The Maritime Standard has announced the launch of the eighth edition of the Ship Finance and Trade Conference (SFTC), which will be held on 9 February 2026 at Grosvenor House, Dubai. The conference will once again bring together senior figures from across the maritime, finance, and trade sectors to examine key developments shaping global ship finance.

SFTC 2026 will take place under the theme Ship Finance: helping the industry navigate through increasingly uncertain waters. The event is designed to address the financial, regulatory, and strategic challenges facing shipping at a time of market volatility, geopolitical tension, and increasing regulatory and sustainability pressures.

The conference programme will be structured around two main sessions. The opening session, Financial Strategies in a Volatile World, will focus on how shipowners, banks, investors, and alternative lenders are responding to changing market conditions. Topics will include global trends in ship finance, the impact of trade wars, tariffs, and sanctions, regulatory uncertainty including the implications of the IMO pause on net-zero, mergers and acquisitions, conventional bank lending, alternative financing models, and approaches to managing financial and geopolitical risk. The session will also examine developments in key markets such as Greece and China, as well as the role of classification and Shariah-compliant financing in supporting investment decisions.

The second session, Developing Financial Tools to Support the Green Transition, will examine the role of finance in enabling sustainable shipping. Discussions will cover the financing of alternative fuel newbuildings, environmental retrofits, emerging carbon markets, regulatory scrutiny, and the financial risks associated with decarbonisation. The session will also address the role of maritime decarbonisation funds, skills development, and the growing importance of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in supporting long-term sustainability strategies.

Over the years, the Ship Finance and Trade Conference has established itself as a trusted forum for informed discussion and practical insight, attracting a high-level audience of shipowners, financiers, investors, port and logistics operators, legal and insurance specialists, and policymakers. The 2026 edition is expected to continue this tradition by offering a focused environment for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and industry engagement.

Registration for SFTC 2026 is now open, with attendance subject to capacity. Further announcements regarding speakers and programme details will be made in the coming months.

For more information or to register, please visit https://tms-shipfinanceandtrade.com/delegate-registration.