Welcome to the Piracy & Shipping Security Briefing, 31st March 2009, Grosvenor House, Dubai.

Recent developments in the Gulf of Aden have brought the subject of piracy and maritime security crashing into international headlines. Previously considered a minor threat to vessels in the region, piracy has now become a number one concern for shipping and energy companies. With over $30 million dollars paid in ransoms last year and companies incurring costs through taking longer routes to destinations there has never been a greater need to assess the situation carefully.

While modern piracy has captured the headlines, many shipping and energy companies are left with an unclear picture of the real nature of the threat, what is being done and what solutions and best-practice are on offer to alleviate the situation.

While it is difficult to predict how the situation will evolve given the lack of firm government intervention around the Gulf of Aden, it is clear that the success of some of the pirates and the large ransoms paid will encourage further attempts. It is the duty of the industry to gather and discuss the most important security issues and share best-practice.

The Piracy & Shipping Security Briefing will gather leading shipping companies, energy companies and security providers in the region. This full day briefing will provide a forum to assess the situation, showcase the latest technologies and solutions and bring a realistic assessment of the present and future threat.

This one day briefing will be a comprehensive examination of the latest developments, case studies from the industry and security solutions to enable those affected to set the right strategies for the near and long-term.