By
Laura Hyde |
Interferry2026 will feature keynotes from Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesperson for the Thailand Ministry of Defence, and Charlotte de Jong, director of business development (Asia-Pacific) at The Ocean Cleanup, when it takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 31 October to 4 November.
Kongsiri will offer insights on the current geopolitical landscape from a maritime and military perspective, while de Jong will detail how her organisation builds multi-stakeholder coalitions to eliminate plastic debris from major waterways, showcasing localised efforts on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River.
The Interferry2026 speakers programme will centre around the event’s theme ‘Stronger than ever… together’ which aims to highlight the need for the industry to unite to tackle “unprecedented operational and environmental shifts”, such as the delays with the European border Entry/Exit System. The programme will also showcase the lessons learned from the electrification of the ferry sector.
Some of the executives confirmed to speak at the five-day event include: Claes Berglund, director of public affairs and sustainability at Stena Sweden; Matteo Catani CEO at Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) in Italy; Worawit Chanchayanon, Chief Operating Officer at Thai Smile Boats in Thailand; Sean Collins, CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clipper in the UK; Darren Johnston Vice president of marine operations at BC Ferries in Canada; Seamus Murphy, executive director at San Francisco Bay Ferry, USA; Marcus Risberg, CEO of Finland’s Viking Line; Pierre-Antoine Villanova, CEO of Corsica Linea, France.
“Gathering such a massive cross-section of ferry operators in Bangkok proves that solidarity is our greatest asset,” said Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry. “The ferry sector is currently navigating intense global transformations, from geographic uncertainty and strict sustainability targets to evolving regulatory compliance. Accelerating economic growth while upholding uncompromising safety regulations cannot be achieved in isolation. Coming together at this conference allows us to build a more resilient, unified industry capable of thriving through these changes.”
The full Interferry2026 schedule and speaker list will be published in the coming months.