Houston, Texas

Marine Assurance Conference

March 5th, 2026

Join us in 2026 as we bring together leaders from across the maritime and energy sectors to explore the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping marine assurance.

Houston, Texas

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Building on the success of previous Marine Assurance Conferences, our 2026 event in Houston will continue to connect professionals from across the maritime and energy sectors - creating a platform for collaboration, innovation and shared learning.

Expect fresh perspectives, new speakers and practical insights on the topics that matter most - from regulatory compliance and digitalisation to risk strategy and operational performance.

 This event offers an opportunity to:

Exchange ideas with industry peers and thought leaders.

Discover new approaches to strengthening assurance processes.

Connect directly with the MIS Marine team and hear our Mainstay roadmap for the year ahead.

Who Should Attend

This event is designed for those shaping the future of safe, efficient and compliant marine operations.

Marine Assurance Professionals

Marine Terminal Operations

Charterers

Energy Companies

HSE Leaders

Compliance Teams

Your Conferent Hosts

Managing Director

Dominic McKnight Hardy

Dominic McKnight Hardy will lead our event, delving into the current challenges confronting our industry. He will highlight how MIS Marine is collaborating with our customers to identify strategies for alleviating pressures, enhancing operational readiness, and minimising marine assurance risk.

Product Director

Roger Harris

Roger Harris, who leads the delivery of our Mainstay product, will present the Mainstay Year in Review. He will recap the standout features introduced in 2025 and provide a detailed look at what’s ahead on the MIS Mainstay roadmap for 2026. Roger will showcase innovative upcoming features designed to empower users with even more effective tools for enhancing their marine assurance.

Product Manager

Robert Kessler

Robert Kessler is an experienced Product Manager with over 20 years of experience in maritime software innovation. At MIS Marine, he leads the global advancement of Mainstay’s marine terminal operations solutions, driving digital transformation in marine assurance and terminal operations. Robert specializes in developing intelligent vessel call scheduling systems that optimize terminal efficiency and reduce demurrage costs.  

In his upcoming presentation, Robert will discuss how the latest enhancements of Mainstay MTO and its long-term vision are shaping the future of terminal operations. He will focus on leveraging AI, predictive analytics, and collaborative data hubs to deliver smarter, safer, and more sustainable operations. His work reflects a commitment to operational excellence, customer-centric design, and data-driven decision-making.

Americas Executive Manager

Gonzalo Mera Truffini

Gonzalo Mera Truffini, our Americas Executive Manager based in Argentina, will bring his extensive expertise to the stage, offering valuable insights into the critical issues impacting the industry today. With a distinguished career spanning diverse shipping regions, Gonzalo’s global perspective provides a deep understanding of the challenges facing the maritime sector and the strategies needed to address them.

Your Speakers

Director of Security and a Senior Vessel Operator at Vitol, Inc.

Jeffery J. Milstein

Jeffery J. Milstein is a seasoned maritime professional with a diverse background in operations and security. With over 25+ years of experience, Jeffery has held pivotal roles in the maritime industry, serving as the Director of Operations for the largest independently held maritime ship agency in North America. During his tenure, he attended tens of thousands of vessel port calls, showcasing his expertise in handling complex logistical challenges.

Transitioning to a global scale, Jeffery assumed the role of Global Director of Operations for the world's largest maritime security and PMSC firm. His responsibilities in physical security and compliance spanned across seven continents, where he attended and oversaw operations in critical areas such as the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy efforts, West Africa for reconstitution of ports to Antarctica for fisheries enforcement, and search and rescue operations in the world’s most challenging maritime environment.

Currently, Jeffery very proudly serves as a Senior Vessel Operator and the Director of Security at Vitol, Inc., the world's largest trading house which moves over 8M bbls/day of oil along with other products, renewables, power, etc.  Jeffery also represents Vitol on various committees, including but not limited to the OSAC Energy, Cyber, and Matamoros chapters. Additionally, he contributes his expertise to USCG AMSC’s in the North East and US Gulf as well as harbor safety committees across the US, demonstrating his commitment to advancing industry standards and safety protocols. Jeffery's extensive experience and dedication make him a respected leader in the maritime community.

Agenda

Morning

08:00-09:00

Welcome Refreshments and Networking

Join us over coffee and a social breakfast to prepare for a day of collaboration and discussion.

09:00-09:10

Welcome – Dom Hardy – Managing Director MIS Marine

Dom Hardy, MIS Marine Managing Director, will kick off our event by providing an update on the MIS vision and what attendees can expect throughout the day.

09:10-10:30

Product Showcase (2025 New Features and 2026 Roadmap)

Join us for an insightful session as we dive into the latest features and advancements designed to streamline assurance operations and enhance decision-making confidence. Dom Hardy, Roger Harris, and Bob Kessler will showcase our team’s work to enhance your Mainstay Experience.

We’ll provide a snapshot talk on our future plans for Mainstay, outlining the innovative developments and strategic enhancements on the horizon. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how these updates will continue to support your operations, drive efficiency, and help mitigate risks in the ever-evolving marine assurance landscape.

10:30-11:00

Networking Break

The chance to grab a drink, refresh and connect with others.

11:00-12:00

Roundtable Sessions (With your input, topics subject to change)

This is your chance to contribute to the direction of Mainstay. Choose a roundtable that aligns with your challenges and join us in exchanging and documenting vital information to support our team in enhancing Mainstay.

Morning roundtable topics include:

AI and Automation: Shaping the Future of Marine Assurance - Roundtable session with Dom Hardy
This roundtable explores how AI and automation are changing the way marine assurance teams assess risk, review vessels and manage workflows. Discussion will focus on practical use cases, including automated vetting processes, inspection and document review, predictive risk indicators and decision support tools. Participants are invited to share real-world experience of where AI is adding value today, where it falls short, and how Mainstay can evolve to support smarter, more efficient assurance in practice.

Compliance and Risk Management in a Changing World - Roundtable session with Roger Harris
As compliance expectations continue to evolve, this roundtable will offer a collaborative space to discuss how organisations are approaching compliance risk in a complex and changing world stage. The discussion will be shaped by participant experience, focusing on shared challenges, emerging priorities and how assurance practices are adapting.

Further roundtables are to be announced closer to the event.

Afternoon

12:00-13:30

Networking Lunch

The opportunity to connect, collaborate, and build valuable relationships in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.

13:30-14:00

Keynote Speaker Session

This keynote session will provide high-level insight into the evolving marine assurance landscape, with a focus on emerging risk, regulatory change and the practical realities facing the industry today.

Further details to be confirmed shortly.

14:00-14:30

Transitioning CoC From a Periodic to a Risk-Based Approach -  Jeffrey Milstein, Vitol

Jeffrey Milstein, Director of Security and a Senior Vessel Operator at Vitol, Chair, USCG Certificate of Compliance Subcommittee, Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee, will outline how industry and agency partners are advancing a risk‑based modernization of the USCG COC program, then expand into vetting and quality ship management, translating risk‑based assurance into practical steps for charterers, terminals, and owners to strengthen compliance and operational performance.

14:30-15:00

Keynote Speaker Session

This keynote session will provide high-level insight into the evolving marine assurance landscape, with a focus on emerging risk, regulatory change and the practical realities facing the industry today.

Further details to be confirmed shortly.

15:00-15:30

Networking Break

Chance for a refreshing afternoon break.

15:30-16:30

Roundtable Sessions

Join user-led roundtables where peers share how they’ve overcome real-world challenges in practice, offering practical insight and experience to support the ongoing development of Mainstay.

Afternoon roundtable topics include:

Managing the Transit Notice Process – Led by David Thornes, Marine Manager Cheniere
This roundtable explores how Cheniere manages its Transit Notice process and how structured data exchange is improving clarity and reliability between vessels and terminals. The session will demonstrate how Marine Data Hub replaces inconsistent, email-based PDF submissions with standardised, structured notifications, ensuring required information is captured clearly, on time and retained against the vessel record.

Managing the PSA Process – Led by Captain Sean Marchant, Sr. Manager, Marine Assurance, Valero Refining
This roundtable explores how Valero manages the Pollution Safety Advisor (PSA) process across complex terminal operations. The session will share insight into Valero’s approach to assigning and tracking third-party PSAs and demonstrate how Marine Data Hub supports clearer communication, improved visibility and secure retention of PSA information against the vessel record.

Emissions Data Collection & Regulatory Reporting – Led by Jorge Alizo, Marine Assurance Design Authority, Repsol
This roundtable brings together peers to discuss the challenges of gathering emissions data from ship operators and reporting it to regulators. Guided by Jorge from Repsol, the session will explore data consistency, evolving regulatory expectations and opportunities to streamline and standardise emissions reporting through Mainstay and Marine Data Hub.

Evening

16:30-19:00

Marine Assurance Networking Happy Hour

Following our thought-intensive day, connect with colleagues, build new collaborations, and engage in best-practice conversations at our after-conference drinks.

Venue

We’re delighted to be returning to Texas Tower - home to last year’s highly successful Marine Assurance Conference.

Located in the heart of downtown Houston, this modern, light-filled venue offers panoramic city views and first-class facilities, providing the perfect setting for open discussion, networking and collaboration across the marine assurance community.

Join the waiting list

Due to high demand, the event is now at capacity and a waiting list is in place. To stay informed and receive event updates, please complete the form below to register your interest.

By registering, you’ll be the first to receive:

  • Updates on the event schedule and speakers

  • Exclusive information about special features and activities

Please note: attendance is by invitation only. Registering your interest ensures you’ll receive updates and be notified if a place becomes available.

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