Maritime Trends Summit has brought together the main actors of the naval-maritime industry at international level: companies, organizations and institutions that have reflected on the current state of the sector and the challenges it faces.

Asime held on October 22nd the Maritime Trends Summit, the new international congress of reference for the naval, maritime and port industry.

The event was held in a mixed form with more than 300 online attendees and 50 face-to-face participants in Vigo, reduced under invitation to the highest institutional and business representation.

With this initiative, the Galician metal cluster starts a meeting point for the naval, maritime and port industry at an international level:

“Maritime Trends is a unique event that has come to stay. With it, we give answer to the need that existed to go out to the exterior with a congress of this type, to debate with other companies and international actors towards where this industry goes and in which segments and opportunities we must locate or to deepen”, emphasizes Enrique Mallón, General Secretary of Asime.

“Today we have gathered in Maritime Trends an exceptional list of speakers and companies attending from more than 20 different countries, we have put the Galician naval-maritime industry on the map worldwide. This sector represents more than 3% of the EU GDP, it is a driving force in our economy and we have the great challenge and at the same time the great opportunity to make it a key pillar in the post-covid-19 economic recovery”, declared Rafael Outeiral, Vice President of Asime, during the opening of the Congress.

Official opening

The official opening of the event was carried out by the following institutional authorities:

• David Regades, State Delegate in CZFV, “congratulated Asime for this initiative in an environment as complicated as the current one due to the challenge of covid-19. The intelligent ships, the talent and the knowledge of the sector are crucial to make the so-called blue economy a shared success”.
• Carmela Silva, President of the Pontevedra Provincial Council, highlighted: “crises are faced as opportunities and ideas are what change the world. There is no doubt that many ideas will come out of this forum and will be important to continue having a powerful sea sector, adapted to the new times, with quality, advanced and technological employment”.
• Francisco Conde, Vice-president and Regional Minister of Economy, Business and Innovation, stressed the importance of the naval industry: “We have to work together with the sector to promote the modernization of the naval industry and to identify leading projects in order to obtain European funds and to be equal with other countries like France, Germany and Holland that are promoting their naval sector. We have before us an opportunity to face new challenges through public-private collaboration”.
• Abel Caballero, Mayor of Vigo, wanted to remind the need for cooperation among all in the field of pandemic and congratulated Asime for this initiative that “shows the ability to get ahead of the times and the changes that are coming. “The sea has always been a source of economic action and, from public-private cooperation, we need to set up a transversal alliance for a greater and more efficient use of European funds”.

5 thematic sessions

Maritime Trends Summit hosted in 5 sessions discussions on current topics such as innovation, blue economy, the ship of the future, offshore wind energy or port logistics. To this end, speakers included experts from all key areas of the international shipbuilding and port industry: national and international shipyards such as Navantia, Barreras and Babcock; European organizations such as the European Commission or the European Association of Ports and Harbors; engineering companies such as Ghenova and CT; knowledge centers such as Fraunhofer, the Center for Innovation in Transportation (CENIT) or the Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving (IDAE) and institutional authorities and many other actors on the international scene.

Some of the key messages that were highlighted had an impact on the following aspects:

• Jorge Filgueira, Director of Astilleros Ría de Ferrol in Navantia, highlighted in his speech: “We need to specialize, digitize and promote products with added value. It is necessary to adapt the workforce to the new technologies and for that a strategic plan in dual and university training is needed. In addition, from Navantia we work intensely to be a sustainable shipyard, with a digitalized structure, that annuls the emissions and integrates in a more direct way the auxiliary industry more in the shipyards”.
• Douglas Prothero, Executive Chairman of Barreras, highlighted that “it is very relevant to be able to participate and manage the whole life cycle of the ship, besides it is necessary to invest in people and not only in equipment. From Barreras we are looking for collaboration with the government, which has to value the potential of the sector and support it. There are great opportunities in Galicia, we have to contribute with sustainability”.
• Manuel García, Greenalia’s CEO: “We have been studying the area in the Canary Islands for more than two years for the possible implantation of marine wind farms, attending to the requirements of all the actors, both environmental and industrial, and pending a regulation that can allow this implantation guaranteeing the minimum impact. Galicia, without a doubt, is also a site with potential for the implementation of this energy”.
• Ignacio Gutiérrez Santalo, Iberdrola’s Coordinator of Marine Wind Energy Development Spain, highlighted: “We have been working in Galicia for more than 60 years, we work hand in hand and we believe that it has a great resource and a great industrial fabric and 100% of the value chain. We can talk about the creation of around 5,000 jobs during the construction phase of the wind farm and Galicia can be a hub for all the projects in the North Sea and nearby areas.
• Manuel Antonio Martínez-Ruiz, Vice Admiral Director of Naval Construction of the Spanish Navy, said: “Our strategy for 2030 seeks to focus on sustainability, the move towards autonomous ships, energy efficiency and digitalization that will boost the shipbuilding of key vessels such as the F-110 frigates.

The event was closed by Marta Fernández Tapias, Delegate of the Xunta in Vigo, who congratulated Asime for the organization of this Congress that put Vigo in the center of the naval map at international level.

Gallery

The crisis caused by the covid-19 is completely changing our way of relating, in the personal and working world. For months now, the computer and the Internet have become our best allies when working, with working days increasingly adapted to teleworking and a hyper-connected environment in which contacts with our clients and colleagues have been strengthened in the digital world.

This has also had a great impact on the world of events, which have adapted their format more and more to the digital world. This has meant a challenge in many cases and the impossibility of networking around a cup of coffee, which is always a great plan, but also offers us possibilities that were previously unthinkable in a face-to-face event:

• Connect from wherever you want: freedom has imposed itself in the new formats, now you don’t need to travel to attend an event and that implies, above all, the possibility of attending events that before, due to budget or distance, were impossible for you to access.
• Optimize your time: we want you to connect to all our sessions and make the program of our Maritime Trends so irresistible for you that you cannot disconnect for a minute; BUT, if for some reason you have to finish an important task, answer a call or manage something else, you can enter and leave the room without bothering anyone, with total freedom.
• Connect with others in a different way: we are very used to relating professionally in the physical world, exchanging cards and coffee cups, but now you can also do it online through last generation platforms that, in many cases, give you the opportunity to make contact with people you wouldn’t have the chance to meet in the usual face-to-face events you attended. Take advantage and make relevant contacts for your company!

If you want to discover these experiences and other advantages of an online event, don’t miss MartitimeTrends next October 22nd, online! 😉

The naval industry and maritime transport have a consolidated trajectory, being a tractor activity in the economy of many countries. Today, it is a sector that faces many challenges related to decarbonization, the so-called blue economy and the innovation needed to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly globalized environment.

Increasingly, ships must respond to higher standards that minimize fuel consumption and tend to neutrality of emissions and decarbonization. The introduction of digitalization and technology is another challenge in an industry that often operates with long-established shipyards facing a change in their traditional way of operating.

Also, in recent years, the naval sector has developed relevant innovations in the field of ship design, batteries for ship electrification, new fuels, ecological ports and intelligent logistics that are promoting a more sustainable supply chain.

1. Decarbonization

Like all other industries, the naval and maritime transport must adapt their production models to the new climate requirements implemented in international agreements. For example, from January 2020 all ships must use very low-sulphur fuel, according to the standards of the International Maritime Organisation, which expects it to have major benefits for health and the environment worldwide, particularly for people living near ports and coastlines.

2. New propulsion systems

The diesel engine has for years been the reference system for maritime transport. However, due to environmental requirements, alternatives such as biofuels are emerging: biodiesel and bioethanol. Biodiesel comes from animal fats and vegetable oils or from the fermentation of renewable sources of sugar or starch, such as cassava, corn, sugar beet, sugar cane and wheat. Likewise, liquid natural gas is being used mainly in ferries and ships that make short trips (due to the lack of a global network of refueling points). On the other hand, the sector is also exploring more sustainable sources such as nuclear propulsion or the installation of renewable energies, although for example the installation of solar panels on board is still complex and can considerably affect the stability of the ship.

3. Electrification

As in the automotive industry, the electric boat points to a possible great revolution in the sector, although it is true that this industry is more complex in its application. However, in recent years there has already been a growth in the production and purchase of electric leisure and small fishing boats, and other larger vessels are already testing complete or at least hybrid solutions that represent a before and after for the sustainability of the maritime industry.

4. Unmanned vessels

Although the term unmanned is more commonly associated with airspace (drones), the naval industry is also moving towards the idea of ships that do not require a pilot. Based on technologies such as artificial intelligence, there are already ferry companies, for example, that are operating short to medium distance routes with an autopilot.

5. Innovation

As in any other sector, the need to renew and continue innovating for greater productivity and sustainability has become an indispensable requirement. Despite its long history, shipbuilding, advanced logistics in ports or transport of passengers and goods must follow the current path of constant innovation to preserve its competitiveness and keep abreast of developments and changes demanded by the global economy.

Asime, the Association of Metal Industries and Related Technologies of Galicia (Spain), has promoted the creation of Maritime Trends, a meeting that brings together the main players in the maritime industry at the international level to discuss the present and future of this sector.

The first edition of Maritime Trends will take placeon October 22^nd in a hybrid format,with a face-to-face event in Vigo (Spain) if the health situation of covid-19 allows it, and a predominantly online version through live streaming in which you will be able to interact with the speakers and attendees in the different sessions.

We will examine, among others, the challenges of decarbonization and the blue economy, the application of artificial intelligence in ship design, batteries for ship electrification, new fuels, ecological ports and intelligent logistics that are promoting a more sustainable supply chain.

Maritime Trends in brief

• 12+ international speakers
• 4 thematic sessions on technical areas
• Unlimited networking options
• 1 online platform where you can follow the sessions and interact with other participants

Don’t miss this unique and inspiring event – registration is open and free!