INTERFERRY
Interferry celebrates 50th anniversary in Bangkok
T he global ferry community will come together in Bangkok, Thailand for Interferry2026, Interferry’s 50 th annual conference – a milestone gathering cele- brating five decades of collaboration, innovation, and prog- ress across the ferry industry. Following their record-setting conference in Sorrento, Italy, Interferry’s 50 th anniversary conference takes place in Bangkok from October 31 st to November 4 th . Hosted by ferry operator and President’s Sponsor Chao Phraya Express Boat, the conference returns to the Asia-Pacific region. As the trade association representing the ferry industry world- wide, the Interferry conference is renowned for attracting top-level decision makers from a wide array of international companies including ferry owners and operators; shipbuild- ers; designers and engineers; equipment suppliers and manu- facturers; and many other related fields. Interferry2026 will be held at the Shangri-La Bangkok hotel, a fantastic riverside venue known as the “urban oasis retreat by the majestic River of Kings”. The Speakers Program will be held in the Shangri-La Grand Ballroom and the exhibition area is directly adjacent, creating a great conference synergy. The exhibition area is an environment conducive to networking and will be an excellent space for sponsor displays and conference activities including cof- fee breaks and happy hours. The full Interferry2026 pro- gram will feature topical speakers and sessions; the popular Ferry Leaders panels; a Regulatory Update from Johan Roos; many outstanding networking opportunities; and a Technical Tour hosted by Chao Phraya Express Boat. Networking opportunities, events and tours at Interferry2026 will be amazing. PreTours include two Saturday tours. The day tour features the “Highlights of Bangkok and ‘Venice of The East’”, while the Saturday night tour features a “Tuk Tuk Tour with Street Food Exploration in China Town”. Both activities will give you an opportun- ity to experience and learn about Bangkok and Thai culture. Networking events include the Sunday Welcome Reception; the Monday Networking Reception; and the
Farewell Dinner on Tuesday evening at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall. Partner Tours include a visit to the Jim Thompson House and Museum followed by a Traditional Thai Massage at Divana Spa. Tuesday’s tour is a cooking class at the Blue Elephant Cooking School which includes a structured class and hands-on culinary practice, followed by a meal featuring the class creations. The Interferry2026 Technical Tour hosted by the Chao Phraya Express Boat will be on Wednesday, November 4 th . The Call for Speakers will open on April 8th as the Interferry team begins to develop another outstanding Speakers Program. The Interferry2026 conference theme is “Stronger Than Ever…Together” which reflects the power of shared knowledge, partnerships, and collective action in shaping the future of ferry transportation. The Speakers Program sessions and presentations will include develop- ments and “lessons learned” in decarbonization and energy transition; safety leadership and operational best practices; digitalization and smart ferry operations (including AI and automation); port and infrastructure innovation; passenger experience and accessibility; workforce development and training; new vessel design and technology; resilience and emergency response. While Interferry2026 sponsorships have sold quickly, there are still opportunities to participate including pack- ages that come with an exhibition space. Complete infor- mation on all conference sponsorship packages – including Interferry’s enhanced annual sponsorships – is available on InterferryConference.com. Conference registration for Interferry members opens May 1 st , and general registration opens August 1 st . As always, Interferry members get a discounted rate and early bird rates for member registrations are in effect through August 15 th . For current conference information, check out the conference website at InterferryConference.com; follow Interferry on LinkedIn for news and updates; and subscribe to the Interferry mailing list on the conference website or Interferry.com.
March 2026 — PACIFIC PORTS — 49
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