As ever, hundreds of exhibitors inside the terminal building will spill out onto the normally sunny quayside and down the gangway to seawork 's unique and bigger than ever floating exhibition.

With some 200m of additional pontoons this year, there will be space alongside for perhaps 75 workboats of all sizes and descriptions, giving potential buyers the rare and valuable opportunity to run a number of boats through comparative trials on the same day.

Also new for seawork2004 is the addition of two new and independent exhibitions which will run concurrently with the main event.

RIBwork and DIVEwork focus on two very significant sectors of commercial maritime activity and are themselves entwined as RIBs often make very useful dive boats. However, RIBs are now popular across the commercial spectrum, their performance and versatility making them suitable for high speed patrol and rescue operations or, more prosaically, as valuable support boats for marine construction activity.

RIBwork is not only a matter of there being more of the vessels than ever before on the seawork pontoon. There will also be a RIBwork forum focussing on new developments in the design, build and operation of these craft.

RIBwork will take the form of a show trail, which will be highlighted in the seawork exhibition catalogue.

DIVEwork currently comprises some 35 stands as a unified sector within seawork , all focussed on the commercial diving sector and providing a fast-track opportunity to view and discuss relevant products and operational matters. This will include the manufacture and supply of diving equipment, the design, build and operation of dive and survey boats, underwater contracting, training organisations and schools.

Associated conference papers will address operational issues and MCA recommendations for equipment and crew training.

Whether visitors register for seawork or DIVEwork , they will be able to move freely between all sections of the event.

The seawork Conference has always been a value-added attraction of the seawork event and returns for 2004 stronger than ever.

seawork2003 saw the first ever 'paid for' conference day, with former Posford Haskoning marketing manager Carol Mackaoui coordinating an inspired programme of presentations on the theme of Waterside Development within the commercial port and harbour environment. The resounding success of that day has set the context for the first conference day at seawork2004 . Mackaoui Communications is again organising a programme for Tuesday 22 June on the theme 'Regeneration of Waterfront & Maritime Projects'. The day will be chaired by Alastair Stirling, retired Senior Partner of Posford Haskoning, and Antony Oliver, editor of 'New Civil Engineer' magazine. For further details of this day, Email: helen@mackaouicommunications.com or Tel: +44 (0)1572 759443.

The seawork Conference remains free to attend on Wednesday and Thursday.

Wednesday's programme will focus on themes particularly relevant for commercial vessel operators and harbour authorities while on Thursday the MCA will explain the new Harmonised Codes of Practice for workboats to be introduced this year and the MoD will present its traditional seawork presentation on Small Craft Procurement Requirements.

Reprising a successful dimension of seawork2001 , arrangements are being made with the British Marine Federation, funded by Trade Partners UK, to fly in a dozen specialist commercial marine journalists from Continental titles to cover seawork2004 . The group will arrive on the Sunday before seawork and spend Monday visiting British manufacturers within the Southampton area before attending the show on Tuesday the 22nd. The seawork Press Office will prepare special 'story leads' enabling the journalists to identify exhibitors who have news of interest to their particular readerships.

Exhibitors wishing to be included on the BMF itinerary for this 'Media Mission' should contact seawork's exhibition manager, Jane Wilson, via Email: jwilson@seawork. com.

The visiting journalists will join exhibitors and their guests for what has become a major highlight of every seawork , the Tuesday evening Gala Dinner at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium, one of the UK's most modern sporting venues and home to the Southampton Football Club. The evening of good food, fine wine, useful networking and hilarious after dinner entertainment has always been a sell-out and 2004 looks set to be no exception, so contact the seawork team now if interested in attending. The ZF Marine sponsored evening also features ceremonies to announce the Innovations Showcase award winners and the overall winner of Spirit of Innovation Trophy for 2004.

The Innovations Showcase, introduced at seawork2002 , features examples of the marine industries' best new product developments and is prominently displayed immediately inside the visitor registration area.

Fast-track directions will take interested visitors to the relevant exhibitor. The Innovation Awards introduced last year were an immediate hit and competition to win them should guarantee an ever expanding Showcase.