Offshore Patrol Vessels Conference

Offshore Patrol Vessels are the key maritime assets for ensuring maritime security...

In the era of constricting naval budgets and high profile land operations, naval forces are striving to ensure sufficient hull numbers and to retain specialist vessel capabilities, whilst also maintaining a regional presence. Under this backdrop, cost-effective capabilities provided by OPVs are enabling these demands to be met, resulting in a vibrant and exciting market where important procurement decisions will be made over the next few years.

With over 180 military and industry decision-makers from the OPVs community onsite in Lorient last year, the 5th Annual Offshore Patrol Vessels will offer:

• Key insights and updates on the major OPV programmes reshaping the naval landscape including the Littoral Combat Ship, the Turkish MILGEM programme, the UK’s MHPC project and the Spanish Navy’s BAM programme
• Key enabling technologies available from solution providers to allow navies and coast guards enhanced capabilities including modular, multi-mission flexibility, platform protection and weapons systems and using the OPV as a hub through effective C2 and surveillance capabilities
• An entire day dedicated to future OPV requirements and operational analysis of vessels currently in-service
• Regional threat analysis and insight into the increasingly important role OPVs play within current fleet structures

Furthermore, for 2010, we are offering streamed sessions allowing you to maximise your time onsite by choosing the topics most relevant to you. The programme will feature streams on multi-mission OPVs, an anti-piracy focus, platform protection and future technologies providing a comprehensive analysis of the OPV market from both a military and industry perspective. This will provide specific insight into some of the most sophisticated systems and advanced technologies that help the modern OPV meet the most demanding of operational requirements.

Who Will Be Speaking at The 5th Annual Offshore Patrol Vessels?

Conference Chairman:

• Admiral D. Francisco Torrente Sánchez (Retired), Former Secretary General of Defense Policy, Spanish MoD 

Conference Closing Ceremony Hosted by:

• Admiral General Manuel Rebollo García, Admiral Chief of Naval Staff, Spanish Navy

Keynote Briefings from:

• Admiral Moises Gomez, Under Secretary of the Navy for Management, Mexican Navy
• Vice Admiral Federico Niemann, Chief of General Staff, Chilean Navy 
• Vice Admiral Fernando del Pozo, Member of the Wise Pens, European Defence Agency
• Rear Admiral Jose Antonio Ruesta Botella, Head of Plans & Policy Division, Spanish Navy 
• Rear Admiral DJ Ezeoba, Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Navy
• Vice Admiral Angel Martínez, Director for New Buildings, Spanish Navy 
• Confirmed flag officer, Italian Navy
• Commodore David Wolfe (Royal Navy), Knowledge Director, NATO Joint Forces Command Lisbon 
• Simon Knight, Team Leader, Naval Design Partnering Team, DE&S, UK MoD (Pending final confirmation)
• William Schoenster, LCS Programme Director, US DoD 
• Colonel Richard Spencer (Royal Marines), Chief of Staff, NATO Northwood
• Captain Kirton Huggins, Director, Strategic Project Management Office, Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard 
• Captain Eduart Jeminaj, Joint Plans and Policy, Albanian Naval Forces
• Captain Halldór Nellett, Chief of Operations, Icelandic Coast Guard
• Sabit Umit Ergin, Boats Project Manager, Naval Platforms Department, Turkish MOD
• Commander Shugaa Almahdi, General Director of Operations, Yemeni Coast Guard 
• Lieutenant Commander Troels Sundwall, Royal Danish Navy
• Ambassador Thomas Winkler, Under Secretary for Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark 
• Haitham Al Tabei, Researcher, Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs
• Georgios Vourekas, Department Head, Maritime Border Security ,Frontex 
• Mark Neal Parker, CEng, CMarEng, FIMarEST, FCMI Business Development Manager, Power Systems, Ultra Electronics - PMES
• Martin Kulbartsch, Head of Sales, Naval Communications Systems ,Rohde & Schwarz 
• Rene Quezada, Naval Project Manager, Fassmer
• Philippe Deville, CV(R) Philippe Deville, Naval Operational Adviser and Mike Green, Naval and Land EW Portfolio Manager, Thales 
• Dr. Heino Dobiasch, Senior Sales Manager, Vessel Systems, Atlas Elektronik Senior Representative from Saab AB

Do not miss our exclusive Pre-Conference Future Requirements and Operational Analysis Focus Day

Guest speakers have agreed to examine existing OPV requirements, outlining the factors that shape national requirements and future plans for OPV procurements. These briefings are intended to provide government and military attendees with a chance to compare key vessel requirements and to leverage the expertise of colleagues in other forces. Thy also offer an unrivalled opportunity for industry leaders to understand how the needs of the customer are changing and where to focus R&D, engineering and business development efforts over the coming years.

Including insights from:

• UK MoD’s Naval Design and Partnering Team describing plans for the Royal Navy’s Mine Countermeasures, Hydrographic Patrol Vessel
• Albanian Navy’s view of one navy two missions and plans for future procurement
• Nigerian Navy detailing the effects of patrolling Gulf of Guinea on requirements and the further considerations created by increasing the area of responsibility
• Mexican Navy providing an incite into offshore patrol vessels for national security concerns and the development of shipbuilding in México
• Yemeni Coast Guard perspective on utilizing OPVs for anti-piracy operations
• Chilean Navy discussing the role of their OPVs in providing effective disaster relief following the Chilean earthquake 

‘Effective and clear. Very high value to exchange ideas and experiences’
Enrico Baldo, Selex Sistemi Integrati

‘Very useful insight into the wider world of OPVs’
Commander Richard Pethybridge, Royal Navy

Venue & Accommodation

Cadiz Conference Centre
Cadiz, Spain

Accommodation
More information to follow...