BSA Maritime Industry Forum 2026 & Annual General Meeting
đź“… Wednesday, 30 September 2026
đź•’ 13:00 CEST (UTC+2, Italian time)
đź“Ť Villa Pallavicino delle Peschiere, Genoa, Italy
đź’» Hybrid format: In-person & via Teams webinar
The Bahamas Shipowners’ Association (BSA) is pleased to invite Members and industry partners to save the date for the BSA Maritime Industry Forum 2026, under the theme “Building Resilience in a Changing Maritime Landscape”, followed by the Association’s Annual General Meeting.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, technological innovation and an evolving regulatory landscape, the Forum will bring together leading maritime professionals to discuss the strategic challenges shaping the future of global shipping.
Timeline for the afternoon — all times CEST (Genoa local time)
Attendance is by invitation only and is reserved exclusively for BSA Members and invited guests.
Register using the registration links below:
Please register by Friday, 18 September 2026.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, technological innovation and an evolving regulatory landscape, the BSA Maritime Industry Forum 2026 will provide a platform for thought-provoking discussion and the exchange of perspectives on the issues most relevant to the international shipping industry.
The moderated panel discussion will explore three key themes:
Geopolitical Risk & Marine Insurance: The impact of geopolitical developments on global trade, operational risk, sanctions, marine insurance and P&I
Speaker: Tom Williams, Head of Underwriting – Offshore & Renewables, North Standard
The Future of Shipbuilding: Fleet renewal, emerging technologies, alternative propulsion, digitalisation and investment decisions
Speaker: Francesco Giacobone, Head of Innovation Strategy & Portfolio, Fincantieri
Port State Control & Compliance: Lessons from recent Port State Control inspection trends and their implications for safety, regulatory compliance and operational performance
Speaker: Stephen Keenan, Senior Deputy Director- Head of Inspections & Surveys Department, Â Bahamas Maritime Authority
Tom Williams – Head of Underwriting, Offshore & Renewables, NorthStandard
Tom Williams is Head of Underwriting for Offshore & Renewables at NorthStandard and has extensive experience in marine insurance and P&I underwriting. His work encompasses the complex contractual, operational and geopolitical risks faced by shipowners and operators, including risk allocation, liabilities and insurance cover in an increasingly challenging global operating environment.
Tom has particular expertise in the offshore and renewables sectors and regularly contributes to NorthStandard’s industry guidance on P&I, offshore contracting and the legal and insurance implications of maritime operations internationally.
Francesco Giacobone – Head of Innovation Strategy & Portfolio, Fincantieri
Francesco Giacobone is Head of Innovation Strategy & Portfolio at Fincantieri, where he leads initiatives at the intersection of technology, innovation, and the future of the maritime industry. He holds an MSc in Naval Architecture from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, complemented by studies at the University of Michigan, and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano.
Before joining Fincantieri, he was a Senior Manager at Bain & Company, advising leading industrial, aerospace, defense, and cruise-sector organizations on strategy, sustainability, and transformation. Earlier in his career, he worked at GE Power on large-scale energy infrastructure projects.
Combining engineering expertise with strategic consulting experience, Francesco focuses on innovation, emerging technologies, and the digital and sustainable transformation of the maritime sector.
Stephen Keenan – Senior Deputy Director – Inspections & Surveys Department, Bahamas Maritime Authority
Stephen Keenan joined the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) in 2009 and has headed its Inspections & Surveys Department since 2011. His responsibilities include flag State inspections and surveys, Port State Control performance, technical and regulatory compliance, and oversight of Recognised Organisations.
A marine engineer by background, Stephen served at sea on a variety of vessel types, progressing to Chief Engineer Officer, before moving ashore into ship management as an engineering superintendent and technical manager. His experience includes tankers and offshore vessels.
Stephen holds a Class 1 Marine Engineer Certificate of Competency and a Higher National Diploma in Engineering. He is a member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), and is registered with the UK Engineering Council as an Incorporated Engineer.
John Adams – Chair, ICS Long-Term Measures Working Group & Senior Advisor to the BSA Board (Moderator)
John Adams has more than 40 years’ experience in international shipping, including over 30 years with Teekay Shipping, where he held a range of senior leadership positions, and subsequently as Managing Director of V.Ships UK.
John served as Chair of the Bahamas Shipowners’ Association from 2015 to 2023 and as a Vice Chair of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). He currently chairs the ICS Long-Term Measures Working Group, leading industry engagement on measures to achieve international shipping’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.
In 2022, John received the SAFETY4SEA Personality Award in recognition of his contribution to the global maritime industry. He remains Senior Advisor to the BSA Board.
All times are shown in Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) — local time in Genoa.
| Time (CEST) | Programme |
|---|---|
| 13:00 | Registration and Coffee |
| 13:15 | Webinar Lobby Open |
| 13:30 | Opening Remarks & AGM Report Capt. Domenico Rognoni, Chair, Bahamas Shipowners Association |
| 13:45 | BMA Perspective Jacqueline Simmons, Chair, Bahamas Maritime Authority Dwain Hutchinson, MD & CEO, Bahamas Maritime Authority |
| 14:00 | AGM Formalities Capt. Domenico Rognoni, Chair, Bahamas Shipowners AssociationFinancial Report 2025–2026 Rajesh Dhadwal, Treasurer, Bahamas Shipowners Association |
| 14:15 | Geopolitical Risk & Marine Insurance The impact of geopolitical developments on trade, operational risk, sanctions, marine insurance and P&I. Tom Williams, North Standard |
| 14:35 | The Future of Shipbuilding Fleet renewal, emerging technologies, alternative propulsion, digitalisation and investment decisions. Francesco Giacobone, Fincantieri |
| 14:55 | Port State Control & Compliance Lessons from recent PSC inspection trends and their implications for safety, compliance and operational performance. Stephen Keenan, Bahamas Maritime Authority |
| 15:15 | Panel Discussion and Q&A Speakers & Shipowner, BSA Director |
| 16:15 | Closing Remarks Peter John Goulandris, Deputy Chair, Bahamas Maritime Authority Capt. Domenico Rognoni, Bahamas Shipowners Association |
| 16:30 | Maritime Industry Forum Close & AGM adjourned |
| 16:30–18:30 | Drinks reception |
We look forward to welcoming BSA Members and invited guests, whether attending in Genoa or online, for an afternoon of insightful discussion, valuable networking and the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Bahamas Shipowners Association.
Should you require any further information about the event, please do not hesitate to contact the BSA Secretariat at bsa@bahamasshipownersassociation.com.
We will be pleased to assist you with any questions regarding the programme, registration or attendance.
The Bahamas Shipowners Association (BSA) was inaugurated in London on 11 July 1997. The Association represents the shipowners of the sixth largest register in the world and members have common interests and a purpose.