Sharjah: The sixth edition of the Gulf Maritime exhibition was inaugurated by Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qassimi Chairman of the Sharjah Ports Authority at Expo Centre Sharjah on April 21. It will run until April 23.
The exhibition is the region's foremost maritime event and caters to the complete requirements of the commercial, government, and the military maritime industry. Apart from the exhibits, product presentations and seminars, which will take up some important issues affecting the industry, will be major attractions at the show.
Present at the inauguration ceremony were Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah, and Mr Fasahat Ali Khan, Adviser to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah, among other dignitaries.
The three-day exhibition is being held under the patronage of Sharjah Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi.
"The maritime sector has been experiencing phenomenal growth in the past and is poised to benefit further from booming economies of the region,"
said Mr Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa.
"The industry will also have a positive impact from the Dh3.67 trillion worth of infrastructure projects that are under way or are being planned in the Gulf countries," Mr Midfa said.
The exhibition is featuring more than 100 exhibitors and brands, who are showcasing their products and equipment across 4,000 sq m of space.
"The show has attracted some leading names from the global maritime industry as exhibitors. For them, the show will be an ideal gateway to the region and a comprehensive sourcing platform," Mr Midfa added.
The exhibition will feature deck machinery and other vessel equipment, docking equipment, electronics, communication and navigation systems, engine and propulsion systems, fuel and lubricants, ride control systems, sound and vibration control systems and marine interiors.
Other major exhibits include paints and coatings, latest vessel building designs and technology, equipment for fishing, offshore support vessels, cargo ships, tankers, tugs, ferries and patrol boats, ship repair and port operations products and cargo handling services, among others.
The exhibition will have a dedicated display area for workboats and commercial craft.
The maritime industry is experiencing a boom in the region.
Investments in the Middle East shipping industry for the year are expected to exceed Dh50 billion, according to recent reports. More shipping companies are likely to operate in the region due to the increasing demand for oil and gas.
Last year, UAE terminals increased container cargo throughput by 19 per cent to 11 million TEUs (20-feet equivalent units). "The dependency on trans-Atlantic route has declined and new routes such as Asia-Europe and Asia-Middle East are now the busiest. This means more and more large cargo ships are now choosing to call at Middle East ports, triggering huge demand for repair services for large vessels and feeders plying the region," said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa.
To tap into the growing market, maritime firms have also placed large orders for new vessels. There are 1,549 container vessels, 170 VLCCs (very large crude carriers) and 141 Suezmaxes on order worldwide, keeping world's shipyards fully engaged for the next few years, according to recent figures. LNGCs (liquified natural gas carriers) are also important to regional firms in view of the booming LNG trade.
According to industry experts, conversion of single-hulls is likely to grow by more than 10 per cent this year. "The phasing out of single-hull tankers as per International Maritime Organisation norms will see increased conversion activity, as shipping operators seek to convert their single-hulls to either container liners or workboats," said Mr Midfa.
Workboats are high in demand on back of huge reclamation projects in the region. Massive projects such as Dubai and Umm Al Quwain marinas, the three Palms islands, The World, Dubai Festival City, and projects that are coming up in Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are creating huge demand for dredgers and support vessels. Thousands of these workboats are keeping the more than 10 ship repair yards in region busy.
New ports and expansions across the Gulf will also throw up many opportunities for the sector. The upcoming $260 million dry dock and ship repair facility at Duqm in Oman, $586 million port at Ras Al Zour in Saudi Arabia, the $2 billion port and industrial zone in Taweelah in Abu Dhabi, and the $1 billion expansion at the Sokhna Port in Egypt will go a long way in promoting the region as the world's maritime hub.
Dubai Maritime City, the world's first purpose-built maritime centre, will also support the region's maritime operators through its comprehensive ship repair and maintenance facility situated in the Industrial Quarter, which will be managed by Dubai Drydocks.
"These developments have highlighted the need for a one-stop sourcing platform and the Gulf Maritime exhibition is undoubtedly a leading event that traders can rely on to keep pace with demands of a rapidly growing industry," added Mr Midfa.
Another highlight of the exhibition will be the seminars and product presentations. "The Gulf Maritime exhibition will host a series of product presentations and seminars," said Mr Fasahat Ali Khan. "These sessions will be an effective marketing tool to gather potential clients under one roof and present them with new products and services," he added.
The seminars will take up topics such as "Global execution of ship building projects", "Solution for shipbuilding and offshore industries", "Designing the right ship for the job", "Workboat -- new building activity in the region", and "Ship repair -- new technology".
Given the comprehensive exhibit profile and growth the industry is experiencing, the show will attract vessel owners and operators, ship and boat builders and repairers, ship chandlers, classification society, naval architects, suppliers/manufacturers/repairers of engines and propulsion systems, marine engineers, suppliers of shipbuilding material, marine equipment and services and electronic equipment and government agencies.
Recognising the importance of the event, the exhibition has won the support of the Department of Seaport and Customs - the Government of Sharjah, the UAE Ship Owners Association, the UAE National Ship Suppliers Association and the Arab Federation of Chambers of Shipping.
Gulf Maritime is an initiative of Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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© Press Release 2008
