A packed room of shipowners, managers, charterers and other industry professionals were present as Total undertook the first of its 11 destination-strong Global Sulfur Cap 2020 forums at the Margi Hotel in Athens.

With less than a year until the implementation of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 2020 0.5% Global Sulfur Cap, Total has confirmed it will be holding a series of forums to help ship operators finalize their compliance plans. The events will showcase Total's current range of fuel and lubricant solutions as well as new products under development.

Serge Dal Farra, Marketing Director at Total Lubmarine chaired a panel consisting of Jesper Rosenkrans, General Manager Europe & Africa for Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions, Robert Joore, General Manager Total Lubmarine, Jean-Philippe Roman, Technical Director Total Lubmarine and David Pivetta, Commercial Director SEMEIA, Total Lubmarine.

Robert Joore, General Manager, Total Lubmarine

Jean-Philippe Roman Technical Director Total Lubmarine, Georgia Ermidi editor efoplistesnews.gr

Total Team with Georgia Ermidi

Presentations from Mr Joore and Mr Pivetta introduced the topic of the Global Sulfur Cap, the challenges it poses and Total's commitment to the shipping industry, highlighting the organisations commitment to becoming a responsible energy major.

Mr Rosenkrans and Mr Roman then tackled the more technical elements of the upcoming regulation, the former discussing the different compliant fuel options, with the latter detailing the various lubrication challenges posed and the full-range of solutions Total provides to overcome these challenges.

A Q&A followed the presentations, enabling members of the audience to ask a range of technical and sales related questions to the panel.

Speaking after the event, Serge Dal Farra commented: "Athens is widely viewed as the centre of world shipping, so it seemed the natural choice to begin our series of forums here. It was very encouraging to see so many shipping people turn out this evening to listen to, and engage with our speakers on this very important industry topic."