The dramatic change brought about by the implementation of the IMO 2020 global sulphur cap and the subsequent high sulphur fuel carriage ban has been completely overshadowed by the unexpected global crisis caused by the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdowns in many sovereign states, travel bans, the collapse of global stock markets and oil prices in freefall.

Rather than markets just coming to terms with the new IMO regulations and contemplating the 2050 greenhouse gas reduction challenge, the entire maritime industry now finds itself facing a very different, insecure and completely unpredictable future. Uncharted territory indeed.

Against such a background, how will shipping, oil and bunker markets fare during the second half of the year and beyond? And what specific impact will this unprecedented turmoil have on those involved in these markets in North, South and Central America and the Caribbean? The answers may be few and far between, but there is no doubt that these pressing issues will be firmly at the top of the agenda at this year’s rescheduled Maritime Week Americas.

Maritime Week Americas is the biggest and most popular annual bunkering event in the Americas because of its top-quality, timely content and unrivalled networking. MWA 2020 in Panama will lift the bar even higher.

MWA 2020 comprises a high-level two-day marine bunker conference and several specialist training courses and workshops, plus an opportunity to experience the Panama Canal and the country’s shipping and bunkering infrastructure.