The Annual Conference of the Association of Bulk Terminal Operators (ABTO) takes place from 23-24 October in Antwerp City Centre. Covering major areas of concern in the shipping industry, this year’s conference will focus on Common Customs Clearance (CCC) and unite terminals and ports with professionals including equipment suppliers, advisors, and academics.
Logistical and security considerations are a major concern for transporting, storing and handling bulk commodities in today’s rapidly changing maritime environment. Piracy and cybersecurity are no longer individual issues to consider, but threats that can dovetail and enhance each other.
At this year’s ABTO, cybersecurity expert Richard Hodder will speak on the latest cyber risks, which protective measures can be taken and how Dryad Global’s Cyber Voyager™ technology can help to solve these problems.
The Annual ABTO Bulk Terminals Conference
Supported by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges (Europe's second-largest port), ABTO 2024 will feature market analysis and practical solutions toward improving safety, operations, and environmental protection in bulk terminals.
The conference’s focus on CCC is significant: this overhaul of customs procedures across ports and terminals aims to streamline import and export processes by reducing delays and costs through procedural and standardisation and document harmonisation.
ABTO believes that interaction between ports and terminals with equipment and service suppliers, professional advisors and academics at the conference will improve operational efficiencies, safety and environmental compliance for bulk terminals.
Cybersecurity and the bulk terminals industry
Piracy is currently big news, but as a thousands of years-old phenomenon, is unlikely to be eradicated soon. While many events address the issue from a geo-strategic or military perspective, the main question for the maritime sector is: what can ship and platform owners do to counteract such immediate, ongoing threats?
Cyber threats in particular pose a challenge for ports and terminals. While conventional piracy may not play out in the same way for these shipping entities, the sophistication of cyber criminals and tools is an ever-evolving problem that demands robust, highly informed solutions, processes and technologies that can adapt at the same rate.
This is where the specialist knowledge of consultants like Richard Hodder will prove invaluable in guiding the approaches of conference attendees from the wider industry.
About Richard Hodder and Cyber Voyager
At ABTO 2024, Richard Hodder will discuss the latest cyber risks and how Cyber Voyager, an AI-driven maritime cybersecurity solution, can enhance risk management. This technology integrates with existing systems to provide incident response, threat hunting, and continuous advisory services, protecting against threats like malware and ransomware.
Richard's expertise in cybersecurity, shaped by his experience across multiple sectors, will complement discussions on safety innovations at the conference. His deep understanding of modern cyber concerns is backed by a strong academic background and a passion for the maritime industry - where he continues to provide unique approaches to modern cybersecurity issues.
Register for ABTO 2024 here, and download the brochure and programme here.
Book a consultation with our team to discuss your maritime cyber needs in-depth: