As the largest and most authoritative maritime trade show in Asia, Marintec China has achieved tremendous success and received worldwide recognition. For over three decades, it has been an important stimulus, and contributed to the development and growth of the Chinese maritime industry.
The 2017 event offers an ideal interactive platform for maritime industry professionals, providing a holistic business experience with a combination of a comprehensive exhibition, authoritative conferences and seminars, and high-powered networking activities.
In 2015, the event welcomed 61,997 visitors from 116 countries and regions, a 7% increase compared with the 2013 event. There was also a remarkable growth of 14% in floor space and the exhibition covered 80,000m² in total. More than 2,000 exhibiting companies from 34 countries and regions gathered under one roof, presenting their latest innovative technologies to cater to a rapidly changing market.
With the cruise industry continuing to expand its horizons, luxury ships have become the highlight of the shipbuilding industry. Marintec China 2017 will feature a dedicated area named Marintec Innovation - Cruise Shipbuilding. This will feature the construction, design and fit-out of luxury cruise ships. The first Chinese-built luxury cruise ship will be one of the focal points of this exhibition.
The Senior Maritime Forum will be held concurrently with the exhibition and its theme is 'Innovation, Smart Manufacturing, Collaboration'. The forum will consist of six parts - the keynote speech, followed by discussions on shipbuilding and ocean engineering; shipping and ports; cruise, maritime finance and law; and marine technology and equipment. More than 50 distinguished guests will speak on subjects related to the theme, which is closely linked to the strategies required to become a major shipbuilding power, the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, and other hot topics.
A number of sessions will be held during the Senior Maritime Forum. They include 'The Belt and Road Initiative and global collaborative development'. There will also be sessions on cruises and shipbuilding, such as 'Intelligent manufacturing - steering the shipbuilding industry in the next ten years'; 'Luxury cruise ship - integrated innovation, made in China;' and 'Financial innovation, legal protection - promoting the healthy development of the maritime industry'. Another session will focus on legislation and is titled 'New regulation, new convention - opportunities and challenges'.
A number of leading maritime industry experts have confirmed that they will speak at the event. They include Esben Poulsson, chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping, and Dr Sadan Kaptanoglu, president-designate of BIMCO. The well-known global economics researcher Zhao Jinping will also speak. Zhao is the director-general of the foreign economy research department at the Development Research Centre of the Chinese State Council. Other speakers include maritime industry expert Professor Martin Stopford, the president of Clarksons Research Services; Professor Gerhard Strasser, chairman of the advisory council of the International Towing Tank Conference; and Navin Kumar, marine research director at Drewry.
The comprehensive maritime supply chain will be represented at Marintec China 2017. From shipbuilding raw components to electrical systems, deck and safety equipment to port constructions, shipbuilding systems and technology. The exhibition will act as a showcase for a wide variety of maritime-related products and services.
Marintec China 2017 will be held on 5-8 December at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The event will be staged in eight exhibition halls, with total exhibition space of 90,000m². As of September 2017, 15 national pavilions have been confirmed from Austria, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan Region, the UK, and the US. The trade show is organised and managed by the Shanghai Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and UBM. The organisers warmly welcome friends from the international maritime community to visit Marintec China 2017.
