Format adapted to Covid-19 situation – Program to be published shortly – New venue Rathausmarkt – Arved Fuchs to introduce next SEADEVCON Maritime Award winner
Hamburg, 6 August 2020. Preparations for the SEADEVCON Special ‘20 (www.seadevcon.com) are well advanced. Scheduled for 24 September, the maritime industry conference will take place in a format that fully respects all safety protocols while still providing a much needed forum for addressing on-going issues around the impact of commercial shipping on climate change.
SEADEVCON founder and organiser, Carsten Bullemer explains: “In the current difficult situation, we cannot afford to lose sight of the very real threat from Co2 emissions. Once economic activities worldwide fully resume, this unsolved problem must again be front and center of everybody’s attention, and our event wants to make a contribution.”
The SEADEVCON Special ‘20 will be even more closely physically integrated into the 12th Hamburg Climate Week, taking place in one of the tents erected for that occasion on Rathausmarkt, the heart of Hamburg, on the doorsteps of the City Hall.
In close coordination, everything is being done to ensure compliance with applicable restrictions regarding hygiene, social distancing, and maximum number of participants. The organisers of both events agree that public health has priority over any other considerations and are consequently developing digital solutions to give all those unable to attend in person access to the proceedings. “Just cancelling was never an option for us,” Bullemer states. “Instead, we have accepted the challenge to develop a new format as the public debate must continue. The SEADEVCON Special ‘20 program that we are now finalizing will reflect this.”
Highlighting the principle of continuity, the author and expedition leader Arved Fuchs, winner of the SEADEVCON Maritime Award 2019, has confirmed his participation to present this year’s honoree. The prize is to recognize annually a personality whose “lifetime achievement is exemplary for the fight for a sustainable and respectful use of the world’s seas”.
Fuchs says: “I am delighted to keep engaging with SEADEVCON. Also in its adapted format, this event is exactly what is needed to increase awareness around the pressing issue of Co2 emissions reduction. The pandemic has not stopped the polar ice caps melting!” Carsten Bullemer emphasizes the importance of the relationship that has developed between the explorer and the Conference team: “As we are working intensely on the Special ‘20 content, it is very reassuring to see that our approach is being endorsed by someone as credible as Arved Fuchs. This year’s winner, to be announced soon, is in the same category.”