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Marintec China 2019 to highlight smart shipping and technology developments

marintecchina press release
The 40th anniversary of Marintec China in Shanghai in December will highlight smart shipping, luxury cruise ships, gas carriers and green products.

The 20th edition of the bi-annual exhibition will be held at Shanghai New International Expo Centre from 3-6 December.

During a press conference ahead of Marintec China held in Shanghai 22 August, the guest speakers shared their views on the event, including Michael Duck, executive vice president – Asia for Informa Markets, Wenhua Xing, chairman of the Chinese organizing Committee of Marintec China, Yanqing Li, chairperson of international organization for standardization ships and marine technology, and Norbert Kray, senior vice president and regional manager for greater China of DNV GL.

Xing made a brief introduction on the main features of Marintec China 2019 and related situation of maritime industry. Xing said that the growth of global shipping trade has slowed down and the international shipbuilding market could not be optimistic.

Shipbuilding consolidation

The major shipbuilding countries are re-examining and analyzing their market position and industrial structure to create a situation that the strong ones are going to be stronger by upgrading industrial technology and building technical closures. At the same time, mergers and acquisitions are very active, and industry concentration will be further increased. The ongoing consolidation between China’s top two shipbuilding giants CSSC and CSIC is seen as a necessary result.

Li talked about the progress in standardisation to enable smart shipping. He emphasized that the intelligent shipping is not targeted at a specific sector but rather covers the whole industry chain. The shipping industry may have new shipowners in the future, not the traditional owner of the ships, but he owner of logistics industry, they might be the pioneer in unmanned ship sector.

Smart shipping developments

DNV GL’s Kray provided comments on the smart ship development sector. Kray mentioned that the emerging technologies are offering opportunities for shipping and the industry players are in the middle of a digital transformation progress. DNV GL is supporting the industry to progress such as in the sectors of autonomous and remotely operated ships, and cyber security.

DNV GL has opened an artificial intelligence (AI) research centre in Shanghai earlier this year as it seeks new solutions to enhance its audit, inspection and survey services which could enable the company to engage with and benefit from leading edge AI technology developments and better service for the market.

Speaking for Informa Markets Duck disclosed that this year’s Marintec China is set to host more than 2,100 exhibiting companies including 15 national/regional pavilions from Austria, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan Region, UK and USA. It is expecting to welcome 65,000 industry professional from over 90 countries and regions.

Senior Maritime Forum

As a part of the 40th anniversary programme, the senior Maritime Forum held concurrently with the exhibition will have the theme of “Innovation, Intelligence and Fusion.” The forum will be held in Kerry Hotel Pudong on December 2-5 and will feature a Keynote Address, Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Shipping & Ports, Marine Finance and Law, Marine Equipment Technology and Cruise Interiors, which is a new extension will be launched this year.

Marintec China made its debut at the beginning of the China Reform and Opening-up and is held once every two years in Shanghai.