Conference Programme
Ship Finance - helping the industry navigate through increasingly uncertain waters
09 February 2026 | Grosvenor House, Dubai
Ship Finance - helping the industry navigate through increasingly uncertain waters
The TMS Ship Finance and Trade Conference, successfully held on seven previous occasions, returns in 2026. The one-day event will take place on 9 February at Grosvenor House, Dubai, and is expected to attract over 300 delegates. Attendees will hear from expert speakers representing ship finance, banking, shipping, ports, shipbroking, maritime law, logistics, trade facilitation and related sectors.
The overarching theme for this year is “Ship Finance - helping the industry navigate through increasingly uncertain waters,” reflecting the volatile conditions currently shaping the sector. The
conference will assess broader industry and global market trends, and how these are influencing
ship finance today. It will also examine how financial institutions, lenders and lessors can support
shipowners and operators as they navigate a market defined by uncertainty.
With regulatory timelines still evolving, the programme will explore how closer collaboration
between banks, financiers and shipping interests can help advance the green transition in a practical
and financially sustainable way.
09:00
Registration and Refreshments
09:45
Welcome Address
09:50
Keynote Address
10:00
Session 1
Financial Strategies in a Volatile World
This session examines how economic and market volatility, regulatory uncertainty and shifting industry dynamics are influencing ship finance today. Experts will discuss how lenders, investors and shipowners can adapt their financial strategies to navigate an increasingly unpredictable environment.
Key Topics to be Addressed:
- Emerging global trends in ship finance
- The implications of trade wars, tariffs and sanctions for financial services
- Regulatory uncertainty - what does the IMO ‘pause’ on net zero mean for the industry?
- Mergers and acquisitions- will there be a new spike?
- Is conventional bank lending to shipping set to rise?
- Alternative lenders - has their time now come?
- Financing new buildings at a time of geopolitical and regulatory turmoil
- The Greek ship finance sector - evolving to find new opportunities
- Chinese leasing vehicles - under threat?
- Mitigating risk amidst geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty
- Classification - creating a sound basis for investment
- Shariah-compliant financing in the maritime sector
11:15
Refreshment Break
11:30
Panel Discussion
12:30
Q&A Session
13:00
Lunch
14:00
Session 2
Developing Financial Tools to Sustain Support for the Green transition
This session focuses on the financial mechanisms needed to accelerate maritime decarbonisation. It will highlight the challenges of long-term investment in green technologies, evolving regulatory expectations and the tools that can support sustainable growth across the industry.
Topics will include
- New buildings with alternative fuels - how can financial services support long-term investment amidst regulatory uncertainty
- Financing the next round of environmental retrofits
- Greenwashing - is this a growing concern for the industry
- Regulatory scrutiny - how will this evolve?
- Emerging carbon trade markets - strategies for further development
- The Poseidon Principles - is shipping sticking with the plan?
- Assessing the financial risks of the green transition
- The role of maritime decarbonisation funds
- Investing in the human skills needed to support green shipping
- Encouraging digitalisation and AI innovators to drive sustainable shipping
15:30
Refreshment Break
15:45
Panel discussion
16:45
Q&A Session
17:15
Summary and Closing Remarks
17:30
Networking Cocktails
Sponsors
