Making its debut at Seawork International 2007 is the Maritime Jobs Fair and Maritime Training Pavillion. Visitors to Stand 131 can meet marine training and recruitment companies, employers and universities with a special focus on the maritime sector to explore careers and training opportunities.

Another new dimension for Seawork 2007 is a deliberate overlap with the first ever Tugnology Conference at the nearby DeVere Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton. The two day technical conference on 11 and 12 June has lured tug owners, operators, designers, builders and equipment suppliers from more than 25 countries. At least 70 Tugnology delegates will attend the Seawork Gala Dinner on the night of 12 June and even more will be visiting Seawork the following day, where tugs amongst some 70 vessels on the Seawork floating pontoon include a 4m manned scale model of the 13m tug Macduff Ship Design has penned for Peterhead Port Authority. Being built at Macduff Shipyard, it is the first tug in the world to be equipped with the Mampaey Dynamic Oval Towing System.

Also of interest to Tugnology veterans and many other Seawork visitors will be the newbuild  Damen Shoalbuster 2609 from Damen Shipyards for Marineco of Edinburgh. ‘Marineco Toomai’ will have its naming ceremony on Wednesday 13 June at 4:00 on the floating pontoon. Seawork 2007 also sees the debut of the ‘Buddy’ workboat from Water Witch, the first appearance of ‘Richmond’, the Port of London Authority’s new low-wash patrol boat from Ecocats, and the first of class 14.1m aluminium offshore ship supply workboat from South Boats.

Another addition for Seawork 2207 is a one day conference on Thursday 14 June on the theme of ‘Coastal and Ports Surveying’. Supported by the UK Hydrographic Society, the Society for Underwater Technology and the UK Harbour Masters Association, this seminar focuses on challenges of port, harbour and nearshore hydrographic survey. This event runs alongside Seawork’s usual free to attend conference, which spans the entire three days of the exhibition and will address topics ranging from European seaport policy to marine renewable energy.

Seawork’s established programme of value added extras continues, with the Seawork Gala Dinner on the evening of Tuesday 12 June again providing exhibitors and their guests with the opportunity to relax and network following the first day of the show. The ZF Marine sponsored event relocates this year to the City Cruise Terminal, where new caterers and a new format promises an evening to enjoy and remember. The Seawork Innovations Showcase continues another fine tradition, with the industry’s newest innovations, products and technologies on show in a special area within the exhibition hall, with the prestigious Spirit of Innovation Award presented at the Gala Dinner.

Other additions to Seawork over its first decade include ‘shows within the show’ RibWork and Divework. Some 30 commercial RIB workboats, engines and related equipment can be viewed by following the ‘Rib Trail’ through the exhibition, while DiveWork returns with its own dedicated area and the quayside Dive Tank again the venue for live demonstrations of underwater equipment plus diver time trials and the presentation of the ADC DiveWork Cup. The Ship Repair and Ship Building Pavilion and the Fluid Power Pavilion also return.

New last year and very popular were ‘Meet the Buyer’ sessions in which representatives of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) provide guidance as to how exhibitors can compete for lucrative MOD contracts. In a similar vein, the UK Trade and Investment Inward Buyers Mission brings a number of high calibre overseas buyers to Seawork, whom exhibitors looking to sell overseas can meet in pre-arranged time slots.

Everyone at Mercator Media would like to thank the exhibitors who have supported Seawork over its first decade, so after the exhibition closes on Wednesday 13 June, a 10^th Anniversary Barbecue will be held in a weatherproof marquee on the quayside, with plenty of free food and drink for everyone.