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Overview

Join us for an expert-led seminar hosted by Lloyd's List Intelligence in partnership with Hong Kong Maritime Week, exploring the relationship between geopolitical events and their impact on maritime trade and operations.

As global tensions shape the international landscape, understanding implications for maritime logistics is crucial for industry stakeholders.


In our first session, we will examine:

  • Shadow Fleet Dynamics: Unpacking the latest trends in spoofing, false flag operations, and the complexities of registered ownership.
  • Iran’s Shadow LPG Fleet: A focused analysis of Iran’s covert liquefied petroleum gas operations and their implications for sanctions enforcement.
  • Red Sea :Are vessels returning to transit this vital waterway? What does the data tell us?

In our second session we will explore:

  • Regulatory Complexity: What impact will US tariffs and new US and Chinese port fees have on global trade dynamics and shipping flows?
  • Green Shipping: Has the recent one-year delay to a vote on the IMO Net Zero Framework derailed shipping’s decarbonisation trajectory?
  • Navigating Uncertainty: Amid rising geopolitical risks to operations, how can Hong Kong consolidate and strengthen its position as Asia’s leading trade and shipping hub?

Who should attend?

Designed for shipping executives, risk managers, trade finance professionals, compliance managers and policymakers, this seminar provides an opportunity to engage with experts, network with peers, and gain insights to prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead in 2026 and beyond.

**Due to limited capacity, please fill out the form below to secure your attendance. We will contact you shortly to confirm your participation.


Agenda

09:00 am: Registration
9:15 am: Networking & Breakfast
09:45 am: Shining a Light into What’s Next
by Waqas Samad, CEO, Lloyd’s List Intelligence
10:00 am: Session 1: Presentation
Unmasking the Shadow Fleet: The Data Behind Deceptive Shipping Practices
By Sebastian Villyn, Head of Content Operations, Lloyd’s List Intelligence
10:20 am: Session 2: Panel Discussion 
(Moderated by Cichen Shen, Editor, Lloyd's List Intelligence)
Hong Kong’s Balancing Act: Protecting Its Role as Asia’s Trade and Shipping Nexus

Panelists:
  • John Gibson
    Head of Trade and Working Capital,
    Asia Pacific Global Financial Crimes Compliance, J.P. Morgan
  • Ioannis Stefanou
    Managing Director, Ship Management, Wallem Group
  • Hing Chao
    Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport
  • Benjamin Kostrzewa
    International Trade & Geopolitical Risk Expert
  • Han Ning (韩宁)
    General Manager, ShipBid.net Singapore
11:45am:

Networking and drinks
1:00pm Event ends

If you would like to register for this event, please contact Shweta Aggarwal, Head of Marketing - APAC: Shweta.Aggarwal@lloydslistintelligence.com

Speakers

Hing Chao
Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport

Hing Chao is Executive Chairman of Wah Kwong Maritime Transport and Co-founder and Chairman of the Hong Kong Chamber of Shipping. He serves as a Board Director of the Global Maritime Forum, Chairman of the Bureau Veritas Global Marine and Offshore Advisory Council, and Chairman of RINA’s Asia Decarbonisation Committee.

He is a trustee of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Honorary President of the Institute of Seatransport, and a member of both the Port Welfare Committee of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Committee of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai.


John Gibson
Head of Trade and Working Capital, Asia Pacific, Global Financial Crimes Compliance, J.P. Morgan

John Gibson is a Vice President within the Global Financial Crimes Compliance Payments team, where he is tasked with delivering AML / CFT guidance to the Trade Finance sector across the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, John oversees AML/CFT risk management for certain higher risk client types including FinTechs and Foreign Correspondent Banking clients.

John is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and holds a Master's degree in Information Systems, along with an undergraduate degree in Economics and Finance. With over 22 years of experience in the banking industry, John brings a wealth of expertise to his role.


Ioannis Stefanou
Managing Director, Ship Management, Wallem Group

Ioannis Stefanou is Managing Director of Ship Management at Wallem Group, where he has overseen ship operations and technical services since 2014. He has extensive experience with leading ship management companies and private operators, focusing on strategy, product innovation, and the integration of new technologies. Ioannis holds Master’s degrees in Marine Technology and Technical Management of Ship Operations, and is a Chartered Engineer with the UK Engineering Council.


Benjamin Kostrzewa
International Trade & Geopolitical Risk Expert

Benjamin Kostrzewa is based in Hong Kong, advising clients on international trade, cross-border compliance, and geopolitical risk across the Asia-Pacific region. He previously served as Assistant General Counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), focusing on U.S.–China issues, WTO disputes, and free trade negotiations. With deep expertise in Greater China, he supports global clients on export controls, sanctions, tariffs, and customs matters, and regularly represents them before international trade and regulatory bodies. A graduate of Peking University in Chinese law, Benjamin is also a frequent speaker at global trade forums and a contributor to leading media outlets including the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg.


Han Ning (韩宁)
General Manager, ShipBid.net Singapore

Han Ning is General Manager of ShipBid.net in Singapore, where she leads the company’s overseas growth and expansion. Before joining ShipBid.net, Han Ning spent five years in business development with PSA China and 14 years with Drewry Shipping Consultants, where she was a founding member of Drewry China and rose to Director. She later transferred to Drewry’s Singapore office in 2022, managing consultancy projects spanning strategic development for port and shipping companies, overseas investment strategies, and market assessments.


Cichen Shen
Editor, APAC, Lloyd's List

Cichen leads the Lloyd’s List APAC editorial team. His reports covers a wide range of maritime sectors, including freight markets, ship finance, decarbonization and sanctions. He also represents Lloyd’s List Intelligence at various industry conferences as a moderator and presenter. Previously Lloyd's List's China Editor, Cichen is a consistent provider of first-hand news and insights about the country’s fast-changing maritime industry and its influence on world trading patterns.


Sebastian Villyn
Head of Content Operations, Lloyd’s List Intelligence

Sebastian Villyn is Head of Content Operations at Lloyd’s List Intelligence, leading the global Counterparty Risk team Infospectrum in assessing ownership, sanctions, and credit risks to enhance transparency in customer due diligence. With over a decade of experience in maritime risk and data analytics, he previously served with the Norwegian Coast Guard and worked as a consultant at Control Risks. Based in Hong Kong, Sebastian holds a degree in War Studies and is certified as both an ISPS Company Security Officer (CSO) and Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO).


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