, or does the industry need more flexibility like in cabotage, where foreign tonnage now plays a larger role?
  • Has the flexibilization of cabotage been a positive step toward addressing Brazil’s transportation capacity crisis?
    How can we measure the success of this approach so far, and what lessons from the past two decades of market regulation should guide future decisions?
  • In the offshore sector, can the cyclical nature of shipbuilding sustain the long-term needs of the industry?
    How does the allowance of foreign-flagged vessels impact the local shipbuilding ecosystem, and is this the right balance for a sustainable future?

11:00 – 11:45h

Panel 3: Navigating the End of Offshore Asset and Vessel Life CyclesTheme: Decommissioning, Dismantling, and Disposal of Offshore Assets and Vessels

As Brazil faces a wave of offshore asset retirements, this panel will discuss the regulatory frameworks and processes required to safely decommission, dismantle, and dispose of aging assets and vessels.

  • What regulatory frameworks govern the decommissioning and disposal of offshore assets and vessels in Brazil?
    Are current policies robust enough to handle the sheer volume of upcoming disposals, and what improvements are needed to ensure safety and compliance?
  • Decommissioning, dismantling, and disposal: What do these terms really mean?
    How can the various stages of an asset’s or vessel’s end-of-life be clearly defined, and why is it crucial for the industry to differentiate between these phases?
  • How do State, Federal, and Municipal authorizations play a role in this process?
    At what points do these governmental bodies intervene, and how do jurisdictional responsibilities affect the efficiency and compliance of decommissioning operations?
  • How does Brazil’s approach to the disposal of offshore assets and vessels compare to international standards?
    What global conventions and frameworks are relevant, and how well-positioned is Brazil to meet international best practices in sustainable asset disposal?

12:45 – 13:15h

WSB Choice awards announcement
Charterer of the year | Oil Company of the year | Owner of the year | EPCI Contractor of the year | Project of the year | Executive of the year | Broker Friendly Owner of the year | Business Partner of the year | Broker of the year

13:15 – 14:00h

Panel 4: Addressing the Workforce Challenge in Brazil’s Maritime IndustryTheme: Navigating the Manpower Gaps in Cabotage, Offshore, and Offshore Units

This panel will explore the migration of crew members between cabotage and offshore sectors, the real extent of the workforce shortage, and the steps needed to close the skills gap in Brazil’s maritime industry.

  • What drives the migration of crew members from cabotage to offshore and offshore units?
    Are better pay, working conditions, or career advancement the key factors, and how does this migration impact workforce availability across these sectors?
  • Is there truly a shortage of skilled crew members, or is the issue one of specialization and distribution?
    If both the industry and unions claim to be right, what are the nuances of this workforce gap, and how can these differing perceptions be reconciled?
  • What impact does the increasing complexity and specialization of vessels and equipment have on crew demands?
    As the industry grows, are training programs and workforce development initiatives keeping pace with the rising need for specialized skills?
  • How can Brazil ensure a sustainable supply of well-trained maritime professionals to support the recovery of its fleet?
    What strategies should be adopted to attract, retain, and upskill crew members, ensuring that all sectors—cabotage, offshore, and offshore units—are sufficiently staffed?

14:00 – 14:30h – Coffee-break

14:30 – 15:45h

Panel 5: Market trends

Theme: The rate tendencies, vessels availability, opex inflation

A dive into the intensive data provided by WSB, with an open discussion with the audience and panelists.

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