A new trade association has been established to provide the world’s bulk terminals with a united front at governmental level in order to ensure the sector can better face the environmental and commercial challenges ahead.

The Association of Bulk Terminal Operators (ABTO) seeks to provide a voice for bulk terminal operators at a national and international level, providing a forum for its members to discuss the issues impacting seaborne trade and the global transportation of bulk commodities.

Chief Executive Ian Adams said: “The Association of Bulk Terminal Operators was born out of an under representation of the sector at national government and international regulatory level. We hope to facilitate and encourage the free and frank exchange of opinion to enable the dry bulk sector to present a united front in all discussions with governments, shippers, shipowners and operators. Unity is the only way to promote and protect the interests of the world’s bulk terminal operators.”

Speaking as the ABTO website went live, Adams outlined the structure of the organization: “The ABTO Secretariat will be guided by a Members Advisory Panel (MAP) on the current and relevant issues influencing the technical, commercial, environmental and market conditions affecting bulk terminal operations and the transportation of commodities.”

All ABTO administrative and management functions are provided by Maritime Association Management Company (Maritime AMC Limited), which was formed by four senior members of the maritime community, all of whom have extensive knowledge of the industry and expertise in areas as

diverse as marketing, events management and publishing. “This structure recognizes that in these modern times trade association members do not have the time to devote hours or even days to raise issues at a higher level or to influence decision making. We hope to co-operate more fully with all industry organizations, including those representing ship owners/operators, specialist terminal operators and other groups with an interest in the bulk trades to ensure that our members’ voices are heard at national and inter- governmental level,” said Adams,

Membership to ABTO is open to bulk terminal operators, suppliers of equipment and services to those terminals, and relevant associations and institutions.

Adams, the former CE of the International Bunker Industry Association and the Dry Bulk Terminals Group, said: “We are committed to representing the interests of bulk terminal operators at the very highest level.”