Less than a week later, hardy exhibition travellers will be back in the Netherlands when the leisure orientated Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) opens in the Amsterdam RAI on November 15. METS runs through November 17.

The debut of Europort Maritime follows the acquisition of the Europort event from the Amsterdam RAI by the operators of its new venue, Ahoy Rotterdam, traditional home of the more domestically orientated Rotterdam Maritime. The two events have been merged into one and Europort Maritime will now be held in odd numbered years, alternating with Hamburg's SMM to deliver the largest commercial maritime exhibition in Europe. METS, which used to run simultaneously with Europort, continues in the Amsterdam RAI.

With Europort now relocated to Rotterdam, METS is free to move across to the larger Europa Complex and deliver a larger show than ever before. Its timing has also been changed, with the new mid-month dates enabling the participation of all parties with interest in both Europort Maritime and METS.

To accommodate an event featuring more than 700 international exhibitors and anticipating more than 35,000 visitors, Europort Maritime's organisers will extend the Ahoy's usual exhibition facilities to include its Sportpaleis (large sports hall) and will also build two temporary halls.

The first ever Europort Maritime Forum will accompany the exhibition this year.

Organised by the Mare Forum, its theme will be 'Building and Outfitting the Ships of Tomorrow'. Global challenges, bottlenecks and business opportunities will be addressed by expert speakers in the relaxed ambience of Rotterdam's Hilton Hotel.

A traditional Europort event, CEDA Dredging Days, migrates to Europort Maritime on November 2-4. Sponsored by the Delft based Central Dredging Association, CEDA Dredging Days is the highlight of the international dredging community's calendar and this year features a conference programme around the theme 'Dredging: The Extremes'. It is not uncommon for the dredging industry to show extraordinary innovation in producing extraordinary results and speakers from around the world will showcase the latest of international best practice.

The new look METS will spotlight all the latest in leisure marine equipment, with the larger venue offering more space for exhibitors and enhanced visitor amenities, including an Italian restaurant and a Sushi bar.

The show is fully booked with some 1,000 exhibitors and the organisers have reserved additional space where they can do business, with 'Business Suites' (small conference rooms) on the balcony overlooking the show available for exhibitor use.

The www. metstrade. com Cyber Corner is enlarged and features internet facilities for both exhibitors and visitors.

Nearly 90% of exhibitors at this truly international event come from outside the Netherlands and METS 2005 will again feature an array of international pavilions, many organised by national trade associations. The established Composites and Marina Equipment specialist pavilions return this year while a new SuperYacht Pavilion makes its debut. The prestigious METS Design Award (DAME Award) will be presented on November 15 and all star products will be featured in a special DAME exhibition in Hall 6. Four key forum events are being held prior to or during the show.

They are the International Sailing Summit, the Technology Forum, the Marina Seminar, and Project 2005 aimed at the luxury yacht industry.

Leaving London for the first time in its 13 year history, ShipRepair & Conversion 2005 Dubai takes place in the award winning Dubai World Trade Centre, launching a strategy to stage the event in key market areas around the world. Various Far East venues are already under evaluation for 2006.

China's Cosco Shipyard Group and Aalborg Industries have joined a growing list of new exhibitors attracted by the change of location, while many established regulars return, including Alfa Laval, BMT Marine, DNV, Hammelmann, Lisnave, MAN B&W, and Wartsila. The move has also produced bookings from regional exhibitors, led by Dubai Maritime City and Dubai Drydocks. Dubai Drydocks, which is to host a site visit, joins other global players in an exhibition which will bring special focus to the depth of world class facilities in the Arabian Gulf.

As always, ShipRepair & Conversion is accompanied by a Conference which this year will examine topical issues such as a possible oversupply of repair capacity in the Gulf region, a concurrent diversification into regional newbuild work, quality procedures and supply chain efficiency.

Market conditions and the five year outlook will be reviewed in light of global and regional influences and shipowner strategies.

MJ Information No 21172