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Forum Agenda 2026

Time Zone: UTC+03:00

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Day 1: September 8, 2026   

08:30 - 09:00 | Registration | Cherno More Hotel | Cherno More Hall

09:00 - 09:30 | Opening Remarks & Welcome Addresses 

  • Opening ceremony - Capt. Stanislav Stoyanov, Bulgarian Shipmasters Association (BSMA), Chairman

  • Welcome address - Vice Admiral Mitko Petev, Official Representative of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria

  • Welcome address - Admiral Emil Eftimov, Chief of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria

  • Welcome address - Blagomir Kotsev, Mayor of Varna

  • Welcome address - Capt. Alexander Kalchev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Shipping (BCS); Chairman of the Board, Bulgarian Shipowners’ Association (BSA).

  • Welcome address - Todor Angelov, Club of Marine Engineers, Chairman

09:30 - 12:50 | Panel 1: GEO-POLITICAL CHALLENGES IN SHIPPING

Moderator: Yavor Velchev - SHIPPOSSIBLE INSURANCE, Founder
Speakers:​​​

  • Jake Bond - Preston Turnbull LLP, Solicitor and Master Mariner​

    • Topic: "When Geopolitics Reaches the Bridge”​​

  • Melis Otmar ACII - Head of Marine Claims, London Howden Insurance Brokers

    • Topic: "From Red Sea to Autonomous Shipping: How AI and Geopolitical Risk Are Reshaping Marine Insurance Claims”​​

  • Theodosis Stamatellos - Lloyd’s Register, Fleet Operations Center, Director

    • Topic: "How geopolitical developments translate into operational realities from the perspective of a classification society.”​​

  • Cyril Widdershoven - Senior Advisor, Blue Water Strategy

    • Topic: "Maritime Chokepoints, Energy Security and the New Geopolitics of Global Trade: Strategic Risks and Opportunities for Governments and Industry.”​​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

Coffee Break 20 minutes (depending on session timing)

  • Stavros Karamperidis - Associate Professor in Maritime Economics, Head of the Maritime Transport Research Group, University of Plymouth

    • Topic: "How Geoeconomics Affect Sustainable Development of  Global Trade (GT) & Supply Chains (SCs).”​​

  • Richard M. Gunn - Reed Smith LLP, Partner, Maritime Lawyer

    • Topic: "30 years of the Salvage Convention – hull, clubs, war, and sanctions.”​​

  • Neil Roberts - Lloyd's Market Association Head of Marine; Secretary of Joint War Committee; Chair of IUMI Policy Forum

    • Topic: "Тhe London war insurance market”​​

  • Anna Carnielli - Studio Legale B&C Barcati-Carnielli & Partners, Maritime Lawyer

    • Topic: "Sanctions, Tariffs and Regulatory Compliance - Company compliance in shipping industry as a strategic tool”​

  • Yavor Velchev - SHIPPOSSIBLE INSURANCE, Founder

    • Topic: "Blacklists & Battlefields - War Insurance in Sanctioned Seas”​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

12:50 - 13:35 | Networking Break: Light Catering & Beverages

13:35 - 16:10 | Panel 2: PORTS & TERMINALS: OPERATIONS AND ADVANCEMENT

Moderator: Ralitsa Zlateva - Marine Operations Analyst, Koch Shipping

Speakers:​​​​

  • Thomas J. Wiker - Gallagher Marine Systems (GMS), President

    • Topic: "Strengthening Global Maritime Safety: Insights from U.S. Incident Response Practices"​

  • Preslav Raykov - Commodity Trader | Commodities & Global Trading Executive | Bloomberg TV Bulgaria Host

    • Topic: "Geopolitical turns and twists in the world dry bulk commodity trading"​

  • Pavel Sheytanov - Corporate Sales Trader & F-Gas Lead,Vertis Environmental Finance

    • Topic: "EU ETS and Maritime Shipping: From Regulation to Commercial Reality"​

  • Walter Vervloesem FNI - Nautical Institute London, President

    • Topic: “Supporting Net-Zero Through Cargo Knowledge and Cargo Care”/”Cargo Care – The Missing Step in Reaching Net-Zero” ​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

Coffee Break 20 minutes (depending on session timing)

  • Manolis Nikolaidis - Nautical Institute Greece, Secretary General

    • Topic: "Black Sea Blue Future: Decarbonisation and Port Cities in Transition”​

  • Marcello Pica - Monaco Chamber of Shipping, VP; Marine Partners Monaco, President & CEO; Grimaldi Group, HR Director

    • Topic: "From Crew Supply to Crew Capability: Building Resilient Maritime Operations”​

  • Dimitris Monioudis - Managing Director, Rethymnis & Kulukundis Ltd; Chairman, INTERCARGO Technical Committee

    • Topic: "Dry Bulk at a Crossroads: Operational Reality and the Case for True Collaboration”​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

Coffee Break 10 minutes (depending on session timing)

16:20 - 17:50 | Special Panel: From Sea to Space — Bulgarian Innovation in Action Industry,                                                                Defence, Education and Emerging Technologies

Moderator: Svetoslav Stamenov - Founder and Manager, ITR Management Consult OOD, PMP

Panel Convenor and Curator: Nikolay Bedzhev — PhD, Marine Pilot, University Lecturer and Owner of NauticBlue

Speakers:​​​​

  • Plamen Manushev - Vice Admiral (Ret.), Former Commander of the Bulgarian Navy, Consultant at MTG-Dolphin plc

    • Topic: "Proteus 36 MLC: The Future of Autonomous Naval Warfare and Distributed Maritime Operations"​

  • Radoslav Kalchev - Master Mariner, Founder, Windy BG Ltd., GWO Training & Safety Innovation

    • Topic: "Integrated Safety Technologies for Maritime, Offshore and Renewable Energy Operations"​

  • Borislav Teberov - Founder, Pontic Dynamic

    • Topic: “Autonomous maritime systems build for real-world missions” ​

  • Nikolay Bedzhev - PhD, Marine Pilot, University Lecturer; NauticBlue, Owner

    • Topic: "Next-Generation Ship Theory: An Integrated Platform for Engineering Education and Simulation”​

  • Zdravko Atanasov - Master Mariner, Simulation Engineering, Member of BSMA

    • ​Topic: "IntelliCelestial – Innovative Simulation Platform for Modern Astronavigation and AI-Augmented Star Tracking”​

  • AstroCadets - Naval Academy Cadets

    • Topic: "An Intelligent VR System for Space Mission Simulation, Underwater Training and Psychophysiological Crew Assessment​"

  • Dinko Manolov - Founder and CEO, Kodin Space

    • Topic: "Space Situational Awareness and Orbital Intelligence"​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

19:30 - 22:00 | B2B Cocktail Gathering at The Brick Port *

                             (Connect with industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers.)

Dress Code: Semi-Formal

If you’re interested in joining, please contact the organisers to inquire about availability.

*Attendance is by invitation only and limited to a select number of participants.​​

Day 2: September 9, 2026

08:30 - 09:00 | Registration | Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy Planetarium 

09:00 - 09:30 | Opening Remarks & Welcome Addresses ​​​

  • Welcome аddress – Rear Admiral Prof. Dr. Kalin Kalinov, Rector of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy

  • Welcome address - Svetoslav Todorov, Head of Handy Operations, Cobelfret NV Global Shipping Delegate, Whale Guardians™ Programme

  • Welcome address - Alessandro Geretto, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria

  • Welcome address - ICT Cluster (TBC)

  • Welcome address - Deyan Dimitrov, ​PhD, Attorney at Law | Chief Assistant Professor, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences | Legal Advisor to the Bulgarian Shipmasters Association (BSMA)

09:30- 12:50 | Panel 3: MARITIME INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

Moderator: Milena Stoycheva - Chief Executive Officer, The Edge

Speakers:​​​​

  • Simon Bennett - International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Deputy Secretary General
    • Topic: "The IMO Net-Zero Framework for GHG reduction: latest developments and will it be adopted this year?”​​

  • Madlen Jekova - CEO Stellium Group​​​

    • Topic: “The Wellbeing Paradox of Maritime AI: Why More Data Hasn’t Moved the Numbers” 

  • Thomas Klenum - Executive Vice President, Innovation & Regulatory Affairs, The Liberian Registry (LISCR); Chair, IQARB
    • Topic: "Navigating IMO Decarbonization: Collaborative Pathways for Shipyards and Shipowners”​​

  • Milena Stoycheva - Chief Executive Officer, The Edge​

    • Topic: "How to build a Maritime Tech Ecosystem - The Roadmap"

  • Jordan Taylor - Director, Project Harrison, Fulbright Specialist

    • Topic: “How Project Harrison is building Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence for the Commercial Maritime Industry” ​​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

Coffee Break 20 minutes (depending on session timing)​​

  • Mikael Khelia - Port State Control & Flag State Implementation Expert, EMSA​

    • Topic: “Enabling Maritime Innovation Through Regulatory Frameworks and Technical Assistance” 

  • Viktor Dukov - Founder and CEO of SeAI

    • Topic: “Where the Sea meets the AI” ​

  • Nicolas Ponet - Head of Sales at Vanguard Tech

    • Topic: "From geopolitical intelligence to operational response – managing maritime risk when conditions change faster than the policy environment.”​​

  • Rüçhan Derici - Founder & CEO, 3e Group | Logistics & Industrial Transformation Expert

    • Topic: "Beyond Digitalisation: Turning Maritime Rules into Defensible Decisions”​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

12:50- 13:30 | Networking Break: Light Catering & Beverages

13:30 - 15:50 | Panel 4: SEAFARERS’ HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SKILLS

Moderator: Andreana Ivanova MICS - Cargill, Laytime and Invoice Operator

Speakers:​​​​​

  • Andrew Cook FNI - Secretary General, International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations (IFSMA)​

    • Topic: "The Human at the Sharp End”​​

  • Hubert Ardillon - Secretary General, Confederation of European Shipmasters' Associations (CESMA)

    • Topic: "Seafarers Health, Safety, and Skills - A Captain's point of view”​

  • Zaloa Sanchez Varela, AFNI - University of Split, Professor Assistant, Faculty of Maritime Studies

    • Topic: "Safety at sea is not gender-neutral: from evidence to engineering change for women seafarers"​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

Coffee Break 20 minutes (depending on session timing)​

  • Stella Kiss - Clinical Psychologist and Head of Operations at Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS)

    • Topic: "When AI Becomes a Confidant”​ ​​​

  • Mihaela Ivanova - Deputy Crewing Manager, Unity Ship Management Ltd
    Dimitar Yordanov - Administrative Manager, Unity Ship Management Ltd

    • Topic: "Crew Welfare Is Not a Benefit”​ ​​

  • Douwe van der Meulen - Policy Advisor – Social Affairs & Maritime Security, European Shipowners | ECSA

    • Topic: "Digital burden to digital benefit: Making technology work for shipowners and seafarers”​ ​​

  • Hristo Papukchiev - Master Mariner; Maritime Safety & Risk Management Expert

    • Topic: "Decision Space: From Choice to Constraint – Understanding the Progressive Degradation of Decision-Making in Maritime Navigation: An analytical framework for recognising the transition from available options to inevitable outcomes”​ ​​

Q&A (Questions & Answers) session – participants can submit questions via Slido on the topics discussed (time permitting). 

16:00 | Official Closing Act and Resolution

  • Capt. Dimitar Dimitrov, PHD, FNI; President of CESMA and IMO GMA for Bulgaria

  • Capt. Ivaylo Paskov, AFNI; Deputy Chairman, Bulgarian Shipmasters' Association (BSMA); Senior Marine Superintendent, Navibulgar

Time: 14:30 | ​Varna Landmarks Sightseeing

Discover the cultural and historical highlights of Varna on a guided tour.
*Please note: Participation is limited due to capacity constraints.
To reserve a spot, kindly contact the organisers in advance.

20:00 | Gala Dinner at "La Veranda" Restaurant

* Attendance is by invitation only and limited to a select number of participants.
If you’re interested in joining, please contact the organisers to inquire about availability.

Dress Code: Formal

* Subject to change by the organisers.

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