Seatrade Middle East Maritime enjoys Positive Growth

The unprecedented growth of the Middle East's maritime industry into a global player has positioned Seatrade Middle East Maritime as a key international shipping event.

Chris Hayman, Managing Director of organisers, Seatrade, said: “Regional expansion is continuing. Dubai Ports International has just become one of the world’s six largest international port operators with the US$ 1.23 billion acquisition of CSX World Terminals, Iran is developing into a major player in the tanker and shipbuilding market, as we heard at the recent Seatrade conference sessions, and the Gulf shipping business is booming.

“Seatrade Middle East Maritime has grown alongside this phenomenal expansion into a must attend event for the global industry and it will now be biannual to fit in with the international maritime exhibition and conference calendar.

“This month’s exhibition was three times bigger than in 2003 and 90 per cent of exhibitors have already reserved space for 2006.”

More than 4,000 people attended the conference and exhibition, with exhibitors from 30 countries, including national pavilions from Iran, Turkey, India, Pakistan and Holland, and conference delegates and cruise buyers from more than 40 countries.

The show, which will run from December 4-6 in 2006 is now a platform for major industry announcements and launches.

Dubai Drydocks and Dubai Maritime City will have the world’s largest ship repair capacity by 2006, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, announced in a keynote address on the opening day.

Dubai Maritime City outlined plans to start a club for seafarers which will cater to the growing number of ships docking at Dubai.

United Arab Shipping Marine Workshop, the subsidiary of Kuwait based United Arab Shipping Co, in a joint venture with Indian manufacturer, Hi-Tech Elastomers, launched the latest maritime anti terrorist barriers.

And, Nico international, the ship repair division of Oman based Topaz Energy and Marine revealed its $2 million acquisition of the industrial division of Fujairah Marine Services & Trading Co.

The Seatrade conference sessions examined a number of key industry issues including port expansion plans in the region, growing trade between the Middle East and the subcontinent, ship security, the growing cruise sector and the changing make-up of regional fleets, ship finance and maritime law.

“They will be held annually and in 2005 will run alongside a special Money & Ships conference we are organising on the back of demand from this year’s new shipping finance event” Hayman said.

Most exhibitors revealed plans to return with increased participation in 2006.

Singtel, Singapore said the show let them meet leading regional industry players. “The event has been a one-stop shop for us. We have seen lots of prospective customers from the Middle East including Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen,” said Simon Tan Chaur Yuan, Director Mobile Staellite Business, Singtel, Singapore.

George H Wang, of Qingdao Highroad International Trade, Qingdao, China, a first time exhibitor said: “We sell a wide range of products into the Middle East maritime market from safety equipment to tools, lights and flanges. It is an increasingly important market for us and the show helped us to have a better picture of regional growth potential.”

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