It would be impossible to get round every stand at Seawork, so we just picked a handful of a few different companies to present a picture of the diversity within marine in terms of business activities. Presented in alphabetical order by company.
British Antarctic Survey
One of the main attractions of Seawork is its variety of exhibitors, some of whom you might only get the chance to see when they’re not travelling to the ends of the Earth.
Having come back from the UK’s research base at the South Pole with the British Antarctic Survey, Business Systems Lead Kirsty Brooks told Maritime Journal they were at the exhibition to see what the latest innovations were in commercial marine, and also to try and attract seafarers.
“We’re always looking to see what new innovations there are that could help our vessel (the David Attenborough) be more efficient and economic,” she said. “We’re also here for the school career day, to encourage people to have a look at what we do.”
It’s the second consecutive year that the British Antarctic Survey has had a stand at Seawork.
The David Attenborough, named after the BBC’s famous 100-year-old wildlife aficionado David Attenborough, is an ice-capable Royal Research Ship (RRS), designed to transport people, cargo and scientific equipment while acting as a floating laboratory for multidisciplinary research in polar seas.
It has recently been engaged in British Antarctic Survey operations supporting the 2025/26 Antarctic field season, supporting more than 50 research projects and completing calls to research stations including Rothera, King Edward Point and Bird Island.
Charity & Taylor
Almost exactly 50 years since the company was founded, Charity & Taylor celebrated its half century at Seawork this .year, showing off the world’s first untethered Virtual Reality (VR) bridge simulator from Kilo Solutions.
Part of the Aage Hempel Group, Charity & Taylor specialises in providing surveys, installations, maintenance and repairs for navigation, communication, and safety equipment worldwide.
At last year’s Seawork, it announced its appointment as authorised dealer for Kilo Solutions, which developed VASCO, the world’s first untethered Virtual Reality (VR) bridge simulator.
“Our product was primarily for large vessels, then we realised that it’s good for smaller vessels too,” said Mark Tompson, Head of XR with Kilo Solutions.
“We are developing a system where you can have multiple vessels all connected – it’s all about teams working together in a virtual classroom, and a team of tugs working together is now under development and should be ready by the end of the year.”
International Institute of Marine Surveying
Founded in Portchester in 1991, the IIMS aims to ‘make the marine industry safer, protecting lives at sea’, said Accredited Scheme Administrator Elly Bryant.
“There are too many people dying at sea when it shouldn’t be a thing,” she said. “Technology has really come on with AI and drones, which has helped massively. It’s come such as long way and we are working with it to see how can we use these tools to make the marine world a safer one.”
There are problems with some of the new technologies, however, and Bryant named lithium-ion batteries as one safety concern, alluding to the car carrier Felicity Ace, which was caught fire in 2022. A definitive cause of the blaze has not been identified, however she was carrying electric vehicles and lithium batteries are notorious for easily spreading flames once alight. They are then extremely difficult to put out.
“If you’ve got lithium-ion batteries on your boat at sea and there’s a fire, what are you going to do? It’s terrifying, and we’re trying to make more people aware,” she said.
Bryant said Seawork kept improving year after year, with everyone ‘so much more involved’.
MGDuff
Another long-standing exhibitor to Seawork, anode maker MGDuff has been at the show every single year since it started – which makes it 27 years this year. The company itself is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
“We come because it’s a local show and our customer base is here,” said managing director James Beale. “We also meet new customers and it’s a good opportunity to see so many potentials here. It’s our one face-to-face event of the year.”
MGDuff began with cathodic protection in the leisure market right when the technology first started ‘kicking off’, said Beale.
“We started with the small ships and it rolled into the MOD and other markets.”
Founded in 1956, MGDuff began as the UK’s first corrosion-control company, pioneering marine cathodic protection and sacrificial anodes. The business was incorporated as M.G. Duff and Partners Ltd in 1956 and developed early zinc-anode trials in Chichester Harbour during the late 1950s.
The company was founded around the work of Merlin Graham (“Chunky”) Duff and later grew under the leadership of the Seabrook family after Tony Seabrook joined in 1957 and acquired the company in 1965.
Neptune Marine
Neptune Marine, based in the Netherlands, is another regular exhibitor at Seawork.
“We do newbuilds, charters, repairs and conversions – we offer one-step solutions and get it all sorted,” said Commercial Manager Kasper Moormann, who was too shy to have his photograph taken.
“At Seawork we see all project developers are here and of interest, and in the changing climate we are seeing new port developments, new energy resources, and we are prepared for these changes.
“We are prepared for batteries and methanol-ready vessels – but nobody is prepared to pay for it. If a charterer wants to install batteries, we make it ready without investing in the extra batteries but making sure we can them.”
Scania
Outside on the pontoons, engine builder Scania was showing off its 13-litre DI13 engine for propulsion and auxiliary applications from pilot boats and patrol craft to ferries and offshore support vessels.
With a power range of 350–1,050hp, the engine is positioned for demanding marine applications. Scania says the engine is based on its latest Super 13-litre platform and offers up to 8% better fuel efficiency than the previous generation at the same output.
“It’ll go in anything, but we specialise in workboats not pleasure craft,” said Sales manager Paul Smith.
“Seawork has been good this year – we’ve had lots of good conversations and although the footfall seemed a bit less, probably because of the weather, we’ve definitely had the right people coming to the stand.”
Seago
Regular exhibitors Seago had an extra-special Seawork this year, scooping the Security & Safety prize in the Innovation Showcase awards on the first day.
The prize was won for Seago’s life jacket, which judges liked for its simple aluminium sprung clip, which makes it much easier for cold hands in bulky gloves to do and undo.
The life jacket is also designed with an ‘S Lung’, which means that when inflated, instead of two cylinders inflating in parallel and allowing water in between them, water is prevented from being sprayed into the nose and mouth.
“We signed up at last year’s Seawork for this year, because there’s always lots of interest – and it’s good-quality interest, people asking about the product,” said Sales manager Andrew O’Connor. “It’s been a good mix of different end users, from aquaculture to leisure craft. We’ve been coming since 2003.”
Siemens Financial Services
Siemens Financial Services comes to Seawork to engage with customers – investors, owners, operators and manufacturers – because they are all under one roof, said Geoff Lunn, Specialist Finance – Marine.
“It’s the combination of industry,” he said. “You’ve got a different level of operators who are hungry and have prospective businesses, and those who are around at that level and want to get there. They need to reach out for the involvement of lenders.
“We are providing the alternative solution, to give people a chance to grow and continue their businesses. Some people have been in the industry for years and to stay in it they have to continually invest. The cost of doing so is rapidly increasing year after year.”
Siemens is another Seawork regular, always looking to put money into ports and infrastructure as well as vessels and anything it sees as long-term value for maritime.
Sleipner
Seawork provided the backdrop for a new partnership between exhibitors Sleipner (Side-Power) Thruster Systems and Robsys Automation, which Sleipner MD Russ Chadwick said had been formed because of the company’s ‘unique’ thruster.
Sleipner’s bow and tunnel thrusters will be integrated into Robosys’ Voyager AI in line with Sleipner’s commitment to advancing remote and autonomous technology in marine applications.
The company has been coming to Seawork for about eight years.
“It’s the biggest sector in which we need to make the most advances,” said Chadwick. “We’ve got larger thrusters, starting systems, power management, and also the equivalent in AC power. The latest electric stabilisers were produced three years ago for 45ft+ vessels.
“Sales are up 38% this year, and in a struggling industry it’s nice to have something that’s on the increase.
“Robosys chose our thrusters for their reliability and run time, a safe option.”
Southern Ropes
Local firm Southern Ropes has been coming to Seawork for more than 10 years with examples of what it says is the largest stock of rope in the country.
“Commercial marine is one of the main sectors that we are in, which is why we come to Seawork,” said Michael Clark, in Sales & Marketing.
“There are lots of customers here, and it’s easy to catch up with regular ones and network for new ones.”
Southern Ropes supplies certified rope for industrial rope access and work-at-height projects across the UK, helping teams get correctly specified equipment that is ready to use.
Poorly specified rope or missing documentation can lead to serious consequences, including equipment failure under load, increased safety risks and compliance issues from missing certifications or incorrect ratings – and this is where Southern Ropes steps in, providing guidance and reliable equipment from a single organisation.
