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The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has announced its biggest ever annual programme of international events.

The 2015 programme includes regional forums, dinners, award ceremonies, training courses and a convention taking place in 11 different locations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. The list contains a mixture of members-only and open-to-all events.

Additionally, IBIA says it will be participating in two IMO working groups looking at fuel quality and fuel availability. Earlier this year, in October, the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 67 agreed to establish a correspondence group to develop draft guidance for assuring the quality of fuel oil delivered for use on board ships, and to consider the adequacy of the current legal framework in MARPOL Annex VI for assuring the quality of bunkers.

Commenting on the annual events programme, IBIA chief executive Peter Hall said: "This is our most ambitious programme ever and builds on 25 years of experience. Our aim is to help improve standards across the marine fuels industry and support our members. These events and committees are all part of this drive. We’re running high level and basic training courses to ensure best practice; we’re deeply involved in developing new standards at IMO; we’re holding numerous dinners and social events around the world bringing buyers and sellers of marine fuel together and we are helping the industry get up to speed on the latest issues at our convention and forums.

"Our annual dinner in London is of course our most popular event. Last year 1127 industry professionals attended our dinner at the Grovesnor House Hotel. We're looking to break this record in 2015 and will be holding the dinner at the Park Plaza Westminster which can hold even more guests."

2015 programme

January - Basic Bunkering Courses, Angola, Cape Town and Durban

9 February - IBIA AGM, Naval Club – London

9 February - IBIA Annual Dinner, Park Plaza Westminster, London

24-26 February - IBIA Mediterranean Forum, Gibraltar

16 March - IBIA (Africa) AGM & Dinner Cape Town

25-27 March - IBIA Basic Bunkering Course (FUJCON) Fujairah

23 April - Sea Asia & IBIA (Asia) Gala Dinner & Awards, Fullerton Hotel – Singapore

April - IBIA Basic Bunkering Course Lagos, Nigeria

May - IBIA Basic Bunkering Course Mauritius

May - IBIA (Africa) Membership Luncheon Cape Town

19 June - IBIA (Asia) Golf Challenge and Bursary awards Singapore

June - IBIA - Basic Bunkering course Maritime Week Americas, Cartagena

3-5 August - African Ports Evolution IBIA (Africa) Advanced Bunkering Training Course, Durban

9 September - IBIA London International Shipping Week Forum, The Baltic Exchange, London

September-October - Maritime Week, Cape Town

1-6 November - IBIA International Convention, Cancun, Mexico

December - IBIA (Africa) end of year drinks, Cape Town