The world's top maritime professionals have gathered in Shanghai for the Marintec China event, one of the industry's most important fairs showcasing the latest maritime products and technologies.
Since the launch of the world's largest container ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Shanghai in September, the shipping industry's commitment to going green has become more of a reality and is also one of the hot topics at this year's Marintec China.
"Decarbonalization, really that's on the top of everyone's agenda in this fair, as you look around - everybody, whether it's the equipment suppliers, the shipyards, the ship-owners, classification societies like Lloyd's Register [are talking about this]," said Mark Darley, President of the North Asia Marine and Offshore of Lloyd's Register.
Despite a generally weakening global shipping market, the 20th edition of the Marintec fair is seeing a record number of participants, with around 2,200 companies exhibiting, as the biennial event has grown in both scale and influence in its 40-year history.
"I think it's a very good meeting place. This is where everyone gathers, and if you're not here, you won't meet in the same fashion," said Kjersti Loken, Vice President of Marketing and Communication of Kongsberg Maritime.
China has also risen to become a powerhouse of the global maritime industry, with the newly-formed China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), now claiming to be the world's largest ship-maker, with a complete industrial chain covering cruise lines, bulk carriers and container ships.
"At our main exhibition area you can see three of our principal products, an LNG tanker, a luxury cruise vessel, and an aircraft carrier. This shows our status in ship engineering," said Li Shengjiang, director of Economic Research Center of CSSC.
Exhibitors say the importance of the Chinese market means the four-day fair, which will conclude on Friday, is an unmissable event.
"In the predicted growth within marine over the next 11 years, it accounts for over 20 percent of the predicted sea-borne trade growth. So it's vitally important that we support the industry here in China and grow with the industry here in China," said Darley.
Source:cctvplus
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