European Shipbuilding Companies to Showcase Their Capabilities at SMM 2012

Preparations are in full swing for SMM 2012, the world’s leading maritime industry trade fair, at the Hamburg Fair site from 4 to 7 September. Meanwhile, the European shipbuilding industry is coming under pressure – in 2011 the number of deliveries related to tonnage exceeded the number of new orders for the fourth year in succession, at approx. 2.45 million CGT (versus 1.8 million CGT in 2011); that means the order book shrank to one third of what it was five years ago (approx. 5.7 million CGT).

Nevertheless, this industry has major importance for Europe – its sales volume, with a workforce of more than 500,000 people throughout Europe, is more than EUR 80 billion per annum.

The Community of European Shipyards Associations (CESA) and the European Marine Equipment Council (EMEC) have now agreed to set up a joint association for representation of the interests of the maritime shipbuilding industry. The new association will include nearly 100% of the maritime industry from 18 countries. “This focusing of activities will strengthen the position of the European shipbuilding industry, as we will also see at SMM,” says Peter Bergleiter, Business Unit Director at Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH (HMC), the organiser of SMM.

Increasing specialisation

Meanwhile the European shipbuilding industry is focusing increasingly on construction of technologically sophisticated ship types – Meyer Werft (Germany) and its competitor Fincantieri (Italy) have established themselves as the leading builders of cruise vessels; STX Europe (Norway) also builds ferries, offshore supply vessels and naval ships. Sietas (Germany) and Crist shipyard (Poland) are working on offshore installation vessels; Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft are completing the fourth ferry for Seatruck in summer, and their order book includes two heavy-duty freight ships. Nordic Yards are building the third high-voltage DC converter offshore platform for Siemens. An interesting field of activities is opening up for LNG tankers. Experts at Deutsche Shipping, the shipping unit of Deutsche Bank, are expecting significant demand in this area in the medium-term future. The industry has already responded – Meyer-Werft will deliver their first LNG carrier to the Dutch shipowner Anthony Veder at the end of the year.

The business principle of the Damen Shipyards Group, which is specialised among other things in tugs and platform supply vessels, could be applied to the whole of the industry – “We operate in every niche market because if we see an opportunity to improve, innovate or invest, we take it.”

Global orientation

European companies will be strongly represented at SMM 2012 – in terms of area booked, Germany leads the way, followed by the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. The People’s Republic of China, world shipbuilding nation number one, follows in fifth position, having overtaken Denmark (sixth position). This leading global maritime industry fair is where exhibitors meet not only their competitors and their existing business contacts, but also customers from all parts of the world – a total of more than 50,000 trade visitors are expected at SMM 2012. “SMM is as global in scope as the maritime industry itself,” says Peter Bergleiter. Germany’s shipbuilding and offshore suppliers take a leading position in the world, with some three quarters of their total sales made outside their own country.

Energy-saving, cost-effective, environment friendly engineering is one of the new key areas of the marine equipment industry, supplying to ships and offshore operators. German industry has a technological lead to defend here. “Developments of the propulsion train and in particular of the engine are excellent examples of that,” says Klaus Deleroi of MAN Diesel & Turbo SE. “Only technology leaders with system expertise are capable of optimising emission levels over the whole of the life cycle of the engine.” The exhibitors at SMM 2012 have remarkable innovations to present, not only in this area.

The same applies to the Asian competitors. Exhibitors from China include a wide range of companies, plus the two most important shipbuilding associations CSIC and CSSC. The Korean Shipbuilders’ Association KOSHIPA will also be there, and a large Korean pavilion with equipment suppliers. Major Japanese shipyards will be present, and the Japan Marine Equipment Association JSMEA. China, South Korean and Japan represent nearly 90% of tonnage in the global order book, according to analysts from Clarkson Research.

Professional presentation

SMM, shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology international trade fair hamburg is the leading event for the international maritime industry, and will be held for the 25th time this year. It is the ideal platform to present products, see innovations, meet new customers, cultivate relationships, and close deals – with 2,000+ exhibitors from more than 60 countries on over 90,000 sqm of exhibition space at SMM 2012, and more than 50,000 trade visitors expected.

Highlights include MS&D, international conference on maritime security and defence; and gmec, global maritime environmental congress – a premium event and an integrated component in the SMM supporting programme for the second time. The Ship Finance Forum will be held for the fourth time this year, hosted jointly by HMC and Financial Times Deutschland. Another regular feature will be the SMM Offshore Dialogue, held for the second time this year, with industry experts discussing oil and gas production at sea and offshore wind energy. Trade visitors from all parts of the world can also look forward to an extensive supporting programme with more than 150 programme items.

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Source: smm-hamburg, April 13, 2012