More than 1,800 professionals from 27 countries took part in the fifth edition of the event.

The global maritime industry experienced days of intense activity at the fifth edition of World Maritime Week, held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre from 19 to 21 March. The event was attended by 1,855 professionals from the naval, fishing, port and renewable marine energy sectors. Both exhibiting firms and visitors, as well as congress participants, agreed on the very positive reading of the event, held at a time of great challenges, but also opportunities for the global maritime industry.

Among the 27 countries of origin of the visitors, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Turkey, as well as Spain, stood out. It is also worth highlighting the importance of buyers from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, among other countries, as part of the Hosted Buyers’ Programme, one of the main attractions of World Maritime Week. This initiative takes up the requests of the exhibitor companies themselves, guaranteeing the presence of national and international shipowners, shipbuilders, shipyards and shipyards, with which, this year, more than 300 B2B meetings were held.

The value of alliances between firms and sectors, as well as the importance of knowledge exchange, are the main conclusions of an event that has become a benchmark for the industry. In the congress section, the success of the keynotes and the cross-cutting sessions have shown that cooperation is the most effective way to face the great challenges of the moment. Challenges such as sustainable development, technological innovation, decarbonisation and competitiveness, among others, were dealt with in the presentations and round tables held throughout the two days. Together with these common themes, the sectoral congresses (Sinaval, EuroFishing, FuturePort and Marine Energy Week) offered a specific vision of the situation and opportunities of each industry, with the participation of more than 70 top-level speakers.

The entire value chain was present in the exhibition area. At the stands of the more than 50 exhibiting firms, visitors were able to learn about the major technological advances, the latest developments in services and the business opportunities offered by the blue economy. A representation that has been highly valued by the attendees. The conference organised by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia on the blue economy as a driver of business and territorial development, and the 20 presentations made by exhibitor and sponsor companies at the Innovation Workshops were also highly appreciated. Likewise, the concentration of the different spaces in the Luxua pavilion has served to foster valuable alliances and strengthen contact between the agents involved.

Talent, training and generational change also had their place at WORKinn For WMW. More than 100 students and professionals actively seeking employment had the opportunity to use virtual navigation and welding simulators, access job offers and receive information and advice on specialised educational programmes. The space, co-organised in collaboration with AFM, was attended by 14 companies and educational centres and forms part of a cross-cutting project (WORKinn Talent Hub) held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre’s trade fairs.
The Technical Visits also took place today. More than 50 professionals had the opportunity to get to know the business fabric of the surrounding maritime sector, promote the exchange of ideas and help to strengthen business connections. The companies and entities visited were Wärstilä, Navacel, the Port Authority of Bilbao and Tecnalia.

 

World Maritime Week Awards

The World Maritime Week Awards recognised excellence in the international maritime industry in its second edition. The first of the awards, the Sinaval Award, went to INGETEAM. The naval company was highlighted for its ability to revolutionise electric propulsion, reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, as well as its commitment to R&D, with more than 500 specialists and an annual investment of 5% of its turnover. The EuroFishing Award recognised SATLINK’s ReCon project, for having marked a turning point in the responsible management of marine technological waste. Its system for the recovery and reuse of smart fishing buoys equipped with advanced echo sounders is designed to prevent marine technological waste.

The third award of the evening, the Futureport Award, was received by Alejandro Aznar, president of GRUPO IBAIZABAL and ANAVAS. The award winner was highlighted for the leadership capacity he has shown throughout his prolific professional career, in which he has promoted current advances such as sustainability and job creation. The Marine Energy Week Award was awarded to SAITEC OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGIES for its DemoSATH Lab project. DemoSATH Lab has integrated nature-based solutions, such as artificial reefs that promote marine biodiversity, generating new refuge and feeding areas for fish and other marine species.

After the presentation of the four sectoral awards, the organisation wished to give special thanks for the professional career and work of Inmaculada Ugarteche, until this year managing director of Uniport Bilbao, and the Asturian firm Astilleros Gondán. In its 100 years of history, Gondán has built more than 400 ships, with pioneering technology, equipment and systems.

WORLD MARITIME WEEK is organised by Bilbao Exhibition Centre with the support of the Basque Government, SPRI Group and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia as institutional partners and Energy Cluster, Basque Maritime Forum and Uniport Bilbao as sectoral partners.