Business Thrives at Seawork 2010

While the sector tends not to be susceptible to the economic cycle, this year was driven by renewed impetus from marine renewable contracts. The exhibition saw 7000 visitors, with over 16% from overseas, including a DTI Inward Trade Mission and 32 naval attachés.  Seawork is an increasingly important event for the European commercial marine industry and attracts a growing number of overseas exhibitors, including the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association, in addition to companies from across Scandinavia, Spain, Turkey, Australia and India. 

 

Just the ‘Meet the Buyer’ UK Trade & Investment initiative involved 50 exhibitors meeting buyers from 12 countries across Europe, Asia and South America. 

 

The other big change evident this year was the increasing proportion of visitors who chose to visit for more than one day.

 

Seawork has matured into an important event for the commercial marine sector and not just for networking, but where contracts are negotiated and signed.

The Visitor Experience

The visitor experience was excellent, thanks to much improved on-site parking, high standard catering – and exceptional weather. 
 

The Gala Dinner at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel was a fitting celebration on the evening of the first day, with 400 guests enjoying a first class evening including entertainment from Ian Irving, the Variety Club of Great Britain's Captain for 2010, and the presentation of the Seawork Innovation Awards.  An excellent speech by Doug Morrison, Port Director of the ABP Port of Southampton, on its future strategy was received with interest and appreciation by the audience. 

 

Business Contracts Placed

Rolls-Royce announced important orders for water jets:  one from fellow exhibitor, Alicat, for the wind farm support vessel market, and another order for Rolls-Royce FF600 water jets from Camarc who will be supplying the Middle Eastern company IRSHAD, part of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) with two Pilot Boats.

Pontoon draws buyers

One of the unique aspects of Seawork is the pontoon. Sixty vessels representing every facet of the commercial marine business were available for demonstration included the beautifully designed 11.2m ‘saloon’ catamaran from Ventnor-based Cheetah Marine

 

Another IOW-base exhibitor, South Boats, exchanged contracts on a further two wind farm service vessels valued at more than £2 million. 

 

Ray Chuter of Blyth Workcats reported:  “I’m delighted.  It’s been a good exhibition and well organised.  We’ve sold 5-6 boats at Seawork worth about £2m, including a diving vessel for Norway.”

 

The list of vessel sales agreed at Seawork is extensive and includes the purchase by Essex-based Red7Marine of the Damen Stan Tug 1405.  Damen, the leading Dutch yard, once again showed three substantial vessels at Seawork.  Without question, the number and value of Seawork-related deals will increase in the period following the event. 

 

Meercat Workboats Ltd, the Portsmouth-based steel boat builders, signed a contract at Seawork to supply a specialized vessel to operate on the UK’s East Coast.  The 14m vessel will service wind farm workboats operating out to the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm, as well as attending to general port duties in and around Norfolk. 

 

A welter of new products

With exhibitor numbers exceeding 400, there was a multiplicity of new products to see and evaluate.  Many companies specifically choose the exhibition as the place to showcase their latest developments for the first time. 

 

The Seawork Innovations Showcase attracted nearly 30 entries in 5 categories, representing all aspects of technology from electronic navigation to renewable power solutions employing wind, wave and tide. 

 

The overall winners, carrying off the Seawork Spirit of Innovation Trophy, were EchoPilot Marine Electronics Ltd, a family company based in Ringwood, Hampshire.  The company submitted the world’s first real time 3D Forward Looking Sonar.

 

The other category winners were:

 

Vessel Design & Construction:  KPM Marine – Scotseat KPM Marine TSM Seat

Marine Civil Engineering & Construction:  JW Automarine - SEEBAG

Marine Equipment, Electronics & Materials:  H4 Marine – Maritex 1-50

Diving & Underwater Technology – EchoPilot Marine Electronics – EchoPilot 3D Forward Looking Sonar

Renewable Energy – Aquamarine Power – Oyster Hydro-Electric Wave Energy Converter

 

Seawork Pavilions

The seven Pavilion and Trail features have been very successful in bringing to Seawork groups of exhibitors, who wish to take advantage of an industry or technology focus.  It can also save valuable time for visitors who are keen to be able to identify areas of interest quickly and easily. 

 

This year, a Renewable Energy Pavilion made its début.  Sponsored by the South East England Development Agency, it provided a platform for visitors to view the extensive plans for offshore wind farms and the commercial opportunities they could represent for South East England-based companies involved in every aspect of their establishment and maintenance. 

 

Small Business Enterprise Zone

The SBEZ once again proved its value.  As well as being of outstanding benefit to visitors, it also allows the smallest start-up company to exhibit their products and services to a world-wide audience. 

 

This exceptional marketing opportunity, priced at less than £1000 and taken up by 75 companies this year, has proved more than once to be the first step to success for Innovation Award winners. 

 

Conference Account

Over the three days of Seawork, the conference programme included some 40 sessions, accommodated in two conference rooms and SS Shieldhall, berthed on the quay. 

 

In common with previous years, the sessions on selling to the UK Ministry of Defence meant standing room only.  Closely following in popularity was the full morning session on Thursday 17 June discussing the offshore wind supply chain, a workshop organised by Marine South East and Envirobusiness.  It looked at supply chain opportunities for marine companies arising from the Round 3 Offshore Wind Procurement.  The papers on maritime security issues, particularly those concerning the sailing elements of the Olympic Games to be held at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Association in Weymouth, drew big audiences.  The other papers of the 3-day conference can be accessed by email from freeve@seawork.com

 

Students at Seawork

In addition to the Training and Careers Trail, which was supported by the Solent Education Business Partnership, facilities were made available to two groups of students from local colleges to visit Seawork. 

 

As well as the chance to see the length and breadth of the commercial marine industry and its career and training opportunities, they met and chatted with apprentices just a few years their senior to understand better the benefits and demands of choosing a career path in the industry. 

 

Companies contributing to this initiative were Marine & Industrial Transmissions, Halyard Marine, South Boats and Mermaid Engines.  The Royal Navy also participated and the students enjoyed an outing aboard HMS Ranger, a 20m Fast Patrol Boat of the University Training Fleet. 

JUST READ THE COMMENTS

Words and statistics from Mercator Media, organisers of Seawork International, are amply reinforced by exhibitors.  Here’s a list of comments voiced at the end of the exhibition. 

 

Sharon Dewing, BAE Systems:  “Seawork’s delivered a really good, consistent throughput of visitors.  We had 10-11 naval attachés out for a demo which is very worthwhile and being here certainly highlights our presence in the market.”

 

Robert Blades, Peters & May:  “Our presence at Seawork International was invaluable and instrumental in creating opportunities and developing key client relationships.  It had been some years since we last exhibited at the show and we saw a marked increase in the quality and volume of good business contacts.”

 

Lee Mooney, Mooney Boats Ltd, first time exhibitors at Seawork 2010, summed his experience in one word, “Excellent!”

 

“Fantastic conference interest in Maritime Security, with particular attention paid in regard to the forthcoming Olympics”, Neil Eccles, Conference organiser

 

Neil Offord, Red7Marine, “Seawork 2010 definitely exceeded our expectations, we will certainly be returning next year.  The exhibition is fantastic for networking and furthering relationships.  Seawork increases our profile further each year which is a valuable part of our Seawork experience.”

 

Seb Freeman, Golden Arrow: “This has been the best ever Seawork with visitors of an exceptionally high quality.  The organisers have played a blinder and the exhibition has really matured.”

 

Andy Banting, C A Clase: “This year’s Seawork International Exhibition proved itself as a valuable platform for us to network and secure new business with both new and existing customers.  Our satellite communications and electronics products have been very well received and I am sure our continued presence at Seawork has played a key part in this.”

 

Paul Hickinbotham, Dometic Marine UK: “Visitor numbers were clearly on the rise at this year’s Seawork.  The exhibition has become a key trade event for us. We launched several new air conditioning and sanitation products to the European commercial market for the first time. I feel our presence at Seawork was of real benefit to our ongoing activity and look forward to returning to the exhibition next year.”

 

Peter Nelson, Cooney Marine: “Seawork for us is about meeting and making contacts.  It’s a good excuse to bring everyone together and to entertain our customers.  This year has been a very useful and influential visit”.

 

Andrew Childs, Clements Engineering: “The most valuable part of Seawork is the networking - customers all in one place.  Seawork has been a formidable help in growing our export business.  Our experience in 2010 summed up is – stable, this show always delivers.  Organisation has been excellent this year.”

 

Mark Pomeroy, Liquavision: “Seawork has exceeded my expectations this year, will definitely be back next year.  If one project goes through it generates as much as ¼ million.  Seawork is a great show for networking and getting business.  This year, genuinely everything has been good – parking, logistics, show organisation, everything!”

 

Nick Dalton, Quantum Marine:  “This is the only show that accurately targets our market. The fact that it continues to grow proves how good it is.  At Seawork, we meet real people with real requirements and no tyre-kickers.”

 

Phil Such, Navico:  “The most valuable aspect of Seawork is the business-to-business opportunity it provides.  This year, we’ve got better products and better leads and the exhibition is better organised.”

 

‘There’s more to see and people have the willingness to talk to you, not just sell,” Jeffrey Casciani-Wood

 

Seawork Delivers the Goods

Mercator Media Managing Director Andrew Webster promised that ‘Seawork 2010 would be as vigorous a marketplace as ever.  It’s a global meeting place for the industry because it’s not just about the products – above all, it demonstrates the myriad applications of those products in the commercial marine environment.  This year’s event will undoubtedly be the best.’

 

Seawork 2010 certainly delivered.