Organiser Lloyd's List Events has been investigating global options and will reveal venues for the next three years.

The commercial impact of ever tighter safety, security and vessel standards will come into focus at the conference which accompanies the exhibition at London's Grand Hall, Olympia on 24/25 November. Also on the agenda will be the massive rises in shipyard insurance and innovative supply chain management. A programme of debates will explore market trends, product innovations, shipyard practice and legal issues.

A one day post-event seminar being held at the Hilton London Olympia on 26 November will explore safety in newbuilding and repair yards, led by Mario Dogliani, deputy head of the naval ship department and head of innovation and research at Italian classification society RINA. Input at the workshop sessions will come from across the industry, with shipyard perspectives presented by representatives of Euroyards, the working group formed by leading European yards to cooperate on issues of common interest.

Day one of the Conference starts with a State of the Industry assessment of heightened security requirements, new regulations on improved shipping standards and the outlook for 2005. Sessions lasting a maximum of 90 minutes will be punctuated with slots allowing delegates to maximise their participation in all aspects of the event with visits to the exhibition floor. The day's second session, a paints and coatings forum, will examine the effect of the latest legislation on ship owners/managers and the response by manufacturers.

The day ends with a session on conversions, including a review of prospects over the next five years in the buoyant FPSO/FSU sectors.

The first session on day two spotlights prevention rather than repair by discussing how design solutions, monitoring and training can avoid breakdowns.

The second session turns the focus onto planning and executing drydockings, looking at saving time and money through the elimination of extras. This leads into a final session on shiprepair contracts, including contact management, claims avoidance and an examination of the BIMCO standard drydocking contract which was widely adopted as the industry norm last year.

Meanwhile, as in previous years, the 2004 event will feature an international line-up of yards and suppliers, including market leader such as the A&P Group, Izar, Remontowa, Westfalia Seperator, ABB, Kongsberg Maritime, Northwestern Shiprepairers, yard agents AP&A and EMCS, Team Humber Marine Alliance, and boiler repair specialists Testbank together with parent company Aalborg.

ShipRepair & Conversion 2004 London is backed by DMV, Lloyd's Register and VIP Lounge hosts the A&P Group, as well as receiving official support from the International Marine Purchasing Association.

Visitors and delegates are being encouraged to join in all aspects of the event thanks to a revised conference fee and format offering the three concise debates per day for £150.

Delegate fee for the post-event shipyard safety seminar is £499.

Full details are available on the website www. shiprepairex. com