The Minister for the Port, Maritime Services and the University, Gilbert Licudi QC, hosted a shipping breakfast as part of London International Shipping Week (LISW).

Under the umbrella of LISW, the Gibraltar Shipping Breakfast took place at Trinity House, and was held for around 90 high profile guests involved in different aspects of the shipping industry.

The breakfast, hosted by Mr Licudi in partnership with the Gibraltar Port Authority and Gibraltar Maritime Administration, was an invitation only event for some of Gibraltar Port’s key stakeholders from the local maritime industry and also their international partners and prospective new associates.  

Mr Licudi gave an update on the Port’s activities, highlighting the global challenges facing the shipping sector generally but also the positive trends recently seen in Gibraltar. Mr Licudi pointed out that although Gibraltar was the number one port in the Mediterranean in terms of bunkering volumes, with over four million tonnes of fuel deliveries each year, there was much more that Gibraltar had to offer the maritime industry including supply of provisions, spares and lube oils, salvage operations, underwater hull cleaning, crew changes and ship repair as well as being an attractive port of call for cruise liners.

On new developments, Mr Licudi mentioned improvements from an environmental perspective including the sulphur cap, which comes into force in 2020 bringing cleaner fuels and the start of LNG bunkering.

Mr Licudi also took the opportunity to mention the establishment of the Gibraltar Maritime Academy at the University of Gibraltar with four maritime degrees offered as from September 2020.

Addressing those gathered at the breakfast, which included the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Catherine Bachleda, Mr Licudi said: “We have the institution, we have the accommodation, we have a thriving maritime industry and we have a Gibraltar Maritime Administration applying the highest possible standards. It is the perfect combination the provision of maritime training. ”

During the course of his address, Mr Licudi paid tribute to Captain David Graham, Gibraltar’s Maritime Administrator, who recently passed away unexpectedly at the age of 56. Captain Graham spent over twenty years at sea and came to Gibraltar in 2010 to work as marine surveyor. He was appointed Maritime Administrator in February of this year. Mr Licudi said: “David proved himself to be worthy of that appointment. He applied himself with absolute professionalism and his knowledge of the industry was second to none. David is a big loss to his family but also to the Gibraltar Maritime Administration and Gibraltar as a whole. He will be missed.”

Manuel Tirado, CEO and Captain of the Port on behalf of the GPA and GMA also took the opportunity to thank guests for attending.

Once again, the Gibraltar Port Authority was delighted to be part of this extremely prestigious series of events as a silver sponsor in its continuing efforts to provide the best platforms to promote Gibraltar as a Centre of Maritime Excellence on the world stage.

Note to Editors:

Leaders from every sector of the global maritime industry gathered in London last week to take part in more than 200 meetings, seminars and functions under the umbrella of London International Shipping Week, an event which is held very two years. Sectors represented include charterers, ship owners, ship managers, shipbrokers, lawyers, regulators, bankers, ship and bunker suppliers, commodity traders, port authorities and operators, insurers, maritime service providers, ship builders, engineering and technology companies.

Over 150 global maritime organisations and 65 commercial partners have been involved in LISW hosting a variety of events during the week including a Flagship Conference and gala dinner at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane.