The powerful magnet remains Seawork’s unique and ever expanding format, taking place on the quayside and in the water against the bustling backdrop of the working Port of Southampton. Where else, for example, can boat builders and their prospective clients take test runs, talk business and close deals whilst 6,000 TEU containerships on tug escort pass by only 50m away? Seawork is a serious and focussed commercial marine showcase to which all in attendance have come to do business, although the networking invariably means meeting old friends and the social dimension is also well catered for by exhibition manager Jane Wilson and her dedicated Seawork team.

Jane Wilson says that overall exhibitor bookings are again running some 10% higher than for the previous year, with the floating pontoon looking a candidate for lengthening yet again and the DiveWork exhibition, an independent event launched last year within the main show, commanding a floor area which has doubled for Seawork 2005.

Dedicated to the commercial diving sector, DiveWork covers every aspect of the industry. For 2005, the Association of Diving Contractors will have a larger stand encompassing a hospitality area for visitors. The quayside diving demonstration tank  returns and for 2005 will include an internally mounted television camera beaming live coverage of in-tank activity to widescreens mounted within the exhibition hall.

Seawork has joined forces with the newly launched magazine ‘H2Ops’ (formerly Commercial Diver International) installed as the Official Publication of DiveWork 2005. H2Ops’ international circulation will ensure that every relevant commercial diving company is aware of this year’s show. RIBwork also made its debut as an independent show within Seawork last year and its success was part of the reason for the extended floating pontoon. With the versatile craft being adapted for an ever expanding range of workboat applications, RIBwork will again provide a tempting choice of craft for prospective purchasers to test side by side on Southampton Water. Comparative trials which could take weeks to arrange under other circumstances can all be conducted in one day at Seawork.

New for Seawork 2005, access to the floating pontoon will be via a two lane gangway descending from the quayside to the centre of the in-water exhibition. This improvement will alleviate congestion on the gangway and ensure a shorter walk to floating exhibitors from anywhere else at the show. Seawork is traditionally the venue for the luncheons and AGMs of a number of maritime organisations such as the UK Harbour Masters’ Association and that will again be the case this year. Seawork’s on the water dimension will bring an uniquely maritime atmosphere to proceedings. For 2005, boat builders VT Halmatic will bring their newbuild Spirit of Portsmouth for the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company to serve as the floating meeting and dining rooms.

Running concurrently with and in the same building as the exhibition, the value added, free to attend Seawork 2005 Conference spans the three days, with many of the presentations linked thematically to DiveWork and RIBwork. The entire conference on Wednesday morning is dedicated to diving issues, with particular emphasis placed on diving safety. Chris Sherman, Chief Inspector of Diving with the Health & Seafety Executive, and Harry Leslie, Area Operations Manager/Search & Rescue with the MCA, will both address safety issues. Tied to RIBwork, Bob Cripps, Engineering Manager for the RNLI, will discuss the design and development of the Institution’s new 8.3m Atlantic 85 RIB on Tuesday morning.

Later that morning, Simon Burt, a Surveyor in the Coded Vessel Safety Branch of the MCA, will  field questions on the Small Commercial Vessel & Pilot Boat Code of Practice. In a similar  vein, the entire Wednesday afternoon session will address the Introduction and Experience to Date of the Harmonised Code.

Other topics over the three days will include fishing boat safety, the Marine Equipment Directive, the UK planning dilemma in port development, a marine renewable energy overview plus discussions of logistics and opportunities, MOD boat procurement, and EEZ industry opportunities.

A now well established highlight of the Seawork experience is the Tuesday evening Gala Dinner at the sparkling Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium, home to the local Southampton Football Club. The relaxing evening of good food, fine wine, reunions of friendships and networking opportunities has sold out every  year since its introduction so anyone wanting to be sure of a seat or company table should contact the Seawork team.

Now integral with the ZF Marine sponsored evening are ceremonies announcing the Bond Pearce sponsored Seawork Innovations Showcase award winners and the overall winner of the Spirit of Innovation trophy for 2005.

Introduced at Seawork 2002, the Innovations Showcase features examples of the marine industries’ best new product developments and is prominently displayed immediately inside the visitor registration area. 

For 2005 a new Diving & Underwater category has been added to the established list which also includes Safety & Electronics, Civil Engineering & Marine Contracts, Vessel Design & Construction, and Marine Equipment.