8th Capital Link Singapore Maritime Forum – APRIL 20, 2026 – Westin Singapore
Capital Link is hosting the 8th Capital Link Singapore Maritime Forum on Monday, April 20, 2026, at the Westin Singapore. The Forum is held in partnership with ABS, and in cooperation with Columbia Shipmanagement and Singhai Marine Services, and in conjunction with the 2026 Singapore Maritime Week.The Forum highlights Singapore’s pivotal role as a gateway to Asia and a key player in the global shipping markets. It will explore key developments and emerging trends in energy, commodities, and various shipping sectors, alongside insights into the global financial and capital markets. The agenda will also address critical topics such as global trade, regulatory advancements in shipping, digitalization, technological innovation, and energy transition.Featured SessionsDRY BULK SECTOR PANEL10:00 – 10:40 AMModerator: Mr. Dimitrios Koukas, Founder, Chairman, & CEO – Optima Shipping ServicesPanelists:Mr. James Marshall, Founder & CEO – Berge BulkMr. John Su, Founder, President and CEO – Erasmus Shipinvest GroupMr. Martin Fruergaard, CEO – Pacific Basin Shipping (OTCPK: PCFBY) (HK:2343)Mr. Khalid Hashim, Managing Director – Precious ShippingMr. Stamatis Tsantanis, Chairman & CEO – Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHIP); Founder, Chairman & CEO – United Maritime Corporation (NASDAQ: USEA)SHIPPING & THE NEW ENERGY LANDSCAPE3:05- 3:45 PMModerator: Ms. Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Maritime – DNVPanelists:Capt. Franck Kayser, Chief Operating Officer – Asyad ShippingDr. Anil Sharma, Founder and CEO – GMS & Lila GlobalMr. Kenneth Hvid, President and CEO – Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE: TNK)Mr. Pontus Berg, Chief Operating Officer – Vitol International ShippingVenueThe Westin Singapore12 Marina View, Asia Square Tower 2Singapore 018961ContactsFor sponsorship and speaking opportunities, please contact: Nicolas Bornozis, Olga Bornozi or Anny Zhu at forum@capitallink.com or call 212.661.7566.For more information, please contact: Eleni Bej at ebej@capitallink.com or Athena Kosmadaki at athensoffice@capitallink.com or call 212.661.7566.Agenda Sponsors Register Add to Outlook
HDI Global announces new Managing Director of Singapore branch office as incumbent retires
HDI Global SE will appoint Alex Tarantino as Managing Director HDI Global SE Singapore, as Graham Silton announces his retirement in mid-2024 following over four successful decades in the insurance industry. Andrew Cochrane to lead Liability in Australasia following Alex Tarantino departure.
Graham Silton joined HDI Global SE Australia in May 2015 and successfully grew the property portfolio in Australia before being appointed as Managing Director for Singapore in 2017. Since then, Silton has played a pivotal role in transforming the reputation of the Singapore branch office and developing a strong following in the market place, contributing also to the positive overall result of the German based industrial insurer, HDI Global. Following four decades in the insurance industry as a leader and expert property underwriter with international experience, Silton will retire at the end of June 2024.
Alex Tarantino, currently Regional Underwriting Manager Liability and Cyber Asia Pacific, will continue in his current role until he moves to Singapore as Managing Director Singapore and Asia Pacific Liability Head from 1 July 2024. With over twenty years of International Underwriting experience across the UK, Canada and Australia, Tarantino joined HDI Global SE in 2019. His assignment to Singapore reflects HDI’s ambitions to continue expanding its reach in the growth regions of Asia Pacific.
Andrew Cochrane, currently Liability Underwriting Manager, Northern Region will become Underwriting Manager Liability Australasia in the Sydney office from January 2024. Cochrane’s career began in London in 2002 as an International Liability broker focused on Australia, Canada, Africa and Latin America business before moving to Australia in 2015 to pursue liability underwriting opportunities. In 2019, Cochrane joined HDI Global where he has been instrumental along with Tarantino in growing the liability book and establishing HDI as one of the leading Liability markets in Australia.
“We’re delighted to see this transition of strong leadership from Graham Silton who has built a dedicated team and business for our Singapore office, on to Alex Tarantino who we entrust to continue to grow our brand and become a leading corporate insurer in the region.”David HullinBoard member of HDI Global
“Graham is an outstanding leader, who has made a significant contribution to our business first here in Australia and over the last seven years as a leader in Singapore expanding our HDI reach in the growth regions of the ASEAN”, Stefan Feldmann, Head of HDI Global Asia Pacific and Managing Director HDI Global Australia, continues. “Graham’s dedication to our staff, brokers, customers and ensuring financial success for HDI has set a high standard for those who will follow in his footsteps. He will be missed by colleagues who all have the deepest appreciation for the value he added to so many individuals and our larger business.”
“Alex is a highly experienced underwriter with strong technical expertise in steering profitable portfolio growth. Since joining HDI in 2019, Alex has overseen our liability expansion nationally across Australia, while building a talented team to provide market leading solutions. In addition, he has already been providing oversight to the Asia Pacific region where he will continue to focus on strengthening the brand across all lines”, says Feldmann on the appointment of Tarantino as Managing Director Singapore and Asia Pacific Liability Head.
“With a global perspective, Alex has a keen understanding of the needs and drivers within local markets that will underpin our ambition to be a reliable partner in the transformation of our broker, ceding partners and clients in the Asia Pacific.”Stefan FeldmannHead of HDI Global Asia Pacific and Managing Director HDI Global Australia
On the appointment of Andrew Cochrane as Underwriting Manager Liability Australasia Feldmann says: “Andy has been central to leading our success in New South Wales and supporting the development of the Queensland liability portfolio for HDI in Australia. In addition to his strong technical knowledge, Andy embodies our relationship approach to looking after our brokers with his own unique brand that as a culture we try to encourage and share with our partners and clients.”
David Hullin concludes on the personnel changes: “I am very pleased that we have been able to fill these important leadership roles with our highly capable internal talents. The depth of talent in our team means we will continue to provide specialist underwriting expertise, meaningful capacity and tailored solutions for large complex risk including our International Programme capabilities. I am very confident that we have experienced leaders in place to continue the successful work we have done in building a strong offering to our clients and brokers”.
UK P&I Club announces new underwriting appointment for Singapore
The UK P&I Club, one of the world’s leading mutual insurers of third-party liabilities for ocean-going merchant ships has announced that it has appointed Peter Jones to the newly-created role of Underwriting Director at the Club’s long-established Singapore branch.
Peter has worked for the UK P&I Club for 12 years developing his experience across a number of claims and underwriting roles.
The Asia-Pacific region represents a significant proportion of the Club’s membership. Peter’s appointment recognises the Club’s presence in the region and commitment to deliver continued exceptional levels of support for members and brokers alike.
Peter is transferring to Singapore from the Club’s London office and, working in close collaboration with the Club’s London underwriting department, will ensure an enhanced level of local service to the region’s ship owners and their brokers.
Chief Underwriting Officer for the UK P&I Club, William Beveridge commented on the appointment:
“Singapore is one of the world’s top maritime hubs, and it’s vital that we have underwriting and claims specialists in the country to support our members and insurance brokers with an industry-leading loss prevention and claims service.
Peter’s appointment comes at an exciting time for Thomas Miller’s Singapore branch. Our sister mutual, TT Club has this week welcomed Kamel Tlili as its Regional General Manager for the Asia-Pacific region. The new appointments combine to strengthen Thomas Miller’s presence and resources in Singapore.”
Swiss Re and Income Insurance co-launch Singapore’s first cancer insurance product with guaranteed post-cancer term option
Swiss Re has partnered with composite insurer, Income Insurance Limited (Income Insurance), on a first-in-market cancer insurance product that offers a guaranteed post-cancer term option and support throughout the journey from diagnosis to recovery.
Complete Cancer Care provides continuous care in addition to financial assistance to those diagnosed with cancer. For those with advanced stage cancer, the product extends a guaranteed post-cancer coverage option for the insured without needing prerequisite health assessment, even after a cancer diagnosis.
The proposition focuses on support for active cancer treatment with monthly payouts and a premium waiver benefit, on top of conventional offerings, which predominantly centre around lump sum payments upon diagnosis. It also offers a hospice care benefit to support patients during palliative care.
To cater to the ageing population in Singapore, the product offers the highest entry age, up to 74 years old, with coverage to a maximum age of 84 years old.
“The launch of Complete Cancer Care demonstrates our dedication to supporting policyholders in their time of need by enabling our partners as they innovate and adapt to evolving customer needs,” said Daisy Ning, Head of Life & Health Reinsurance APAC ex China, Swiss Re. “We are committed to helping insurers tailor comprehensive insurance solutions that proactively address the health concerns of individuals facing cancer.”
In anticipation of Singapore’s cancer treatment costs exceeding SGD 2 billion by 20301, the Ministry of Health introduced the Cancer Drug List (CDL) to negotiate lower drug prices2. This initiative, aimed at improving cost-effectiveness and reducing patients’ financial strain underscores the importance of comprehensive insurance offerings. Notably the country’s nine per cent insurance penetration surpasses the Asia average but lags Hong Kong (18%) and Taiwan (14%), per findings from The Swiss Re Institute.
“The cancer journey is daunting and often filled with high emotional and financial stress for our customers and their loved ones,” said Dhiren Amin, Chief Customer Officer, Income Insurance. “To allay some fears so that they can focus on treatment, we are pleased to partner with a like-minded company, Swiss Re, to offer a holistic cancer proposition that provides complete care, from cancer diagnosis to recovery. Being the first in Singapore with a guaranteed post-cancer cover option, we hope to build our customers’ resilience to recover and live the fulfilling life they wanted, when their treatment is over.”
The launch of Complete Cancer Care is a continuation of Swiss Re and Income Insurance’s collaborative effort to address the insurance needs of Singaporeans and address the country’s protection gap challenges. In March 2022, both companies announced a longevity arrangement for Singapore’s aging population3.
1 Ministry of Health Singapore: “Recommendations of the MediShield Life Council on MediShield Life’s Coverage for Outpatient Cancer Drug Treatments”
2 Ministry of Health Singapore: Cancer Drug List, 23 Feb 2023
3 Swiss Re: “Swiss Re partners with NTUC Income on a first-in-market longevity arrangement to shield against future variation in Income’s annuity book”, 08 Mar 2022
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance νames Μary Βruce-Κahn Chief Executive in Singapore
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced that it has appointed Mary Bruce-Kahn to the role of Chief Executive, Singapore.
“Since we received our license at the end of 2014, the team and the portfolio in Singapore have been growing steadily” said Marc Breuil, President, BHSI Asia Middle East.
“With a firmly anchored local presence both in Singapore and in Asia, BHSI continues to expand its relationship and its product capabilities. As such, we are delighted to see Mary step up to the CE role where she will add to our collective strength and lead our further expansion.”
Mary joined BHSI in January as Regional Head of Operations & IT based in Singapore. She has over 20 years of experience in operational leadership in the insurance industry and previously held senior local and regional positions in Thailand, Singapore and Australia. She will retain her current position in addition to the new role.
Mary will continue to be based in Singapore and can be reached at mary.bruce-kahn@bhspecialty.com.
Thomas Miller Specialty, in partnership with HDI Global SE, launches marine and energy offshore capability in Singapore
Thomas Miller Specialty, a global insurance provider across a number of sectors including marine and offshore, has recruited senior marine and energy underwriter Mark Nunn as its specialist offshore underwriter in Asia Pacific.
An insurance specialist with extensive knowledge of the offshore market in Asia Pacific, Mark has worked in Singapore since 2013. Mark joins from Lloyd’s syndicate Markel International where he worked as an energy underwriter having previously worked at Marsh as a broker and client executive in both Singapore and London.
Mark is the first employee of Thomas Miller Specialty (Singapore) PTE Limited as the company looks to grow in this important market and will be based in HDI Global’s Singapore office. The appointment will enable Thomas Miller Specialty Offshore (TMSO), in collaboration with HDI Global Singapore, to offer a comprehensive risk transfer solution for Energy clients in the region.
Bernt Hellman, Managing Director, Offshore Marine & Energy, Thomas Miller Specialty, says:
“We believe it’s important to establish a permanent presence in Singapore and for the APAC region. Mark joins us as an established and trusted underwriter in the Singapore market and demonstrates our commitment to provide a strong local Offshore Marine and Energy product. We are really excited and very proud of this latest development that reinforces our relationship with HDI Global and HDI Global Specialty, which continues to go from strength to strength since 2016.”
Graham Silton, Managing Director and Principal Officer, HDI Global SE Singapore, says:
“We are very excited to launch this joint product offering and believe the Thomas Miller Specialty appointment of Mark Nunn will drive this initiative forward. Mark will work closely with Mark Mackay, Head of Energy, Eastern Region of HDI Global SE Singapore, to promote and provide tailormade account solutions for Onshore and Offshore products to our mutual clients and brokers in the APAC region.”
Singapore’s first hybrid electric ship classed by Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), has certified and classed Singapore’s first hybrid-powered ship. Built, owned and operated by Singapore-based Penguin Shipyard International, a subsidiary of Penguin International Limited (“Penguin”), Penguin Tenaga is a 15-meter, 12-passenger aluminum pilot boat capable of entirely running in electric mode at five knots for more than 30 minutes, and in conventional diesel mode can reach a maximum speed of 24 knots.
The vessel design is based on the same hull form as two of Penguin’s existing monohull pilot boats that are currently operating for Shell Eastern Petroleum in Singapore.
Penguin Tenaga is classed under BV with the notation Electric Hybrid and Zero Emission (“ZE”) mode. This notation provides operational and environmental benefits. It helps to ensure the systems operate safely and efficiently, as well as reduce fuel consumption, local air emissions and noise when in proximity to centers of population. BV assisted Penguin by providing guidance on the BV rules and advice to Sea Forrest Power Solutions Pte Ltd (a subsidiary of BH Global Corporation Limited) towards certification of the equipment on board, such as the hybrid electric propulsion systems installed on the vessel.
In addition, solar panels installed on the roof of Penguin Tenaga provide electrical energy that is used to recharge mobile devices on board and supplement the vessel’s “hotel load”.
Singapore, one of the world’s largest and busiest ports, has pledged to reduce greenhouse emissions by 36% by 2030, when compared to 2005 levels. This shipbuilding project is an important step towards Singapore’s environmentally sustainable future and meeting its own green targets.
In a bid to reduce emissions, Singapore is taking a lead in developing hybrid-electric propulsion technology for offshore support and harbor vessels. Currently, there are limited applications for pure electric vessels in Singapore due to the lack of charging infrastructure. However, this could change in coming years as the country electrifies its maritime eco-system to meet the IMO sustainability targets as well as its own sustainability goals. BV has also created a comprehensive guidelines and rules to help the ship owners and builders move towards sustainability powered vessels.
David Barrow, Marine & Offshore, Vice-President South Asia and Pacific, Bureau Veritas commented: “This project is a fantastic step in our industry’s decarbonization journey and continues to demonstrate the innovative strategy being adopted throughout the Singapore Marine Cluster. We have been delighted to support Penguin and the other stakeholders in the unique project. Working in a truly collaborative way, we have all ensured a successful project delivery. The forward looking strategy by Penguin has to be a leading example of what we can achieve in meeting our sustainability goals and targets.”
James Tham, Penguin’s Managing Director, said: “In the early days, when we were still in the conceptual phase of this hybrid project, we were faced with many variables and uncertainties. However, one thing that we were certain about was the choice of Bureau Veritas as our classification partner. Bureau Veritas’ Singapore team brought to this project their valuable knowhow and expertise in hybrid-powered ships”
This landmark project is a collaboration of Penguin, Danfoss Power Solutions Pte Ltd, Durapower Technology (Singapore) Pte Ltd, ZF Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., BH Global Corporation Ltd (“BH Global”) and BV.
Pavilion Energy And Qatar Petroleum Sign Strategic LNG Supply Agreement For Singapore
Pavilion Energy Trading & Supply Pte. Ltd.[1] (“Pavilion Energy”) and QP Trading LLC[2] (“Qatar Petroleum”) have signed a 10-year LNG sale and purchase agreement (SPA) for the supply of up to 1.8 million tonnes of LNG per year to Singapore from 2023. Each LNG cargo delivered under this agreement will be accompanied by a statement of its greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions measured from well to discharge port.
The agreement is a result of a tender that Pavilion Energy launched earlier this year. In addition to reliable and competitive long-term supply to Singapore, the tender sought for supply partners’ commitment to co-develop and implement a GHG quantification and reporting methodology for LNG from well to discharge port. Pavilion Energy expects this methodology to become standardised as a common industry framework via a statement of GHG emissions, paving the way towards more environmentally responsible and sustainable natural gas strategies.
“The inaugural LNG cargo Pavilion Energy imported into Singapore for downstream supply in 2018 originated from Qatar. We are delighted to enhance our strategic relationship with Qatar Petroleum, the world’s largest LNG producer,” said Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican, Chairman of Pavilion Energy, “This partnership will strengthen our core Singapore market and our role as a global energy trader”.
“I am pleased to announce that QP Trading has concluded its first long-term SPA with Pavilion Energy Trading & Supply Pte. Ltd. following a competitive process. Under the agreement, QP Trading will deliver up to 1.8 million tonnes per annum for 10 years to Singapore, reflecting our commitment to respond to the needs of our customers, including supply security, price competitiveness and flexibility,” said His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum.
During the ceremony, Mr Frédéric H. Barnaud, Group CEO of Pavilion Energy further noted that “in the context of energy transition towards a low carbon economy, this partnership is testament to the sustainability drive of both companies and the strong willingness of Pavilion Energy to pursue decarbonisation and offset strategies”.
Deutsche Bank to launch e-FX trading hub in Singapore
Deutsche Bank announced that it will establish an electronic foreign exchange (e-FX) hub in Singapore by developing an FX trading and pricing engine onshore, in conjunction with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Deutsche Bank ranked number 2 for FX globally in 2019, according to Euromoney. The initiative will make the city-state of Singapore Deutsche Bank’s fourth global FX centre, along with New York, London and Tokyo.
The Singapore e-FX hub will provide clients with the ability to execute FX transactions more closely aligned with geographic location, reducing latency, improving on local price transparency and liquidity.
Deutsche Bank Head of Fixed Income and Currencies APAC, Head of Corporate Bank APAC and Chief Country Officer, Singapore David Lynne said, “Given the substantial increase in demand for Asia currency e-FX we have seen in the past five years, growing client sophistication in e-FX trading, and the MAS’ focus on further developing the leading FX centre in the region, hubbing this activity in Singapore makes perfect sense.”
The Deutsche Bank e-FX hub will be developed and staffed locally, and will be aligned to Deutsche Bank’s focus across e-trading, fintech clients and digital FX payments.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore Executive Director, Financial Markets Development, Ms Gillian Tan said: “We are heartened by Deutsche Bank’s commitment to build its fourth global FX electronic pricing and trading engine in Singapore, which will complement its APAC fixed income & currencies and global transaction businesses operating here. This will allow Deutsche Bank to build on its strengths as a key global FX player and support its regional clients with enhanced price discovery and execution from Singapore, while leveraging Singapore’s strengths as Asia’s pre-eminent FX centre.”
As global cross border payment processes rapidly move towards being completely digital, Deutsche Bank will further develop its Singapore infrastructure to be the payments hub for transactional FX business in APAC. This will enable the bank to offer faster, automated FX and payment processes across the high growth but complex Asia markets, creating a center of excellence to drive digital real time treasury and open banking from Singapore into payment corridors across the region and globally.
With Singapore the Fixed Income and Currencies centre for Deutsche Bank in Asia Pacific, the new e-FX hub forms part of the bank’s continued investment and development into digital and electronic platform client solutions.
Co-Head of APAC G10 FX Lee Merchant said, “Deutsche Bank’s current e-FX platform spans a wide range of tools for both institutional and corporate clients, with a focus on algorithm and API technology. We have successfully developed these solutions in Singapore and the broader APAC region; we will continue to invest heavily into this area.”
This year Deutsche Bank won the Profit & Loss Innovation award for Digital FX and awards for e-FX Excellence for Market Colour, Autobahn OTC Structure (AOS) and Autobahn Mobile. Profit & Loss is a leading industry trade title for the FX and derivatives markets.
Willis Tower Watson announces leadership changes in Singapore & South Asia
Global re/insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has appointed Leng Leng Ng as Country Leader for Singapore as Vivek Nath transitions to lead the company’s Corporate Risk and Broking (CRB) operation in South and Southeast Asia.
Ng takes on the responsibilities in addition to her role as Head of CRB in Singapore and brings 17 years of insurance broking and underwriting experience to the role. She has been with WTW for the past three years, and has played an important role in the development of a strong team of risk advisors in Singapore.In her new role, Ng takes responsibility for working with numerous business leaders across the brokerage to identify an effective sales and client management strategy in the region.
She takes over from Nath, who will now operate in a dual capacity as Head of South Asia. In his new leadership role, Nath will work with the company’s country and CRB leaders across the ASEAN region and India to strengthen its portfolio, advance strategic initiatives, and enhance client relationships.
Nath has been with WTW for the past 14 years, during which time he has held numerous leadership positions in the firm, including as Managing Director for WTW’s country portfolio’s including India, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Asia.
Scott Burnett, Head of Asia and Head of CRB Asia, commented:
“The South Asian countries including Singapore continue to be key markets in our Asia portfolio, and one where we hold significant opportunities for strategic growth. At the same time, we continue to grow our regional talent base and expertise by adding new leaders throughout our organisation in Asia.
“Both Leng Leng and Vivek bring extensive experience and diversity to complement our team of experienced leaders. Their new and additional roles will enhance our advisory and execution capabilities, strengthening the delivery of our client offerings and innovative risk management solutions to help clients stay resilient and navigate a rapidly evolving landscape in Asia.”