Dubai, UAE -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/10/2012 -- Bunkering, the supply of fuel for ships, is a major industry in the Red Sea and Gulf region, as international freight passes through the global shipping artery of the Suez Canal. With the UAE’s Fujairah Port alone being the second largest refueling port in the world, many other ports in the region are also boosting their services to meet international demand.

RESCON, the Red Sea and Gulf Bunkering Conference, is the pioneering meeting of professionals drawing bunker and shipping experts from across all countries in the region to actively debate how they can improve services and operations in the industry.

Bunkers are the largest cost to any ship owner or operator and so pricing strategies along with many other elements such as more stringent global sulphur regulations, piracy prevention, advances in technology, specific port improvements and hedging strategies to reduce risk in the market will all be discussed by the region’s specialists.

Speaking at the conference is Jan Jacobsen, CEO of Monjasa, supplier of oil products worldwide and Headline Sponsor of the event.

“The bunkering sector is an important, dynamic, driving factor which is a strong industry to any country’s import and export activities. But the real benefit is job opportunities that it gives to those in the region, the ability to serve big shipping lines and community developments through education in international shipping,” said Jacobsen.

The recent sanctions on Iran will also be considered and how the industry has adapted to it.

“The Bunker Market is growing day by day and more participation from international players is making it competitive global market for the rest of the world. Bunkering is a requirement of every ship and due to the cost impact, ships refuel at the most competitive ports which the Middle East is able to offer currently,” said Kalrav Dixit, group trading manager at Gulf Petrochem, also one of the speakers at RESCON 2012 and Industry Support Sponsor.

RESCON the Red Sea and Gulf Bunkering Conference will take place at the Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, Dubai on May 21 until May 23. Other speakers include Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General, The Baltic and International Maritime Council, Saher Tahlawi, Director General, Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Ports Authority, Tamer Masoud, Harbour Master, Port Of Fujairah, Julius Rodrigues, Operations Manager, United Arab Chemical Carriers, Morten Dehn, General Manager Bunker Department, Mur Shipping, Abdulla Al-Hayyas, senior manager at the Dubai Maritime City Authority, and many others.

About RESCON
The Red Sea and Gulf Bunkering Conference is a comprehensive gathering of bunker professionals focused specifically on the Red Sea and Gulf region. The conference taking place in the UAE for the very first time breaks down each component impacting the bunker business to give detailed and specific guidance, advice and strategies for issues that are challenging the industry. Delegates can forge lucrative commercial partnerships and gain insight from peers. Topics for the event include bunker pricing, economic impacts, risk management, piracy, future contracts, port spotlights and many more. Sponsors include Monjasa, Bakri International Energy Co., IBCO and Gulf Petrochem. Supporters of the event include Dubai Martime City Authority and The International Bunker Industry Association. For more information visit http://www.iirme.com/rescon