Closing Report SMM 2010

– SMM once again demonstrated its leading role as the foremost global fair for the industry, said Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress (HMC). – We covered all the present and future key issues for the maritime industry at SMM 2010 .
The largest group of visitors was from the shipowners and shipping companies, followed by machinery and plant manufacturers, and the shipbuilding and shipyard industry. 69% of the trade visitors at SMM 2010 had a decision making role in their companies (versus 67% at SMM 2008). More than a third of trade visitors came from abroad. Nearly two thirds of the international trade visitors gave a positive assessment of the economic situation, and are expecting further improvement.
The exhibiting companies, two thirds of which were from abroad, were certainly optimistic, even though some of them still expressed their optimism with a degree of caution. – Green” technologies, offshore engineering and ship financing were the keynote areas at this year’s international trade fair – a trio of subjects, which will be vital for the future. These subjects were also prominent in the supporting programme, which comprised a large number of conferences and workshops. The enthusiasm of SMM trade visitors was evidently fired by the economic recovery and the wide range of environment friendly and efficiency enhancing innovations. SMM 2010 thus continued its tradition as the world’s leading shipbuilding and marine industries fair – a real trend indicator and trend setter.
Jaakko Eskola, EMEC President and Vice President Ship Power at the Wärtsilä Group, felt that the success of the fair was also a success for green technologies – SMM 2010 was an important showcase for green technologies, as needed in shipping and shipbuilding. It gave real insights into the future of the maritime industries. Everyone has now realised how important efficient, environment friendly solutions are. SMM 2010 was also a successful business event for European marine equipment suppliers; to stand up to competition, it is vital to achieve concentration and networking with shipyards and shipping companies – and SMM gave an outstanding opportunity for that.
Werner Lundt, Executive Director of the German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM), agreed with that view: – SMM 2010 demonstrated successfully in all areas that the shipbuilding industry takes the environment and the climate just as seriously as efficiency and cost-effectiveness improvements. And these factors certainly do not have to be in conflict, as proven by a whole host of innovations by shipyards and marine equipment suppliers.
Hauke Schlegel, Managing Director of the Shipbuilding and Offshore Equipment Supply Industry Group in the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) said – The intensive discussions, which the equipment suppliers had on all four days of the fair were the best evidence of SMM’s key role in the exchange of ideas on technical trends in the maritime industry. Long-term customer relations and development partnerships are very much in the foreground here. The equipment supply industry is very strong, and has demonstrated impressively at SMM that it has adapted its products successfully to meet stricter environmental requirements, and also to serve new markets such as the dynamic offshore segment.
Ralf Nagel, Managing Director of the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR), specifically mentioned the innovative talents of development departments: – SMM 2010 showcased a whole range of innovative technologies, particularly for the key fields for the future, e.g. green propulsion systems and offshore technology, much more so than any previous SMM. The solutions presented here also open up new perspectives for ship operators. In terms of green technologies, this year’s SMM set the course for the whole of international shipping.
That includes the new, freely configurable ship’s bridge from Raytheon Anschütz, which is primarily designed for more efficient, easier handling. The response from the many shipowners present was highly positive, as reported by Martin Richter, Marketing Manager at Raytheon Anschütz. SAM Electronics indicated that their success factors were the new developments they displayed, with an integrated automation system from Valmarine and a new Vessel Control System. Ulrich Röhrl, Director Marketing at SAM Electronics, declared that – We were able to make many new business contacts with Scandinavia and Asia.
Just how important innovations are to stimulate business is perhaps best shown by the new Inline Thrusters and Inline Propulsors from Voith. Dr. Martin Füllenbach, CEO of Voith Turbo, says – We were practically overrun by the demand for them. There was “enormous” interest from shipowners from all parts of the world. He will soon be signing the company’s first contract with China. And Siemens was equally satisfied with results at SMM 2010. Eberhard Becker, responsible worldwide for marine business at Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S), talked about “many interesting sales discussions”. He indicated that environmentally sound, energy efficient solutions in shipbuilding and shipping were attracting more and more interest and demand. – That is why we are particularly proud that we equipped the Skandi Aker, which was named SKIPSREVYEN’s “Ship of the Year 2010”, with energy-efficient, environmentally sound propulsion technology,” he added.
The trend towards greener systems with simultaneous improvement in efficiency was also apparent with SkySails, which manufactures towing kites for ships. – We have very good response to our system, said Stephan Wrage, its Managing Partner. – The shipbuilding industry has grasped the importance of Green Shipping. Our system is not only environment friendly. It also saves fuel. That is why we had so many shipowners coming to our stand.
Almost the same words were used by Peter Dan Petersen, Senior Manager Marketing Communications of MAN Diesel and Turbo, to describe the interest of shipowners in the new 32/44 Common Rail Motor, the largest exhibit at the MAN stand: – There were inquiries from shipowners from all parts of the world. We are extremely satisfied with how this fair went. The engine manufacturer MTU Friedrichshafen (a company of the Tognum Group), said that SMM 2010 “fully lived up to expectations”, as Rainer Breidenbach, Tognum Director with responsibility for the Engines Division said with satisfaction – We were able to launch many new projects for the offshore market.
“Many new projects” was also the expression used by Manfred Urban, Managing Director of Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH (MMG), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of ship propellers. He was very optimistic following negotiations mainly with Korean and Chinese shipyards, and was also encouraged by interest from smaller yards from Korea, Vietnam, Croatia and Brazil.
There were also MMG propellers on ships that were in negotiations during SMM 2010 at the stand of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC). Zhang Min, Deputy Manager at CSIC, reported on serious negotiations for the building of more than a dozen ships for four different shipping companies – two German shipowners, one from Singapore and one from Kuwait. And he said fruitful discussions had also been held with marine equipment suppliers and finance experts.
The first SMM presentation by Pipavav Shipyard, India’s largest shipyard, was described as highly positive by Varindar Kumar, Advisor. The most important thing was that “Pipavav was able to demonstrate its strengths at SMM 2010, the meeting place of the international shipbuilding industry and shipping companies.” Pipavav Shipyard has one of the largest dry docks in t

he world, with a length of 662 metres and width 665 metres, and highly advanced computer-controlled manufacturing technology, and a well filled order book. – We visited SMM in 2008 and decided that we simply had to exhibit here, declared Varindar Kumar. After all, India is an emerging shipbuilding centre.
The same applies for Bangladesh – with three shipyards for ocean going vessels exhibiting at SMM. This is the third time that Ananda Shipyard & Slipways is exhibiting at SMM. Executive Director Tariqul Islam wants to “set a sign for the international maritime market” with the company’s presentation at SMM 2010. And that sign was clearly very visible, as numerous shipowners sought contact with Ananda. Similar experiences were reported by Gazi R. Rabbani of Dhaka Dockyard & Engineering Works and by Anis Mazumder, Executive Director at Karnafuly Ship Builders in Chittagong – We were able to generate a lot of interest, and are highly satisfied with the way this fair went.
Similar assessments of SMM 2010 were made by Martin Bloem, Director General of Holland Shipbuilding Association, whose members participated in the Netherlands national pavilion (one of 30 joint stands at SMM 2010) alongside companies of the Holland Marine Equipment association. He mentioned the positive development of the market, which “made the timing of SMM 2010 very good.” He added a large number of potential customers were attracted by the new developments.
Ole Henaes, CEO of Norwegian Maritime Exporters, which organised the Norwegian national pavilion, was enthusiastic about the large number of visitors “from the right levels of their companies”. The result was that the Norwegian exhibitors were “more than satisfied”.
Masao Sasaki, General Manager of the Japan Marine Equipment Association (JSMEA), reported “very good business for the exhibitors” at the Japanese national pavilion. For example, Akira Hiyama, Assistant Manager at diesel manufacturer Niigata, said that he had started negotiations on contracts for fitting out offshore tender vessels for European clients during SMM 2010.
The extensive supporting programme at SMM included the first SMM Offshore Dialogue, which had a successful premiere. There were some 400 industry experts for the two days of this workshop, discussing existing and future potentials and challenges for offshore oil and gas production, deep sea mining, and offshore wind energy. – The SMM Offshore Dialogue gave the maritime industry and others, such as the wind industry, a unique opportunity for exchange on developments and requirements of the offshore market, said Peter Bergleiter, Project Director at SMM.
SMM 2012, 25th shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology, international trade fair hamburg, will be held at the Hamburg Fair site from 4 to 7 September 2012.