In the biggest event of its kind in the state, the Tasmania Shippers Forum brought together exporters, importers, logistics providers and Government stakeholders, including Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure, Tasmania; Paul Weedon, CEO, TasPorts; and Brendan Bourke, CEO, Port of Melbourne.

The event was presented by the Tasmanian Logistics Committee, the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) / Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), the Australian Maritime College and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Tasmanian Logistics Committee Chairman, Brett Charlton, explained that the forum — the first dedicated to Tasmanian shipping to be held in over five years — is taking place at a critical time for the industry in Tasmania.

There’s currently so much interest in Tasmania from a trade perspective, particularly from major international shipping lines and freight services. This makes it an ideal time for the shipping community to come together to understand Tasmania as it is now, and how it should look in the future.

In his opening address, Minister Rene Hidding explained how recent and planned increases in private investment and capacity across the Bass Strait is a significant vote of confidence in the Tasmanian market as well as in the export focus of its businesses.

Professor Nataliya Nikolova, Head of AMC’s Maritime Logistics Management Team, said that AMC was well-placed to host the forum, thanks to its shipping expertise and close ties to industry.

AMC is at the crossroads of research, education and industry in the shipping and logistics sector, and we are pleased to be able to host the community at an event as successful as this.

Published on: 16 Feb 2017