Explore business opportunities at Seawork, the largest and fastest growing commercial marine exhibition and conference in Europe
Monday, 3rd April 2017
Registration is now open for Seawork International, which opens its doors 13-15 June at Mayflower Park, Southampton, UK.
As Europe’s largest and fastest growing commercial marine and workboat exhibition and conference, Seawork International has been a sell-out success for 20 years. The last few exhibition stands remain as well as some sponsorship opportunities. It is not too late for those who are keen to make full use of this unique platform.
Seawork 2017 will be home to over 10,000 products and services, together with in-water and onshore demonstrations, and will welcome over 7,000 commercial marine professionals from all corners of the globe.
The exhibition also boasts enhanced and purpose-built exhibition halls, which will house over 600 exhibits, and provide various meeting points, as well as deliver many opportunities for networking, including the exclusive Watermota Restaurant, Golden Arrow Restaurant and the famous Guinness Bar sponsored by MAN.
The Seawork Marina, which has been at the heart of Seawork’s continued success, is specially constructed for the three-day exhibition by stalwart exhibitor, Walcon Marine. Over 70 vessels and craft suited to a host of operations, whose size ranges from 10m to 80m, will be available for visitors to sea trial, view and experience; being one of the unique features for which Seawork is renowned.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SUCCESS
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Seawork International has gone from strength to strength since its creation in 1998 by Mercator Media Ltd, which also owns Maritime Journal. The exhibition develops its audiences by ensuring decades-long partnerships with key industry leaders and associations such as the UK Department for International Trade, the International Harbour Masters Association, UK Ministry of Defence, UK MET Office, and many more. Seawork provides the essential market platform for the thriving European commercial marine market.
Looking back on the exhibition in 1998, originally located in Southampton Docks, Seawork began to develop its robust maritime reputation from the outset.
Andrew Webster, CEO of Mercator Media Ltd, comments, "The inaugural Seawork was a great success in 1998, where we attracted over 1,000 attendees. Back then there was so little opportunity for the European commercial marine market to come together under one roof and talk about, and conduct, business. We knew from speaking with different companies that everyone was experiencing the same frustrations therefore we built the platform to bring the industry together. We continue to build on this year after year."
Now, almost twenty years on, Seawork still provides one of the key international platforms for commercial marine businesses to connect with their customers and discuss innovations and solutions within their respective industries.
Colchester (UK) headquartered vessel manufacturer, CWind is a longstanding Seawork exhibitor and was the inaugural winner of the Seawork Maritime Sustainability Award in 2016, will be showcasing its largest vessel to date.
Lee Andrews, Global Marine Group Power Managing Director for CWind comments, "We find Seawork International to be an invaluable event to research new technology and innovations in the marketplace."
He continues, "It is a must-attend for networking and creation of opportunities as well as providing a great platform on which to develop new business relationships in an informal environment. We have attended and exhibited our vessels at Seawork for many years and find it to be a highly worthwhile showcase event".
Andrew Webster cites this success upon the agile nature of the exhibition, "Seawork continually develops and evolves over the years, remaining true to its core, whilst developing additional focus on the emerging sub-sectors, such as the renewables market."
THE SEAWORK CONFERENCE
The Seawork Conference, which explores a range of topics and provides industry insights, sponsored by Knighthood, will return once again to the Ocean Scene conference vessel, which will be berthed in the Seawork Marina.
The Conference hosts highly respected speakers comprising of exhibitors and industry spokespeople, who deliver seminars and workshops that focuses on innovation, trends and industry insight, whilst also providing an ideal platform for building business connections and signing deals at the event.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) engages with maritime professionals at Seawork International who can attend meet-the-buyer sessions arranged both by longstanding supporters, the DIT (formerly UKTI), in order to discuss export and tendering opportunities.
Seawork International also gains the support from over 50 leading industry associations worldwide including the UK Shipbuilders & Ship Repairers Association (SSA), UK & International Harbour Masters Associations (UKHMA & IHMA), Association of Diving Contractors (ADC), International Jack Up Barge Operators Association (IJUBOA) and British Marine (BM).
Many of the world’s leading industry associations support Seawork, including the International Institute of Marine Surveying, International Jack Up Barge Owners Association, the Association of Diving Contractors, Shipbuilders & Ship Repairers Association, UK National Workboat Association, Commercial Boat Operators Association, Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association, Society of Consulting Marine Engineers & Ship Surveyors, and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).
86% of Seawork visitors authorise or influence the purchasing decisions for the companies they represent. These are high-calibre, high-spending professionals who recognise the wealth of innovation and expertise Seawork International provides.
Exhibiting at Seawork gives businesses the opportunity to both network and develop international relationships with these key decision makers.
The team at New Zealand based Naiad Design, whose impressive client list includes the UK MOD, and who signed a new agreement with Wales’ co-exhibitor, Holyhead Marine Services at Seawork 2016 to manufacture all vessels in the Naiad Design range of rigid inflatable craft, has high hopes for this year’s Seawork. John Cowain, Naiad Design’s Director, comments, "Seawork provides a good mix of industry contacts and potential customers".
Joshua Flavell, Sales & Public Relations Manager at global logistics specialist, Peters & May, which is headquartered near Southampton (UK) and has over 20 offices worldwide, comments, "Seawork is essential to us as it brings together all of the right people, in one place, at the same time"
Looking forward to another fantastic event, Mark Phare of Devon-based (UK) Teignbridge Propellers International Ltd, which designs, manufacturers and supplies propellers and stern gear, and which will be located at stand PB53 in the Pacific Blue Hall at Seawork, comments, "Seawork continues to be a cornerstone. It provides an excellent venue with professionals attending from across the commercial sector every year."
NEW INDUSTRY AWARDS
Formerly the Innovations Awards, new for 2017 are the Seawork International & Maritime Journal European Commercial Marine Awards (ECMA), which will be presented at Seawork International on the evening of the 13th June.
The European Commercial Marine Awards (ECMA) will embrace the Innovation Awards, incorporating the Spirit of Innovation trophy, plus the Lifetime Achievement award, as well as the Maritime Professional of the Year and Maritime Sustainability awards.
As a direct result of winning the Spirit of Innovation Award in 2016, Seawork exhibitor, DuoDrive was invited to showcase its ground-breaking DuoDrivetrain© at two highly regarded events, including Innovate 2016, bringing the global spotlight on UK innovation.
Being a unique, self-contained unit designed for conventional shaft driven boats, the DuoDrivetrain© drive unit avoids normally problematic alignment issues associated with drivetrain installation and is particularly suitable for contra-rotating propulsion arrangements.
Speaking of his success, DuoDrive’s Director, John Carter, commented, "Winning the award at Seawork was the start of something incredible. As first time exhibitors, too, we are utterly delighted with the industry’s response to this product that we have been working on for many years."
Seawork is a carefully planned and executed exhibition that delivers unparalleled opportunities to its exhibitors to showcase their products and solutions at this one-stop-shop.
"I wanted to create a commercial marine exhibition with an immersive experience. Marine products are subject to some of the most challenging of circumstances. You can’t trial these in a closed indoor environment." said Andrew Webster.
Radus Lungu of engine and generator specialist provider, BETA Marine, located in Gloucester (UK), and which annually supports Seawork, comments, "Both national and global export opportunities are key to success and Seawork provides access to customers in both leisure and commercial markets.
Always a sell-out exhibition, Seawork currently has a few exhibition stands and sponsorship opportunities remaining, all of which helps to maximise a business’ exposure in its core marketplace. Contact the sales team on +441329 825335.
Pre-register at www.seawork.com to receive free entry into Europe’s largest exhibition and conference of its kind, Seawork International.
