The 19th Marintec China, the world’s most influential and the largest international maritime event held this year, sailed into a huge success. The fair held on 5-8 December 2017, attracted 65,096 visits compared to 61,997 in 2015, this far outstripped 2015’s 5% growth in total.
The fair, lauded for its huge scale, high standards and professionalism, hosted more than 2,100 exhibitors who occupied 90,000 square metres at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. This year, there were 15 country/region pavilions from Austria, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan Region, UK, and USA. Amongst these, the German pavilion was the largest.
Ms Stella Fung, Event Director, “This edition marks a special moment in Marintec China’s history, it’s the first time it’s been held in the market downturn, it is very encouraging to receive such positive responses from both exhibitors and visitors. The buoyant atmosphere at the fair, full of energy, lent tremendous feel-good prospects for the global maritime industry. Mr Jost Rueckert, Hamburg Messe, also commented that they will plan for the same size pavilion for 2019 or maybe more as they received many enquiries.”
Compared to the 2015 edition, the visitor, exhibitor and floor space figures set new records since the first Marintec China was held 38 years ago.
Among the highlights of Marintec China 2017 was Marintec Innovation—Cruise shipbuilding. Its debut celebrated the fast growth of China’s cruise industry. This new sector, located in a special hall, was aligned with government priorities which make cruise shipbuilding a major initiative in the “Made in China 2025” scheme. More than 250 companies engaged in the cruise shipbuilding market promoted their products/technologies during the fair.
Alliances and partnerships galore
Several special events, including deal signing ceremonies and product launches, were organised during the four-day fair, keeping visitors busy and engaged.
Among the special events, a ceremony was held on 5 December to mark the delivery of the first Chinese smart ship, the 38,000-tonne Idolphin smart bulk carrier, Great Intelligence, built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). Lloyd’s Register and China Classification Society (CCS) also participated in the smart ship project.
China’s first unmanned cargo ship classified by CCS, named Jindouyun, was unveiled at Marintec China 2017. In this connection, Wuhan University of Technology, CCS, the Zhuhai municipal government and Zhuhai Yunzhou Intelligence Technology Ltd signed a memorandum of cooperation to jointly launch the world’s first small unmanned cargo ship.
In addition, the inauguration ceremony of the China Smart Ship Innovation Alliance was held during Marintec China. The alliance, whose members include CCS, CSSC, CSSC Systems Engineering Research Institute, and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI), aims to accelerate the technological advancement and industrial development of smart ships.
The new 210,000-ton dual-fuel bulk carrier built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co was awarded Approval in Principle by France’s Bureau Veritas and the UK’s Lloyd’s Register. MAN Diesel & Turbo signed a framework agreement on technical cooperation with CCS.
Feast of offerings
Visitors were treated too to a feast of new products and technologies at the 19th Marintec China. For example, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation displayed a model of a 20,000-ton marine nuclear-powered platform, a submersible marine nuclear-powered platform, a nuclear-powered safety ship, and a nuclear-powered icebreaker.
In addition, the industrial giant CRRC Corporation—which made its debut at Marintec China this year as an exhibitor— showed off an array of marine and offshore equipment of more than 10 companies in the group, including those of Shanghai CRRC Hangge Marine & Offshore Engineering Co, CRRC Dalian Locomotive Research Institute, and CRRC Qishuyan Locomotive Co.
Furthermore, China Ship Design & Research Centre introduced its model for the “Beluga” AT110 Arctic oil tanker.
In response to the energy-saving and environmental protection needs and digitisation trends in the marine and offshore industries, Siemens demonstrated its fully integrated green-ship solution SISHIP and other latest offerings including its PLM Software product lifecycle management solutions. Siemens also signed a separate strategic partnership agreements with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and Offshore Co.
Wartsila also introduced the industry’s first retractable thruster with a tilted propeller shaft configuration, the WST-24R, which is designed to provide auxiliary manoeuvring capability in dynamic positioning or station keeping operations.
Senior Maritime Forum
Meanwhile at the hugely popular Senior Maritime Forum, which ran concurrently with Marintec China 2017, global hot topics were discussed. These included the Ballast Water Management Convention which came into effect on 8 September, and the “One Belt, One Road” initiative of the Chinese government.
The keynote address at the Forum was delivered by Ms Birgit L.yland, Director General of the Maritime Department, The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Norway. Other distinguished speakers were Mr Ludovic Gerard, Vice President, CMA CGM Group/ Executive Vice President, CMA Ships, and Mr Roger Chen, President, China District, Carnival Corporation & PLC, and Mr Maurizio Cergol, Naval Architect & Cruise Vessel Designer / Head of Marketing and New Concept Development, Fincantieri.
UBM, a global events-led marketing and communications services business, which organises Marintec China fairs, says that in 2019, Marintec will have achieved 40 years of serving the maritime industry.
Looking forward to the success of the next edition of the biennial China, Mr Michael Duck, Executive Vice President of UBM Asia Ltd, said: “We have already decided that ’40 Years of Serving the Maritime Industry’ will be the slogan of Marintec China 2019.” The fair will return to Shanghai in 3-6 December 2019.
