Ocean Business 2023 jam-packed with networking opportunities

In just over two weeks Ocean Business 2023 will open its doors to a world-class  showcase of marine technology,  live-action demonstrations, a packed conference programme and unbeatable networking opportunities.

With more than 300 manufacturers and service providers booked for the sold-out exhibition, this year’s edition of the global technology and science show for marine industries promises to attract record crowds.

The three-day event, which runs from April 18-20 at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, is open to all visitors for free by registering online at www.oceanbusiness.com.

Ocean Business not only provides unrivalled access to today’s transformational ocean technology, but facilitates business to business get-togethers. Both inside and outside the expansive exhibition halls, a variety of social events will ensure exhibitors and visitors can network around the clock.

Ocean Business regulars have described the biennial show as pivotal in the ocean industry calendar and ‘more than just a 9 to 5 exhibition’, and for exhibitors, the first day will be topped with free to attend drinks, from 5-6.30pm, run in partnership with SMI.

In a pre-show gathering, Ocean Business will be hosting the Racal Survey Reunion, on Monday, April 17, from 6.30-8pm, in the Pitcher and Piano, Southampton. Open to Racal Survey, Racal Positioning, Thales GeoSolutions and Decca ex-employees, the reception is a show highlight, reconnecting friends and colleagues scattered across the globe.

The popular Wine Trail, on Wednesday, April 19, offers further networking, accompanied by fabulous wines from around the world. Guests can follow the trail to sample a different wine at more than 25 sponsor stands and collect ‘passport’ stamps, and new acquaintances, along the way.

Also on Wednesday, the International B2B Matchmaking offers a chance to meet potential business and technology partners in one day. Organised by Innovate UK EDGE, the event (from 11am to 5pm in Conference Room 344/32, Level 4) involves pre-arranged 20-minute meetings, creating business development opportunities with exhibitors and visitors active in the maritime sector. Register, up until April 17, here.

Ocean Business 2023 will also host a one-day, free-to-attend conference on Tuesday, April 18 - on top of a series of associated, on-site meetings - with a line-up of sector experts addressing the key issues of the day.

And, for the first time, the world’s only conference dedicated to marine electromagnetics – MARELEC - will run alongside Ocean Business. Delegates will hear from eminent scientists, engineers and academics of the advances made in the past four years in the fields of geophysics, geotechnical engineering, oceanography and naval warfare.

Outside, there will be a range of vessels and exhibits to explore, including demonstrations of NORBIT Subsea’s latest sonar technology on the Fugro vessel Xplorer; joint demonstrations by Applied Acoustic Engineering and Klein Marine, with the official launch of Klein’s 4K-UHR side scan sonar, on board Briggs Marine’s Solent Guardian; plus live equipment demonstrations from Sonardyne and Voyis aboard SubSea Co’s vessel, and new products and innovations from Teledyne, Nortek, Digital Edge Subsea, Bayonet Ocean Vehicles , and more.

And the Ocean Business Training and Demonstration programme, full details of which can be found here, will mark a year of exciting progress in ocean data gathering sensors, autonomous vehicles and their payloads all being demonstrated in the dockside waters, onboard vessels and in the classrooms.

For students, the Ocean Careers programme runs alongside the three days of Ocean Business 2023, with free to attend events. Leading lights from the industry and research institutes will share their expertise and insights during presentations and one-on-one sessions. See here for more details.

Cheri Arvonio, Event Director at exhibition organiser Diversified Communications, said:

‘Show time is almost upon us again and we can’t wait to welcome ocean technologists from around the world to this year’s event.

‘There will be something for everyone, with exciting product launches, hands-on demonstrations, scientific and engineering advances, and a wealth of sector innovators and leaders bringing their expertise to Southampton.

‘Ocean Business operates as a business hub, a forum for the exchange of ideas, a testbed for new concepts, and is usually a veritable social whirl too! See you there.’

Website: www.oceanbusiness.com