Bilbao to host the international congress “500 years since the First Round-the-World Voyage”

From 17 to 19 May, some fifty experts will discuss both the exploits of Juan Sebastián Elcano and the current situation of the maritime-port sector from different perspectives.

From 17 to 19 May, some fifty experts will discuss both the exploits of Juan Sebastián Elcano and the current situation of the maritime-port sector from different perspectives.

Leading experts in maritime history, trade, safety, health and training, as well as professionals from the shipbuilding, fishing and the logistics-port sectors, will be taking part from 17 to 19 May in the III International Congress “500 years since the First Round-the-World Voyage”. The congress, to be held in the auditorium of the UPV-EHU in Bilbao, is expected to be attended by around 200 people.

The fifty or so experts taking part in the congress, co-organised by the Association of Merchant Marine Captains of Bizkaia (AVCCMM), the Port Authority of Bilbao and the Faculty of Engineering – Nautical Training at the University of the Basque Country – Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV-EHU), will not only be looking back and analysing the exploits of Juan Sebastián Elcano, but will also be discussing the history and future of shipbuilding, trade, administration and maritime transport, of nautical and maritime training, of navigation systems and crews, of health conditions on vessels and their communication systems, of fishing, climate change, the environment and digitalisation.

The congress will be opened this Tuesday, 17 May, at 09.15 by the Rector of the UPV/EHU, Eva Ferreira; the Head of Economic Development, Trade and Employment of Bilbao City Council, Xabier Ochandiano; the President of the Port Authority of Bilbao, Ricardo Barkala; and the President of the AVCCMM, Javier Zarragoikoetxea.

Likewise, the closing session, scheduled for Thursday, May 19, at 12.45, will be presided over by Ms. Arantxa Tapia, Basque Government Minister for Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment.