ICS council meeting held at Ramside Hall

Oct 20 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

AN annual gathering of world leaders from the shipping industry is taking place in the North East for the first time.

Attending the Worldwide Controlling Council of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) today at Ramside Hall, near Durham, will be 35 delegates from countries as far apart as Canada and Tasmania.

ICS council meetings are traditionally held in London – where the industry body was founded 99 years ago – and rarely ventures outside the capital.

“The institute’s decision to meet here is the strongest indication yet that there is a growing perception globally that we have, here in the North East, a vibrant, forward-looking industrial and maritime community,” said Kevin Shakesheff, chairman of Teesside-based shipping agents Casper Shipping Limited and the immediate past president of the ICS world controlling council.

As well as addressing issues affecting the shipping industry globally, the delegates are hearing about port facilities in the North East from ICS member David Robinson, chief executive of Teesport-based PD Ports, together with the chief executives of port operators from Newcastle, Sunderland and Blyth.

Also, Dr Stan Higgins, chief executive of North East Process Industries Cluster (Nepic), will give the delegates an insight to the transformation taking place in North East industry to ensure it remains a thriving economic region.

Andrew Dobson, chairman of the North East branch of the ICS, said: “It is a real coup for the North East to be able to welcome shipping industry leaders from around the world – and a major opportunity to showcase the region, its ports and the industrial and transportation infrastructure which supports the region’s economy.”

Mr Shakesheff said: “Delegates are coming here from every major shipping nation, including Canada, China, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Scandinavia and Germany, to name just a few.

“We want them to return home with a very positive reflection of the North East and its capabilities.”