This year’s SMM is coming with plenty of tailwinds. Amid geopolitical tensions with the war in the Ukraine still going on, the lasting COVID19 pandemic with recent lockdowns in China, and severe disruptions seen all over the world in ports and supply chains, the maritime industry still experiences mostly bullish markets.[ds_preview]
All liners posted record earnings, the container shipping’s orderbook reached one third of the existing fleet. This creates an urgent need of all kinds of equipment and a surge in orders for suppliers. Well, that is good news after a long period of drought, starting more than a dozen years ago after the Lehman collapse and then lasting for so long.
At the same time, tremendous challenges sweep onto the whole industry, starting with the implementation of EEDI, EEXI and CII and ending with more than ambitious regulations set by the IMO to get shipping on a speed lane towards decarbonization. Again, a lot of uncertainties are flying around – which technologies are best to be applied, which fuels will be available in due time, what kind of action must be adopted by the companies themselves?
Fortunately, another drought is about to end in a few days: The SMM as the world’s leading maritime trade fair will make its comeback after a four years’ forced break – not counting the less successful attempt last year to bridge the time with a digital light version.
There is still no alternative to a real trade show: People need to and want to meet and greet, to share insights, to refresh relationship or to establish new business contacts and to lay the ground for good business in the future. All of us did our best to cope with COVID limitations. But without a doubt, living in a predominantly digital cosmos will always be the second best choice compared to the real world.
So when the doors of the exhibition halls open on 6 September, we can expect a rather agile and open-minded community hunting for new business opportunities. But all exhibitors and visitors must also be prepared for a new era into which the maritime industry is heading. While digitalisation remains a task for today and tomorrow, the decarbonisation of shipping will certainly be the main issue to focus on.
While political and regulatory pressure is increasing, shipping and suppliers remain in limbo despite many promising projects and futuristic ship designs. SMM has always been a marketplace where the most advanced products and applications are presented. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly important to harness swarm intelligence to discuss viable ideas and forge new paths of collaboration to successfully tackle the truly Herculean task of making shipping climate neutral.
This is where the SMM conferences come in, and we recommend you start right on Monday with this year’s Maritime Future Summit, co-hosted by HANSA. Don’t miss high-level experts discussing the latest digital trends and innovations!
By the way: We as HANSA will of course also be there, with our own stand, events and exclusive publications. Feel free to drop by – hall A1, booth 433.
Krischan Förster
Chief Editor
