Post by ferryfast admin on Nov 28, 2011 15:22:43 GMT -5
International WorkBoat Show rolls into New Orleans this week
Published: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 8:30 AM
Richard Thompson, The Times-Picayune
www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2011/11/international_workboat_show_ro.html
A year after the BP oil spill and the subsequent federal moratorium on deepwater drilling generated much of the buzz at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, organizers and others in the maritime industry are expecting the three-day event this year to have a more optimistic tone, as the pace of new permitting for offshore oil wells has shown signs of improving. "We're seeing more and more permitting, and in the same way, Bollinger has seen more and more opportunities," said Robert Socha, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, who said he has seen an upswing in the number of new construction, repair and conversion orders over the past two months.
27myworkboat_1024.jpgThe Times-PicayuneThe International Workboat Show at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans filled the convention center on Wednesday, December 2, 2009.
Touted as the largest maritime trade show in North America, the show and conference that starts Wednesday is expected to draw more than 13,000 visitors from around the world to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, making it the third-largest convention scheduled in the city in the next three months and one of the top 20 of the year.
The show's director, Bob Callahan, said he anticipates upwards of 1,000 exhibitors to cover more than 200,000 square feet, showcasing their products and meeting with clients and vendors. David T. Matsuda, head of the U.S. Maritime Administration, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday.
In addition, on Tuesday, a separate, one-day summit is slated to include roundtable discussions and networking opportunities for executives and other marine industry officials. Charles Gasparino, a senior correspondent for the Fox Business Network, is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.
Socha said maritime officials in the U.S. and abroad have conveyed a sense of confidence in recent months.
"I'm seeing a lot of optimism right now in both the domestic market as well as in our international markets," he said. "Our phones have been ringing with people from international markets, wanting to line up meetings to sit down and discuss future opportunities."
Callahan agreed: "All across the country, we are seeing many boat orders," which he described as "a good barometer for the success of the event."
"And if there are boat orders, all the suppliers selling product to the boat builders are busy too. Orders are written and contacts are made at the International WorkBoat Show. The show is where it all happens," Callahan said in an email, noting that the show floor had expanded 5 percent over last year.
Gary Lipely, director of marketing and sales for Conrad Industries, said the Morgan City shipbuilder plans to bring about 30 people to the show, which "provides an opportunity for us to see a lot of our customers, a lot of our vendors, and all in one location."
Lipely echoed that he also heard from customers in the drilling industry that their business was improving. "It's funny, because you talk to people in the boat industry, and it's a big industry, but it's a small community," Lipely said.
Last year, Doug Ward, director of shipyard development at Alaska Ship & Drydock Inc., reserved space at the WorkBoat Show for the first time to showcase the company's $70 million expansion that included new shipbuilding and repair facilities, and production of a new type of vessel.
This year, Ward and others at the shipyard, where much of the work has focused on the state ferry system and general marine transportation, plan to use it to continue learning more about opportunities servicing the offshore industry.
"It was a new venture for us. I think we probably learned as much about some of the industries that we're not as familiar with," said Ward, who called it "enriching, from that point of view."
Work in ship construction and repair services for the offshore industry is likely to pick up in the coming years in southeast Alaska, Ward said, now that Shell Oil has received tentative approval to begin exploratory drilling in the Arctic Ocean next summer.
Now, Ward, who plans to make the trip with as many as five of his colleagues, said this year's show will be a way to let others know that Alaska Ship is up to the task of serving that sector.
"We're very interested in learning about the industry and how we can support it," he said. "We're pretty confident that we have the technical competence to do a good competitive job as a part of that industry."
Preregistration for the exhibit hall at the WorkBoat Show is free, on site price is $50. To register, or for more information, visit www.WorkBoatShow.com.
Richard Thompson can be reached at rthompson@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3496.
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Published: Sunday, November 27, 2011, 8:30 AM
Richard Thompson, The Times-Picayune
www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2011/11/international_workboat_show_ro.html
A year after the BP oil spill and the subsequent federal moratorium on deepwater drilling generated much of the buzz at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, organizers and others in the maritime industry are expecting the three-day event this year to have a more optimistic tone, as the pace of new permitting for offshore oil wells has shown signs of improving. "We're seeing more and more permitting, and in the same way, Bollinger has seen more and more opportunities," said Robert Socha, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, who said he has seen an upswing in the number of new construction, repair and conversion orders over the past two months.
27myworkboat_1024.jpgThe Times-PicayuneThe International Workboat Show at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans filled the convention center on Wednesday, December 2, 2009.
Touted as the largest maritime trade show in North America, the show and conference that starts Wednesday is expected to draw more than 13,000 visitors from around the world to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, making it the third-largest convention scheduled in the city in the next three months and one of the top 20 of the year.
The show's director, Bob Callahan, said he anticipates upwards of 1,000 exhibitors to cover more than 200,000 square feet, showcasing their products and meeting with clients and vendors. David T. Matsuda, head of the U.S. Maritime Administration, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday.
In addition, on Tuesday, a separate, one-day summit is slated to include roundtable discussions and networking opportunities for executives and other marine industry officials. Charles Gasparino, a senior correspondent for the Fox Business Network, is scheduled to deliver a keynote address.
Socha said maritime officials in the U.S. and abroad have conveyed a sense of confidence in recent months.
"I'm seeing a lot of optimism right now in both the domestic market as well as in our international markets," he said. "Our phones have been ringing with people from international markets, wanting to line up meetings to sit down and discuss future opportunities."
Callahan agreed: "All across the country, we are seeing many boat orders," which he described as "a good barometer for the success of the event."
"And if there are boat orders, all the suppliers selling product to the boat builders are busy too. Orders are written and contacts are made at the International WorkBoat Show. The show is where it all happens," Callahan said in an email, noting that the show floor had expanded 5 percent over last year.
Gary Lipely, director of marketing and sales for Conrad Industries, said the Morgan City shipbuilder plans to bring about 30 people to the show, which "provides an opportunity for us to see a lot of our customers, a lot of our vendors, and all in one location."
Lipely echoed that he also heard from customers in the drilling industry that their business was improving. "It's funny, because you talk to people in the boat industry, and it's a big industry, but it's a small community," Lipely said.
Last year, Doug Ward, director of shipyard development at Alaska Ship & Drydock Inc., reserved space at the WorkBoat Show for the first time to showcase the company's $70 million expansion that included new shipbuilding and repair facilities, and production of a new type of vessel.
This year, Ward and others at the shipyard, where much of the work has focused on the state ferry system and general marine transportation, plan to use it to continue learning more about opportunities servicing the offshore industry.
"It was a new venture for us. I think we probably learned as much about some of the industries that we're not as familiar with," said Ward, who called it "enriching, from that point of view."
Work in ship construction and repair services for the offshore industry is likely to pick up in the coming years in southeast Alaska, Ward said, now that Shell Oil has received tentative approval to begin exploratory drilling in the Arctic Ocean next summer.
Now, Ward, who plans to make the trip with as many as five of his colleagues, said this year's show will be a way to let others know that Alaska Ship is up to the task of serving that sector.
"We're very interested in learning about the industry and how we can support it," he said. "We're pretty confident that we have the technical competence to do a good competitive job as a part of that industry."
Preregistration for the exhibit hall at the WorkBoat Show is free, on site price is $50. To register, or for more information, visit www.WorkBoatShow.com.
Richard Thompson can be reached at rthompson@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3496.
________________________
Visit our >
PORT DYNAMICS
PORT DYNAMICS-2