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Bangladesh’s Tanjil Ahmed Ruhullah Addresses 789 Delegates at the IG Correspondents’ Conference at the IMO — and Returns Home to the BMLS Maritime Emerging Leader Award - Posted by All About Shipping.co.uk

Bangladesh’s Tanjil Ahmed Ruhullah Addresses 789 Delegates at the IG Correspondents’ Conference at the IMO — and Returns Home to the BMLS Maritime Emerging Leader Award

LONDON / DHAKA — Tanjil Ahmed Ruhullah FCILT, Managing Director & Head of Claims of Interport Group, Bangladesh, addressed the 7th International Group of P&I Clubs’ Correspondents’ Conference (IGCC) at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London on 30 September 2026. The conference, organised by the International Group — whose member Clubs collectively insure the large majority of the world’s ocean-going tonnage — drew 789 registered participants from 103 countries, including Club Correspondent Managers and claims handlers from across the Group.

His presentation, “From Blackout to Business Continuity: Contingency Planning from a P&I Correspondent’s Perspective,” drew on Bangladesh’s nationwide internet shutdown of July 2024, when Interport’s team famously kept its round-the-clock obligations to international ship insurers (P&I Clubs) running by borrowing satellite internet from a vessel at Mongla anchorage and establishing an overseas communications desk in the Maldives within twenty-four hours — keeping Clubs and Members informed daily throughout the ten-day blackout.

Yet the heart of the presentation was a candid admission: that this survival was “resilience by fortune,” not design. Mr. Ruhullah walked the global audience through how Interport has since built and tested formal contingency plans in line with Section 09 of the IG Guidelines for Correspondents — a business continuity plan including provisions for cyber events, and a plan for handling large claims and major casualties — governed by a cross-functional committee and proven through tabletop drills that exposed many gaps, each since closed, and the process continues. “A contingency plan is half paper and half people,” he told delegates. “Contingency planning is not forecasting — it is preparedness.” (Nassim Nicholas Taleb)

The session was moderated by Joanna Koukouli, Co-Global Claims Director – Senior Vice President / Managing Director at SCB (Hellas), Inc., the managers of The American P&I Club in Piraeus. Mr. Ruhullah shared the panel with Adrian Scales of Brookes Bell LLP, Mauro Sammarco, Managing Director of Brazil P&I, and Ismael Sánchez Delfín, Partner at Grupo Delmex. The presentation was warmly received, with delegates from Brazil to Turkey noting how readily the lessons translated to their own jurisdictions.

Days after returning home, Mr. Ruhullah was honoured with the Maritime Emerging Leader Award at the BMLS Maritime Excellence Awards, held on 8 October at The Westin Dhaka by the Bangladesh Maritime Law Society — a member of the Comité Maritime International — as part of its World Maritime Day observance. Accepting the award, he dedicated it to his colleagues at Interport Group and to the company’s founder, Capt. Mohiuddin Abdul Kadir, Master Mariner and maritime lawyer.

Interport Group serves the international shipping community as a listed P&I correspondent for the International Group Clubs in Bangladesh, alongside ship agency and marine surveying services, from its offices in Chattogram, Mongla and Dhaka, for the past two decades.

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N.B. We met Tanjil Ahmed Ruhullah, nearly a month ago during the Workshop organised by Irene Rosberg of the Copenhagen Business School’s BLUE MBA, at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC).

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Tanjil Ahmed Ruhullah awarded Bangladesh Maritime Law Society (BMLS) Maritime Emerging Leader Award 2026

Tanjil Ahmed Ruhullah FCILT BSc (Hons) LLB (Lond.), our Managing Director and Head of Claims, has received the Bangladesh Maritime Law Society (BMLS) Maritime Emerging Leader Award 2026, recognising his leadership, professional excellence and contribution to Bangladesh’s maritime and shipping sector.

The Bangladesh Maritime Law Society presented the award at The Westin Dhaka on 8 October as part of its World Maritime Day celebration and Maritime Colloquium 2026.

Since joining Interport in 2010, Tanjil has combined his work in marine claims and maritime services with a commitment to supporting the next generation of maritime professionals. As Founding Chairman of YoungShip Bangladesh and Regional Representative for Asia and the Middle East on the YoungShip International Board, he continues to create opportunities for young professionals and strengthen Bangladesh’s international maritime connections.

His recent presentation on contingency planning at the International Group of P&I Clubs Correspondents Conference (IGCC) in London further reflects his commitment to sharing practical knowledge and helping the industry prepare for disruptions.

IMO HEADQUARTERS, LONDON

SPEAKING AT THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL GROUP CONFERENCE FOR P&I CORRESPONDENTS

Tanjil Ahmed Ruhullah, Managing Director and Head of Claims at Interport Maritime Ltd., will speak at the 7th International Group Conference for P&I Correspondents, to be held at the International Maritime Organization headquarters in London.

During the “Operational Challenges” session, Mr. Tanjil will present:

🔹 Contingency Planning From a P&I Correspondent’s Perspective

Drawing on Interport’s extensive experience supporting P&I Clubs, shipowners and maritime stakeholders in Bangladesh, his presentation will examine the importance of preparedness, effective coordination and strong local response capabilities when managing maritime incidents and claims.

The session will also feature:

🔹 Ports of Refuge – The Benefits of Having a Strong Local Network

Adrian Scales, Director of Europe and Master Mariner, Brookes Bell

🔹 High Seas, High Risks: Joint Lessons from Narcotics Seizures in Mexican and Brazilian Waters

Ismael Sanchez Delfin, Partner, Delmex Group

Mauro Sammarco, Managing Director, Brazil P&I

The session will be chaired by Joanna Koukouli, Co-Global Claims Director and Managing Director of the American P&I Club (Greece).

📅 Wednesday, 30 September 2026

🕓 16:00–17:00

📍 IMO Headquarters, London

Interport is honoured to contribute to this important international forum and looks forward to exchanging knowledge, practical experience and perspectives with P&I correspondents and maritime professionals from around the world.

Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/eEqGKkHe