Over 90 industry professionals were in attendance as Total Lubmarine joined Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS) on March 27 at the Grand Elysée in Hamburg for the fifth edition of the Total Global Sulfur Cap series.
Attendees heard how Total perceived the challenges posed by the upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulation, the different compliant fuel and lubricant options operators can take, before detailing the solutions Total will offer to ensure an efficient transition into 2020.
Speaking on the event May-Aurore Diamantidis, Risk Management Services Manager at Total Oil Trading SA (TOTSA), said: “It’s very good that through these forums, Total is showing to the shipping industry that we are committed to helping it. 2020 poses some big challenges, but we understand this deadline raises questions and concerns among our customers and we have the solutions to support them through the transition and beyond.”
Audience feedback following the forum was strong, with one attendee commenting: “As an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), we are anxious to get as much information as possible to be well prepared for 2020. The potential challenges mentioned with regards to 2020 compliant fuels are in line with our view on the matter. It was very helpful for us to see what kind of information we have to provide within our guidelines in order to support our customers as best as possible.”
The forum was followed by a networking session where attendees discussed the key takeaways from the event.
Offering some concluding thoughts on the Hamburg forum, Olivier Baumgartner, Country Manager Lubmarine for Germany, said: “The event provided a good opportunity for networking and a chance to connect with our existing customers in order to better understand their concerns and how we can support them. Echoing the sentiments of Robert Joore (General Manager, Total Lubmarine), Total is ready for the upcoming regulation. Over the coming months we look forward to discussing with our customers the best implementation strategy for them.”
The next forum is scheduled to take place in New York on May 9, before events in Singapore (May 21), Hong Kong (May 22), Busan (May 24), Nice (June 11) and Dubai (June 13).
To register your attendance to one of the above forums, visit our registration platform.
About the Global Sulfur Cap Series
Ahead of the IMO 2020 Global Sulfur Cap deadline on January 1 2020, shipowners and operators are currently in the process of finalizing their compliance strategies. As a shipowner, operator and charterer, Total understands its customer’s perspectives and is therefore able to offer them support tailored to individual needs. While Total is a provider of marine products, services and solutions, it is also a customer of the shipping industry.
To this end, Total Lubmarine and Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions, in addition to the refining, trading, shipping and LNG divisions of Total, have come together as part of the “One Total” initiative to deliver a series of global forums. These forums will provide a holistic overview of the full spectrum of products, services and solutions that Total can deliver. The forums examine the Sulfur Cap regulation and the challenges it poses, before presenting the solutions Total is providing to ensure customers experience an efficient transition in 2020 and beyond.
