By Amie Pascoe, Director
All the key events in the maritime calendar have their particular (and sometimes peculiar) charms. Beyond the importance of the event itself as an opportunity to market and network, visiting Shanghai-hosted Marintec allows the unique experience of travelling at 431 kmph on the Maglev (short for magnetic levitation) train, sampling the fourteen cuisines at the incredible breakfast served at the Kerry Hotel next to the venue (my particular favourite), and genuinely immersing oneself in the Chinese approach to business.
BLUE first attended Marintec back in 2011 and since then the show has grown considerably. Visitor numbers reached 61,997 last year, up by 7% on the last event in 2013, cementing its place as the stand out event for the Chinese maritime market.
Although – one assumes due to budget constraints – attendees from Europe may have been down a little on previous years, this was normalised by the increased local presence. And for those BLUE clients with a strong focus on the Asian market, Marintec presented the opportunity to connect with local customers and prospects, as well as to meet up with attending journalists.
Castrol announced the launch of Cyltech ACT, a new cylinder oil specifically designed for vessels operating in Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) using low sulphur fuels (including LNG). At the same time, Castrol reiterated its ongoing commitment to developing a tailored and informed cylinder oil strategy that helps ship operators to successfully manage the complexity of transitioning ECAs.
NAPA was also in attendance, highlighting the increasing growth and development of technology use in the maritime market, as well as the Asian market trends for cutting-edge technology and software solutions at shipowners, operators, charterers and shipyards.
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office had a strong presence at Marintec, running their renowned ECDIS seminars and showcasing their latest navigational products and services. Their latest data on the state of ECDIS readiness of the internationally-trading global shipping fleet was also unveiled, as the industry continues its transition from paper-based navigation to digital navigation. UKHO shared its insights on the current state of ECDIS usage and the challenges faced by shipping companies as they move from the ECDIS adoption phase into a new era of living with ECDIS.
As always, it was a busy and productive event; catching up with old faces and meeting many new ones too. Although there are numerous maritime events (all with their particular / peculiar charms) to leverage and enjoy in the meantime, I’m already looking forward to the breakfasts at Marintec 2017!
