Seawork continues as a showcase for innovative new marine products and services which have come to market over the past year, with the Marine South East sponsored Innovations Showcase open to all exhibitors. There are six categories; Vessel Design & Build, Electronics, Safety, Vessel Equipment, Marine Civil Engineering, and Underwater Technology. The Innovations Showcase will again occupy a prime display site at Seawork 2006, with more than 50 entries vying for awards in each category and an overall winner taking the magnificent Spirit of Innovation Trophy at the Seawork Gala Dinner.

Also new at Seawork 2006 is a Maritime Jobs Fair organised by the Southampton Partnership, Jobcentre Plus, the Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce, Southampton City Council plus the city’s colleges and universities, including the Warsash Maritime Centre. The new venture will enable marine related companies to meet and discuss employment prospects with jobseekers. Students, career changers and anyone else seeking ‘real jobs’ can get information about current vacancies and even prepare for interviews by visiting perspective employers’ stands.

Also of interest, three major universities with marine related academic programmes will be at Seawork 2006. These include Liverpool John Moores, Newcastle, and the University of Southampton’s School of Ocean and Earth Science. The University of Southampton’s new research vessel RV Callista will be one of some 60 boats to be seen on Seawork’s floating pontoon.

A feature unique to Seawork and highly valued by boat builders and purchasers alike, the floating pontoon allows builders and buyers to come together at an in the water venue where a number of boats can be comparison inspected and sea tested all in the same day. As an example, at least four newbuild pilot boats are expected on the Seawork 2006 pontoon, including this issue’s front cover boat, Skomer, the new 19m pilot boat built by Mustang Marine for Milford Haven Port Authority. Also on show will be Damen’s new Stan Pilot 1505, Forth Leopard, for Forth Ports, Gleann Mor, a first of class Interceptor Pilot 42 from Safehaven Marine for the Port of Cork, and a Nelson 48/50 pilot boat from VT Halmatic.

Running concurrently with the exhibition and in the same building is the free to attend Seawork 2006 Conference, spanning all three days of the show. The themed programme has sessions on fishing, composites and lean manufacturing, and marine renewable energy as well as other topical presentations. Slotting in alongside the conference and also new for Seawork 2006 are UK Ministry of Defence Meet the Buyer Sessions, allowing the smaller builders of workboats and other exhibitors to gain the same access as the big boys to the UK MOD Minor Warships, Auxiliaries and Boats (MWAB) Integrated Project Team (IPT), responsible for the purchase of all workboats, small craft, associated auxiliary equipment, SOLAS life saving gear and clothing for all MoD purposes. Crowning the show’s first eventful day is the very popular Seawork Gala Dinner, returning to banqueting facilities at the Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton. The ZF Marine sponsored event has sold out once again as exhibitors value the opportunity to entertain guests, network and relax in an informal atmosphere graced by good food, fine wine and an entertaining after dinner speaker.