Commerce and all that jazz at International WorkBoat Show
New Orleans always delivers as an entertaining venue for the International WorkBoat Show, even away from Mardi Gras.
The International WorkBoat Show, presented by America' s WorkBoat magazine, returns to the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans USA on 2-4 December.
The event attracts thousands of visitors from more than 50 countries, with many European companies choosing to display their products in this showcase for the vast American market. Major manufacturers use the Workboat Show as the venue for new product launches. At this year’s show, for example, Caterpillar will launch the Cat 3512C and 3516C Diesel Electric Propulsion (DEP) engines, which will be available for a variety of commercial applications, building on the proven reliability and durability of the 3500 engine platform while meeting EPA Tier 2 and IMO Tier I regulations.
Last year's show saw the inaugural WorkBoat Environmental Award to a business or government agency operating in the US maritime industries which has successfully incorporated environmentally sustainable practices into its operations. RiverQuest’s new flagship, M/V Explorer, a 150 passenger excursion vessel for river based environmental education took the 2008 award. It featured the ELFA system from Siemens, a diesel-electric battery hybrid propulsion system, the first in a USCG certified commercial vessel in the US.
WorkBoat magazine will present the 2009 WorkBoat Environmental Awards on Wednesday 2 December. This year two awards will be presented: for a Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan designed to showcase a wide-ranging, all inclusive environmental program that goes well beyond State and Federal mandates, and for an Environmental Initiative, designed to showcase a specific business initiative or process, such as the use of shore power by a cruise ship operator.
The 4th Annual Shipyard Day will be where the International WorkBoat Show and WorkBoat magazine celebrate the boatbuilding industry with a series of special events recognizing shipyards and the new vessels built for workboat owners and operators, with awards once again going to the builders, designers and owners of the 10 most significant boats of 2009.
A concurrent Conference running across all three days of the WorkBoat Show will address a range of current issues.
New for 2009 is the WorkBoat Executive Summit on Marine Finance, taking place from 07:30 to 18:00 on 1 December. It will enable colleagues to meet in a dedicated financial forum and network with the Industry’s senior management, including fleet owners, builders and finance executives from every sector of the marine industry. It will provide an opportunity to learn about current market metrics, capital expenditure needs, and the current state of accessing capital, borrowing and credit lines. Participants will leave with a better understanding of equity markets, captive financing, government loan guarantees, international financing, loans and leases and more.
Away from the show, New Orleans remains one of the best cities in America for atmosphere, evening entertainment, and great food in the historic French Quarter.
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