The organisers of Geneva Dry have unveiled today a brand new session for the 2026 edition of the world’s premier commodities shipping conference.
The AI, Digitalisation, And The Dry Bulk Workforce session will be the penultimate session on the first day of the summit, and follows on from a recent similar, highly interactive panel carried at the Maritime CEO Forum in Singapore.
“AI is dominating everyday conversations from Miami to Singapore. I’m delighted to bring the debate to Geneva where we’ll cut through the hype and focus on people: candid insights from early adopters, how upskilling actually works, and keeping your crew in command as AI scales across our industry,” commented Cynthia Worley, vice president of strategic accounts at Sedna who will moderate the session.
AI will feature in many other sessions at Geneva Dry including spotlights on risk management, chartering and digital efficiency drivers.
“AI, for sure, is going to take a lot of conversation in the next 12/24 months. As the world geopolitical landscape has never felt so unstable, having an industrial revolution at the same time is both exciting and challenging,” said Alex Albertini, CEO of shipowner Marfin Management, a confirmed speaker on the new panel.
As for AI itself, here’s what ChatGPT has to say of the new Geneva Dry session: “AI is not here to replace the dry bulk shipping workforce — it’s here to enhance human capability, improve decision-making, and help the industry navigate an increasingly complex world. The future of dry shipping will be driven by those who harness both data and experience.”
At last month’s Maritime CEO Forum held at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, a high-level panel explored one of the most pressing questions in shipping today: as artificial intelligence and digitalisation transform the sector, how can the workforce adapt, upskill, and thrive in a human-centred maritime future?
“We need to start by understanding the business in five years and what skill sets will be needed,” said panellist Su Yin Anand, a partner at IBM Consulting and co-founder of The Captain’s Table. “You shouldn’t recruit for skills that will be out of fashion in two or three years. Employees need to feel comfortable using AI, seeing how it augments productivity rather than replacing jobs. Management support is critical – if leaders aren’t comfortable with AI, it will never be adopted effectively.”
The annual Geneva Dry, set for April 28 and 29 next year, is fast becoming one of the most influential shipping conferences in the world, bringing together shipowners, charterers, traders, brokers, tech firms and analysts for high-level dialogue across the entire dry bulk value chain—from operational realities to macroeconomic drivers.
This year’s edition saw 825 delegates from more than 40 countries attend the Hotel President Wilson with organisers forced to issue a Sold Out sign in the weeks leading up to the April event.
Companies confirmed to speak include: Anglo American, Ariston Navigation, Cetus Maritime, CTM, Fednav, Heidelberg Materials Trading, Mandarin Shipping, Marfin Management, Nova Marine Carriers, Oceanbulk Maritime, Pangaea Logistics Solutions, SeaTrek Bulk, Star Bulk, SwissMarine, Trafigura, Triton Bulk, Vale and Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings.
The full Geneva Dry agenda can be accessed here.
Geneva Dry registration, at just $880, can be accessed here.
Special Geneva Dry hotel room rates can be found here.
Geneva Dry registration, at just $880, can be accessed here.
Special Geneva Dry hotel room rates can be found here.
