Inaugural Global Workboat Technology Forum to be launched at Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine 2013

The 2013 edition of Seatrade Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine will see an exciting new component added to the biannual industry showcase, with the announcement of a groundbreaking strategic partnership agreement with Saudi Aramco, the world’s leading fully integrated energy and petrochemicals enterprise, to hold a one-day Global Workboats Technology Forum.

International experts will present a series of technical papers on a number of industry agenda-leading topics at the new Global Workboat Technology Forum, which will take place on day two of the three-day event, which returns to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from September 30 to October 2, 2013.

“We are thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with world energy leader Saudi Aramco, which comes at a time when innovation in workboat technology really is pushing the boundaries of opportunity in an increasingly competitive – and globalised – marketplace, and this will be the only platform of its kind, allowing unprecedented access to global industry decision-makers,” said Chris Hayman, Chairman, Seatrade, organizer of the newly rebranded Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine 2013.

The Forum format will be technical presentations encouraging audience participation and including time for Q&A. Papers will be presented in front of global industry decision-makers and specialists — including Saudi Aramco’s Industrial Services Executive Director — alongside many other Marine Operational Companies.

“Being a strategic partner of The Global Workboat Technology Forum is a reflection of Saudi Aramco’s commitment to fostering collaborative partnerships and enabling innovative long-term solutions for the world’s energy and its services industries,” said Nabeel A. Jama, Executive Director, Industrial Services, Saudi Aramco. “The Forum is an excellent platform for industry players around the world to share their knowledge, discuss current trends and issues, the outlook for the industry and this forum will certainly help us to chart our course to meet the challenges ahead of us.”

The presentations will be selected from abstracts that have been collated from a Call to Papers that requested paper submissions on topics that included: New technologies to improve marine engines efficiency, reliability, and environmental impact through innovative technologies; technological advancements improving marine thrusters efficiency, reliability, and performance; new technologies in marine corrosion prevention; advancements in the field of e-Navigation and virtual aids to navigation in offshore areas, including monitoring and tracking systems and relevant topics pertaining to workboat operational enhancement covering the areas of Environmental Impact; Mechanical/Operational Reliability; Cost effectiveness and Safety and Security.

The Global Workboats Technology Forum will take place on October 1 for a full day during the Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine 2013.