On behalf of the SMA and the ICMA XIV Committee, we thank you all for the overwhelming expressions of sympathy and compassion which you have conveyed to us over these past days for the grief and sorrow that have befallen New York and our common industry in the aftermath of those horrendous acts of violence. But New York is a city vibrant with highly spirited, energetic and resilient people and these dark days will be overcome. More than ever are we committed to go forward and make ICMA XIV the successful and memorable event we had planned it to be all along. We are looking forward to welcoming you in New York in October.

Please visit the website at www.icmaxiv.org, as we have added an "update" button to our website to keep you fully appraised. The SMA office at 14 Wall Street is temporarily unavailable and we, therefore, suggest that you contact our Event Planner, Amy Carnes of Meeting Partners at 703-329 8622 or at acicma@aol.com. We ask that registration forms, questions or requests for information should be forwarded to our Registration Office, (phone) at 301-353 1807, (fax) at 301-353 1808, or at misty.frank@ptfassociates.com

We also strongly encourage you to make your hotel reservations at The Waldorf=Astoria which continues to hold rooms at the discounted rate of $315, through September 21, 2001.Thereafter, reservations at this rate will be subject to availability only. Rooms may be cancelled without penalty up to two days prior to arrival date. You may make your reservations online at www.icmaxiv.org or by phone at 212-355-3000 or 800-Waldorf.

Again, we are looking forward to a most successful ICMA XIV.

Registration for the Fourteenth International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators, ICMA XIV, to be held on October 22 through 26 at New York City'sWaldorf-Astoria Hotel is now progressing at a brisk pace. Detailed information on all of the Congress’ events can be found on its official website at www.icmaxiv.org.

The idea of hosting such international congresses was first conceived by four enterprising arbitrators in 1972 during a non-maritime gathering in Moscow. Since then, ICMA has convened in three year intervals at capitals and major maritime centers around the world, including Auckland, Casablanca, Hamburg, London, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Madrid and Monte Carlo. It has not been held in New York since 1981. This fourteenth congress, some 20 years later, returns to New York and promises to be a historic, memorable and productive gathering of industry professionals, including prominent arbitrators, judges, attorneys, shipping executives, chartering managers, brokers, marine insurers and surveyors. To date, delegates include representatives from the UK, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, China, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Panama, Brazil, Venezuela, Greece, Egypt, New Zealand, Russia, Canada and the USA. 76 paper-outlines have been submitted on a great variety of topics that have intrigued and continue to challenge shipping and maritime commerce.

The Congress will get under way on Monday morning, October 22^nd, when Admiral Rick Larrabee welcomes the delegates. Retired from the U.S. Coast Guard, now Director of the Port Commerce Department of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Rick Larrabee is a popular speaker with intimate knowledge of the maritime scene as it affects New York specifically and the U.S. in general. This should be an interesting start-off. Then, on Tuesday morning The Honorable Mr. Justice William Waung, Admiralty Judge of the High Court of Hong Kong, will deliver the "Cedric Barkley Memorial Lecture", one of the Congress’ highlights. The late Cedric Barkley, one of the four ‘original’ ICMA founders, also was one the most respected and internationally best known arbitrators, feared and admired for his intellect, fair mind and sharp wit. These Memorial Lectures have produced some of the most intellectually challenging dissertations in the field of maritime dispute resolution, and Justice Waung is bound to follow in this proud tradition.

The many presentations are now being programmed into topics and will be offered during morning and afternoon plenary sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, interspersed with panel and floor discussions on a variety of subjects of global interest. The focus of this Congress will be on the continuing importance of arbitration to the shipping industry and will also address some of the challenges from competing alternative dispute resolution techniques (ADR) such as mediation and conciliation.

To American attorneys Continuing Legal Education credits will be available.

A sparkling array of social events that include visits to New York's museums, theatres, concerts and special venues will lighten the working sessions. On Wednesday, October 24, the Congress will break and gather on the chartered yacht, ROYAL PRINCESS. This will be a wonderful networking opportunity for the New York and Connecticut Arbitration Community and this event is open to everyone, including those not registered for the Congress. The yacht will sail from lower Manhattan past the Statue of Liberty, under the George Washington Bridge and up the Hudson River into Tappan Zee, at the height of New York’s Indian Summer’s glorious fall foliage. Cocktails and lunch will be served at the quaint Beau Rivage Inn overlooking the Hudson Valley. After a wonderful meal, a relaxed stroll through parks and visits of nearby historic estates, coaches will return the group to the Waldorf-Astoria by another scenic route through Bear Mountain State Park and across the George Washington Bridge.

A black-tie dinner dance Thursday evening at Cipriani's spectacular ballroom with music by the famed Peter Duchin Orchestra will highlight the week's activities and social events.

The Congress will be officially brought to a close at Friday's morning session with a panel discussion on "Selecting issues for early decision" and a concluding business session which among other things will determine the next venue from among several submitted proposals.

Pre and post tours are available and special events are included before during and after the Congress, many of which are open to everyone.

ICMA XIV not only promises to sharpen the knowledge and skills of arbitrators, practitioners and professionals, but also offers the perfect opportunity to see old friends and colleagues, and to meet new ones, in the industry we serve. If you have not already registered for the Congress, you may do so now by visiting the Congress’ website at www.icmaxiv.org or you may request a registration brochure by calling 301/353 1807.