Sponsor

Byzantine Maritime Gas (BMG) is the LPG and Clean Petroleum Product Shipping arm of a third-generation Greek family-owned group of companies that commenced operation in 1972. Their ship owning involvement dates back more than a century to when Themistocles Stafilopatis ran his first operation in the Mediterranean Sea from Constantinople. Over the next 50 years the group focussed on the dry bulk sector, servicing clients mainly in the North American grain trades. However, in the late 1980s, after a successful introduction to the oil sector via ownership and IPO of a US based drilling business, the group entered the clean petroleum products transportation sector and focussed on developing industry leading in-house infrastructure to support the ever-increasing demands of the industry.

Throughout the early decades of their history, the group traditionally grew their fleet through shrewd acquisitions of second-hand vessels. However, in the early 2000s Byzantine initiated an extensive new building program across a diverse range of ship sizes and sectors. In 2013, capitalizing on their knowledge and experience of the North American oil and gas industry, the family decided to invest specifically in the LPG sector after witnessing first-hand the revolutionary expansion and technical innovation of NGL exploration and export infrastructure across the continent. Working in concert with the world’s leading shipyard group Hyundai, BMG deployed the naval architectural and commercial expertise within their group to construct a fleet of mid-size LPG/NH3 carriers that continue to outperform their competition in every respect. The latest generation incorporates dual fuel engines allowing the vessels to run on LPG power itself, vastly improving fuel efficiency whilst reducing the environmental impact usually associated with traditional marine fuels.

Today, Byzantine Maritime Gas has management, technical and crewing operations in Athens, New York, Singapore, Mumbai and the Philippines, whilst chartering decisions are co-ordinated from their commercial manager Argyll in the UK. BMG is proud to be the shipper of choice for a significant market share of mid-size LPG spot exports on behalf of oil majors, mid-stream energy companies and traders from the US Gulf.

Learn More: https://westernshipping.sg/

GAZTRUST is a LPG product Broker based in Geneva, Switzerland and operating now since almost 12 years. The company is mainly active in USA, Europe, MED, WAF and sometimes involved in cargoes for the East.

We broker mainly Propane, Butane and Mixtures, on both large cargoes and coasters, for a total of about 1-1.5 million of tons a year.

Raphael is the main LPG broker working at GAZTRUST and he is talking to a broad range of Traders, Producers, Consumers, Distributors and State companies daily to help them finding the best fit in a fast and dynamic environment for buying or selling their cargoes. Raphael is also giving advise to some smaller and mid-cap companies on trading approaches and strategies and help traders on all their logistics. Shipping operations is also a big part of LPG trades and requires some expertise in the matter. Year 2026 has been a challenging year with big volatility which affected all the players in our Industry. Geopolitics played a big role this year more than ever with big swings on pricings. Raphael is honoured to be part of the OPIS event and is looking forward to meeting all the participants and sharing good and interesting discussions with all of you.

Poten & Partners is a leader in providing services to the energy and transportation industries. Comprised of over 180 professionals in eight offices around the world, Poten is at the forefront of developing, arranging, and advising clients on oil and gas shipping and infrastructure projects. We are proud to be the premier service provider for the global LPG, LNG, and natural gas business since the industry’s early commercial activities. Our clients include major oil and gas companies, trading firms, power generators, ship owners and operators, shipyards, terminal and pipeline operators, government agencies, and financial institutions.

More can be found on our website https://www.poten.com

Port Houston owns and operates the 8 public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area’s largest breakbulk facility and two container terminals. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 public and private terminals is the nation’s largest port for waterborne tonnage. Houston’s port helps generate more than $439 billion in statewide economic value and $906 billion in nationwide economic impact.

Port Houston’s Project 11 is expanding the channel to increase the waterway’s capacity to safely accommodate larger vessels and make other safety and efficiency improvements, including new environmental features. Port Houston is preparing for the future, making investments in its infrastructure, equipment, and the communities along the waterway.

For more information, visit: www.porthouston.com.