Shipping Industry to Showcase New Trends at SMM India 2013

The countdown is on: In just a few days SMM India 2013 will open its gates in the Indian mega city of Mumbai. From 4 to 6 April, India’s shipping industry will showcase new trends, innovative technology and future perspectives at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Hall V.

“SMM India has positioned itself as one of the most important trade fairs of the Indian maritime industry. It sets new trends, brings people together and boosts business,” says Bernd Aufderheide, Chairman of the Board of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.

Tradition meets the future: Held for the third time, this year’s SMM India in Mumbai is taking place in conjunction with National Maritime Week. Each year in April, India honours its seafaring history with this one-week event. Traditionally the festivities culminate on 5 April, the date of the first-ever departure of an Indian vessel, SS Loyalty, from Mumbai to London. Numerous port cities such as Kolkata, Channai and Goa join in the commemorative celebration. But Mumbai has always been the centre of these activities. After all it was from here that SS Loyalty departed for her voyage. Even India’s President, Pranab Mukherjee will be attending the Mumbai festival.

SMM India is the top event of the maritime industry on the subcontinent. Roughly 100 reputable companies from all over the world will present their most advanced technologies and products from the shipbuilding and maritime supply sectors. Nearly half of all exhibitors are Indian companies. The remaining ones are mostly headquartered in neighbouring Asian countries or Europe, hailing from Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the USA, China, Singapore, Norway, Finland, Germany and the UK. “We are excited to see a number of companies seizing the opportunity to join hands in setting-up national pavilions at SMM India. Since the beginnings of SMM India, the German pavilion has attracted huge crowds,” says Aufderheide. This year will also see country pavilions from Finland and Denmark.

One of the most prominent exhibitors will be The Shipping Corporation of India. With more than 80 vessels, including 41 tankers and 16 bulk carriers, this enterprise is among the leading ship-owning companies of India. Another familiar name represented at the fair will be Volvo Pena India. A member of the Volvo Group, the company sells engines and complete propulsion systems for leisure boats and commercial vessels. With numerous innovations, such as the Z drive or the Duoprop system with counter-rotating propellers, Volvo Penta has made maritime history.

STX Finland will also be present at the fair. Headquartered in the city of Turku, the shipyard is owned by STX Europe, a member of the Korean STX family of companies. Just recently STX Finland reported that the orders for two new TUI Cruises cruise ships, called “Mein Schiff 3” and “Mein Schiff 4”) (“My Ship 3 rsp. 4”) had been confirmed. The new designs will be accommodating more passengers than their sister ships, offering relaxing holiday cruises to approximately 2500 guests. The keel of “Mein Schiff 3” will be laid down in May. The vessel will embark on her maiden voyage to Palma de Mallorca on 01 June 2014 from Hamburg.

The fair will also feature a booth of Mazagon Dockyards Limited. The Mumbai-based shipyard is in the process of building six submarines of the French Scorpène class for the Indian navy. What sets these vessels apart is the French MESMA propulsion system (Module d’Energie Sous-Marine Autonome), an air-independent technology enabling these submarines to remain submerged up to three times as long as conventional designs. The vessels are being built by Mazagon Dock Ltd. under a license. The total order value is US$3.5 billion. Commissioning of the first unit is expected for 2015. The Indian navy and coast guard will also be present at the fair. Both institutions will send delegations of high-ranking officers and spokespersons.

 Public Private Partnership Summit – SMM India on 5 April

A special highlight of the SMM India on 5 April will be the all-day Public Private Partnership Summit, a conference entirely dedicated to current trends and topics of the industry. The first session, “Technology Infusion for Future Propulsion Packages with A View to Minimum Maintenance of Shipbuilding Machinery/Systems on Board“, will present innovative technologies further enhancing the safety and resilience of machinery operation. Attendees will learn how these technologies can not only lower repair and operating costs but also avoid environmental damage.

The two subsequent sessions, focussing on the topics “Horizon Scan Coastal/Inland Security – Role of The Coast Guard” and “India Emerges as A Shipbuilding Nation – Will Public Private Partnership Help?” will further enrich the conference programme. Aufderheide commented: “The Public Private Partnership Summit – SMM India is a top-level conference. Rarely has there been such an illustrious assembly of top-ranking representatives of the Indian navy and coast guard at a single panel discussion.” The panel will include, among others, Vice Admiral (retd) P.C. Bhasin, Chairman of the Assocham National Defence Council, J.D. Patil, Executive Vice President and Head Defence & Aerospace, Member of the HEIC Board, Larsen & Toubro and Vice Admiral NN Kumar, AVSM VSM, Chief of Material, Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy).

Statistics from previous SMM India fairs attest to the importance the industry attributes to this event. Following the previous SMM India 2011, 96 per cent of all attendees viewed the fair as an “important” or “very important” opportunity to get informed about current developments in India’s maritime industry. In particular, participants applauded the opportunity to discuss business matters with each other. 94 per cent of exhibitors said they had been able to liaise with their most important business partners as well as new potential customers or vendors from key industries. 79 per cent confirmed having closed sales with existing as well as new customers.

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Hamburg Messe, March 28, 2013