Get set for METS’ biggest show ever

Organised by Amsterdam RAI in association with the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), the show’s target groups are yacht builders, naval architects, repair yards, distributors, dealers, wholesalers, captains, marina operators and equipment manufacturers from around the world.

As always, METS will offer an unrivalled display of new and proven marine products, many of which are grouped in national pavilions and special product pavilions. With ever increasing crossover between products deployed in the leisure and commercial marine world’s, there is a much at METS to interest those in commercial marine operations.

METS grows and changes year on year, with this year no exception. New for 2010 is the Marina & Yard Equipment and Composites Pavilions moving to hall 11 to allow for expansion. ConnectFest NMEA will organise more sessions and educational workshops. The HISWA Yacht Symposium returns and sponsored public transport offers are available to get visitors to the show at low cost.

The 2010 edition of METS will see the 20^th anniversary of the Design Award METS, better known as the DAME. The prestigious and much coveted award for product design has seen thousands of innovative products scrutinised by the DAME jury.

Registration fees from the 2010 DAME will be donated to the Whisper Boat Building Academy (WBBA) in South Africa, the only boat building school for people with disabilities. Last year €18,750 was raised for the African Medical & Research Foundation (AMREF) Flying Doctors and used in the creation of accessible water supplies and sanitary facilities in Mtwara, Tanzania.

The METS Super Yacht Pavilion (SYP) has its own dedicated exhibition hall, which is completely sold out, and is home to carefully vetted companies supplying products and services to the large yacht sector. The SYP runs in conjunction with The Global Superyacht Forum organised by The Yacht Report Group and in its 16th year for 2010. Over 350 professionals from all over the world are expected to attend the conference.

The 21^st HISWA Symposium on Yacht Design & Construction draws on important recent studies to discuss the hot topic of environmental sustainability, encompassing energy management, use of materials and the analysis of hybrid systems for both sail and power.