A unique conference ‘Challenges in 21st Century Passenger Transport - Delivering Value & Innovation in the Ferry Industry’ will be held on 15 September 2004 in the historic setting of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich on the River Thames in London. Staged by the Greenwich Maritime Institute (GMI) in association with forward thinking ship management company, ShipShape International, the conference will bring together the academic and business communities. The event comes at a time when governments in the United Kingdom and elsewhere are formulating their long-term transport plans for the coming decades.

A distinguished panel of speakers from the academic world, passenger transport industry and the ‘ideas’ end of High Street retail will share their expertise on a range of issues affecting the ferry industry. The programme will include an examination of the value of outsourcing significant elements of the business, the potential for cost reduction in ship and shore based operations and the criteria for successful marketing, including the trend towards ‘price led’ promotional activities.

Professor Sarah Palmer, director of gmi says ‘The ferry industry in certain sectors is currently going through a very troubling period of poor or negative return due in large part to competition from no-frills, low-cost airlines. It is timely therefore that this event will analyze the trends and challenges in passenger transport and identify prospects for the ferry industry and appropriate innovative response.‘

This conference will be relevant to everyone with an interest in delivering value and innovation in the ferry industry and will also provide delegates with a unique networking opportunity.