One aspect of Seawork's continuous evolution has been the successful implementation of pavilions dedicated to specific industry sectors. New for 2008 and joining the established DiveWork, Fluid Power, and Ship Repair Pavilions will be the Marine Civils Pavilion, supported by the Institution of Civil Engineers and media partner New Civil Engineer magazine. With names such as Costain Marine, Carillion Marine and Moffatt & Nichol in attendance, this new feature gives focus to a sector which provides the centre of gravity for much else at Seawork. There is obvious synergy in its positioning next to the DiveWork Pavilion and hungry civil engineers will also enjoy its proximity to Seawork's new bar and fast food area.

Although food is not Seawork's central theme, delicious and varied cuisine does indeed have a part to play in linking the show's serious business purposes with its simultaneous role as a celebration for marine professionals who enjoy getting together once a year to have some fun.

A highlight in this regard is always the Seawork Gala Dinner, which returns this year to the modern St Mary's Stadium, home of  the Southampton Football Club. With 6,500 visitors from more than 40 countries expected at Seawork 2008, not to mention the 450 exhibitors, the Gala Dinner is always a sell out. Concluding Seawork's first busy day, the ZF sponsored event provides good food, fine wine and ample networking opportunities in a relaxed atmosphere for exhibitors and their guests. The Gala Dinner is also the venue for the presentation of awards for outstanding products in the Seawork Innovations Showcase, culminating in the grand Spirit of Innovation Award. A great evening is capped by the welcome return of the invariably amusing Seawork after dinner speaker.

To accommodate increasing visitor numbers and allow more time to do business, Seawork will open at 09:30 every day this year and on Wednesday will stay open to 18:30. Starting at 18:30, all Seawork exhibitors are welcome to enjoy free beer and hotdogs at the second annual Quayside Barbeque, where they can also soak up Seawork's unique setting in the working Port of Southampton. The Quayside Barbeque is sponsored in 2008 by MJ's sister magazine Boating Business, which is celebrating its 25th year of publication.

Seawork's endless growth sees it about to burst out of the Canary Islands Fruit Terminal, so for 2008 the Seawork Conference Suites have been repositioned to a quiet zone adjacent to the buzzing show. A new bar will provide a welcome place to congregate, with delegate coffees and lunches also served in this area. What remains constant for the Seawork Conference is a full programme of excellent papers on themes ranging from marine renewable energy to port and coastal hydrographic survey and much more.

Business advantage for Seawork exhibitors is further heightened by the UK Trade & Investment Inward Buyers Mission initiative, which brings more than 20 key buyers from around the world specifically to do business at the show. More than 100 face to face meetings took place last year and four Seawork exhibitors were invited to visit buyers' home countries for further discussion.

Once again the UK Ministry of Defence team responsible for the procurement of boats and equipment will be providing their briefing update on opportunities for industry Tuesday morning at 11:00 and on the DMA stand throughout the show. The MOD team will no doubt also be visiting Seawork's unique floating pontoon, where up to 80 workboats of all types will be available for inspection and demonstration runs in the Solent.

Also keen to inspect the workboats will be the UK Harbour Masters' Association, which has held its annual General Meeting at Seawork since 1998 and whose members will be heading for the pontoon at the close of official business on Wednesday. Seawork is indeed supported by a network of 29 powerful trade associations and institutions which, in addition to the UKHMA, includes the RNLI, the UK Maritime Pilots' Association, the Fluid Power Association, the Association of Diving Contractors, the Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association, the Institution of Civil Engineers, and the Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors. These canny professionals know that the only place to be on 10 to 12 June is in the working Port of Southampton at Seawork International 2008.