Seawork rides high on winds of change
Seawork International is set to shrug off difficult economic conditions for the second year in a row with a bigger than ever show reflecting the robust health of the commercial marine industries in Europe.
Now in its 13th consecutive year, Seawork is well established as Europe’s premier commercial marine exhibition and conference, a fact born out by an 8% surge in attendance last year despite the economic slowdown. Of those 7,049 visitors to Seawork’s unique quayside location in the busy ABP Port of Southampton, some 45% were owner/director/partner/MD/CEO of marine companies. As always, Seawork is the number one event for those seeking to do serious business.
Seawork’s organisers will deliver a range of initiatives designed to optimise exhibitors’ business opportunities. These include ‘Meet the MoD’, which gives exhibitors direct access to British Ministry of Defence purchasing personnel. Naval attaches from all over the world visit Seawork as part of the MoD initiative to learn about exhibitor’s products and services. Last year attaches from Chile, Ghana, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and South Africa visited the show and that number is expected to double at Seawork 2010.
The UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Inward Buyers Mission brings decision makers from overseas to Seawork to develop commercial relationships. More than 150 pre-booked meetings matching suppliers with buyers are being scheduled for 2010. The UKTI also organises Commercial Officers Meetings between exhibitors and representatives from foreign Trade Consulates and Embassies to develop and maintain international business relationships.
The UK Harbour Masters’ Annual General Meeting is being held within the Port of Southampton on the Seawork Wednesday morning, followed by their Lairdside Maritime Centre sponsored lunch at the show. This leaves the small army of purchasing decision makers free to tour the show in the afternoon.
Seawork also provides the Small Business Enterprise Zone, specifically intended to provide start-up and other small companies with affordable access to the Seawork marketplace. Creative newcomers from the Zone have been known to walk off with trophies at Seawork’s prestigious Spirit of Innovation Award presentations.
On the exhibition floor, a special focus of Seawork 2010 will be upon Marine Civil Engineering and its interface with the fast emerging Marine Renewable Energy industry. This year the Marine Civils Pavilion is being supported by the Institution of Civil Engineers South East England and situated adjacent to the busy Seawork Conference suite , where sessions dedicated to marine civils will be held on the first day of the event.
Nearby will be the first ever Renewable Energy Pavilion & Showcase, where wind farm service vessels, professional divers and safety equipment providers will be gathered. The adjacent Renewable Energy Showcase will be combined with the well established Seawork Innovation Showcase. The Renewable Energy Association (REA) will be choosing a winner from this new category. The REA has moved its annual conference to Seawork, with its Wave & Tidal Technical Symposium (WATTS 2010) taking place from 09:30 to 17:00 on 16 June.
Tied closely to marine civils and marine renewable energy activity will be a seminar on the afternoon of 17 June updating the Marine and Coastal Access Bill/Act and the main features of a new UK regime already being implemented. Main points to be covered include marine planning, licensing and conservation zones as well as the establishment of the Marine Management Organisation, due next month. There will also be an update on the progress of the developing Ports National Policy Statement under the Planning Act 2008 and the Marine Policy Statement, under which the government proposes to divide English inshore and offshore regions into 12 marine plan areas.
Along with some 60 workboats on the Seawork floating pontoon, where only one berth remained unbooked earlier this month, will be the SS Shieldhall, the largest working steamship in northern Europe. The Southampton based vessel is part of the National Historic Ships Core Collection and will be alongside during Seawork to host meetings, visiting naval attaches, or events booked by exhibitors.
Seawork is much loved for its social as well as its business dimension and one of the perennial highlights of the event is the Seawork Gala Dinner, which returns to the DeVere Grand Harbour Hotel on the evening of the show’s opening day. Exhibitors and their guests can again relax and continue networking during an evening of good food and wine. The ZF sponsored evening will feature a talk by Doug Morrison, director of the ABP Port of Southampton, the Sprit of Innovation Awards presentation and, back by popular demand, compere Ian Irving, who will also close the event with his inimitable stand-up routine.
