SEAWORK is Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine and workboat exhibition and is going to be held 13 – 15 June 2023 at Mayflower Park in Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 2AN, UK.
Seawork is a proven platform to build business networks, with an international audience of visitors and it is the meeting place for the commercial marine and workboat sector and is supported by our trusted partners.
Marine Civils is also co-located with Seawork.
Seawork is housed under 12,000m2 of undercover halls and has 500 exhibitors with over 70 vessels, floating plant and equipment on the quayside and pontoons displaying a range of on‑water demonstrations. Seawork will also be featuring the European Commercial Marine Awards, the Innovations Showcase and also the highly regarded Conference Programme chaired by industry experts.
Also featuring is the Speed@Seawork on Monday 12 June, which is a fast boat event targeted at users (attachés, military, coast guard, SAR, and emergency services etc), builders, and equipment suppliers. The day starts with a short voyage over to the Isle of Wight, UK, with breakfast and presentations on fast boat activities, recent contracts, future developments and opportunities. Attendees have the opportunity to go out on sea boat trials in the varied sea states of the Solent. There will be expert presentations over lunch, followed by further sea trials and the day ending with networking, drinks and canapes on the return trip to Southampton.
Training and Career Opportunities at Seawork Working with Maritime UK and the Solent LEP, Seawork is set to deliver an exciting event promoting career opportunities in the commercial marine industry on the final day of Seawork, Thursday 15 June 2023.
Maritime businesses and organisations offer a range of different job opportunities and are always seeking to expand the skills base of existing and future employees. Seawork exhibitors come from all sectors of the industry and can show the huge scope of roles available, both on the water and shore based, for people with or without qualifications.
With a focus on skills, learning and employment, the Careers and Training pavilion, open on all three days of Seawork, gives visitors the chance to explore opportunities within the commercial marine industry. Exhibitors include specialist recruitment companies, education centres and training organisations, many with apprenticeship schemes, all offering expert advice on how to start and maintain a successful maritime career. They can also offer advice on the schemes and help available to enable the young and not so young to join this attractive, multifaceted sector and get on to the commercial marine job path.
Students and young people aged between 15 and 19 from local schools, colleges, training centres and universities will be able to see first‑ hand what a job in the commercial marine industry could look like and gain some valuable insight on the opportunities available including the areas that most young people don’t think about such as Marine Surveying, Naval Architecture/Vessel Design & Build, Diving, Marine Civil Engineering, Engineering and Vessel Operators. Seawork 2023 will also see a new Careers Trail using QR Codes.
Two dedicated Careers events, will take place in Seawork’s Conference Rooms;
Conference Room 1 will host the Careers and Training Fayre where Seawork exhibitors will be on hand to offer advice, information, literature and giveaways.
Students will get a unique chance to talk and question professionals and trainees who are currently working in the industry, getting a personal insight into the companies and the work opportunities on offer.
“Commercial Marine has Talent”, a live showcase of people working in the industry will be hosted in Conference Room 2. Speakers from across the sectors will be selected specifically to appeal to the audience and to allow the young people to actively engage in assessing whether a career in the industry is for them.
The students will then tour Seawork, speaking to exhibitors, visiting the pontoons, going onboard vessels and taking part in the Seawork video competition with an opportunity to win some great prizes.
Workboat Code Update at Seawork
Join Rob Taylor, Code Vessel Lead for the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, at Seawork on Tuesday 13 June as he gives an update on the revised Merchant Shipping (Small Workboats and Pilot Boats) Regulations 2023 and accompanying Workboat Code.
The update follows consultation across the industry. The response to the consultation was excellent and the feedback received has been used to steer the direction of the new Code. This free to attend session will detail some of the subsequent amendments and provide further clarity around the new Workboat Code.
The new version will provide greater detail around the survey and inspection requirements and also addresses the growing drive for decarbonisation within the industry through provisions for autonomous vessels and alternative fuels and propulsion systems. Existing rules did not reflect those and other developments which is why the regulations and Code have been revised.
Rob Taylor said, “We don’t compromise on safety. It’s as simple as that, so the safety underpinning these regulations will not change.
“However, we needed to reflect the fact that there is innovation happening right across the industry and we want to support that with appropriate regulations and guidelines. That’s led to this work to provide a clear framework so that vessel owners and operators can continue to operate, confident that they are fulfilling their legal obligations.”
