2013 Seatrade Europe Cruise & River Cruise Convention

Seatrade Europe offers industry experts the best possible environment for sharing ideas and taking the first steps towards implementing them," says Bernd Aufderheide, Chairman of the Board of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.

Delegates heard from CLIA Europe chairman Manfredi Lefebvre speaking about the cruise industry’s 'crucial anti-cyclical role during economic downturn' and, he added, 'This is particularly true for the economic impact of cruising for the European economy.'

Manfredi singled out Germany as being on the verge of 'an unprecedented cruise tourism boom over the next decade.' It is the second largest source market in Europe, with 1.5m passengers in 2012 representing 22.5% of the continent's total.

Germany is still the second largest European market in terms of total direct spending, with almost €1.5bn being spent was in German shipyards on newbuilds and repairs in 2012. The German market still leads in terms of passengers taking river cruises, with figures of 436,600 for 2012.

Also speaking at the opening session at Seatrade Europe was CLIA president and ceo Christine Duffy, who used two words to define the cruise industry in Europe: growth and opportunity. She said CLIA is putting the full force of its resources to work to boost the profile of the cruise industry in this critical market.

Following the launch of CLIA Europe in April, national councils will be formed in Spain and Italy 'very soon,' Duffy remarked, plus there are plans to bring Belgium and Luxembourg, France and the Netherlands into the CLIA network. Later this year or in early 2014 CLIA is looking closely at expanding into Greece.

'We appear to be out of the tough times of recession with public debt looking like it is under control and inflation holding steady at 1.6%,' said Pierfrancesco Vago, ceo of MSC Cruises. Spain and Italy, which recorded minus growth last year, 'are coming back and there has been steady growth in many of the smaller European source markets, such as Turkey, Russia and East European countries.'

Although the pattern of growth across Europe is uneven, cruising's low penetration levels offer the 'biggest opportunity for growth,' said Dominic Paul, billed as vp and group md Europe, Middle East and Africa for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity and Azamara and md RCL Cruises Ltd.

Paul was very confident about the future saying, 'We are far from saturated in Europe'. He added, 'The knowledge of what a cruise offers is still very limited, and until we get better at explaining cruising and people understand it better we have great potential.'

Paul  continued the positive outlook and said, 'Five out of the top 10 tourist outbound markets are in Europe, yet cruising has a low penetration so the long-term potential is significant.' Although Royal Caribbean will have three fewer ships in Europe in 2014 compared to 2012, 'we still have 16 vessels sailing in these waters as we realise the growth potential it holds,' Paul said.

Richard Vogel, ceo of TUI Cruises, spoke of the changing face of the German market, comparing figures in 1996 where 20,000 Germans cruised, two thirds of which on international brands; to 2012 with 1.5m Germans cruising with national brands accounting for two-thirds of the market.

'I believe Germany will be closer to the UK in 2013 and with four more newbuilds arriving in the next three years (two apiece for TUI and AIDA) generating an additional 12,000 lower berths, it will be the leading source market in Europe by 2014/15,' said Vogel.

Another discussion focussed on the European shipyards, and AIDA president Michael Ungerer reminded that of the 20 new ships under construction, 18 are being built by European yards and the two under construction in Asia [for AIDA] have European suppliers and sub-suppliers.

'The know-how is here in Europe, and although the ordering pattern will likely be half a dozen newbuilds a year, they will large vessels and feature energy-saving efficiencies and innovation yet individual to meet brands' special requirements so the sector here has tremendous growth opportunities,' Ungerer said.

Following the opening session there was an exhibition tour with key cruise line executives including Pierfrancesco Vago, Michael Ungerer, Helge Grammerstorf, national director, CLIA Germany, and John Tercek, vp new business development at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, plus representatives from CLIA Europe and local media.

There are still interesting panels running:

The "Care Awareness Training Session" is an entirely new feature at Seatrade Europe. Put together in a collaborative effort of Cunard Line, Costa Crociere, Ibero Cruceros and P&O Cruises with Higher Resources, this seminar on emergency support is aimed specifically at port agents and ground services representatives who play an essential role in providing support to guests and crew in emergencies and in the aftermath of a crisis. Carnival UK CEO David Dingle explains the idea: "Our Care programme has helped hundreds of passengers and crew in the UK, both on board and at our ports of call. I strongly recommend attendance at this session." The training programme is based on the "Human Services Response" concept developed by Dr. Carolyn V. Coarsey using her research and lessons learned in 27 years of working with survivors. This interactive session includes various role-plays, group discussions and video interviews of cruise line accident survivors.

About Seatrade Europe

Seatrade Europe, the leading trade event of the European cruise and rivercruise industry, will be held at Hamburg, Germany's famous seaport on the Elbe river, from 24 to 26 September 2013. Industry decision-makers and professionals will meet to exchange ideas, set new trends and expand their business networks. More than 250 exhibitors from 50 different nations will showcase their most recent innovations to a broad industry audience at the Hamburg Messe fair site. Exhibitors include shipyards and ship chandlers as well as classification societies, cruise ports. From small-scale on-board hospitals to huge restaurant kitchens, from waste disposal to entertainment equipment, operations on board a cruiseship are highly complex, requiring perfect logistics. At the two-day conference held in parallel with the exhibition, high-level experts will discuss current industry topics.

Political and legal issues in Africa weigh on Mid East investor appetite

Wednesday 25 September 2013. African frontier markets in focus at Middle East Work Boats & Offshore Marine 2013 as US$132 trillion of untapped reserves presents risk/reward for Gulf investors

Middle East Work Boats & Offshore Marine 2013 - the region’s leading event for workboat operators, builders and equipment suppliers – will highlight investment opportunities in Africa during its biannual exhibition and conference which takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from the 30th September to 2nd October 2013.

The day one special Regional Power Hour session on ‘Operational Excellence in Africa – Getting it Right’, will look at the pros and cons of the continent’s investment potential from the impact of local content legislation and shortages of skilled labour, to the financial implications of non-compliance and all-pervasive security risks for both personnel and commercial viability.

“According to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) June 2013 ‘Africa Oil & Gas Review’ Africa currently supplies around 12% of the world’s oil, and sits on an estimated US$132 trillion of untapped reserves, as well as 7% of global natural gas reserves,” said Chris Hayman, Chairman, Seatrade, organiser of the newly rebranded Middle East Workboats & Offshore Marine 2013.

“From Ghana to Sierra Leone, foreign direct investment interest looking to access the frontier markets of Africa must consider a raft of issues from political uncertainties to the shifting legal landscape,” he added.

Chaired by Knut Mathiassen, Regional Head - Shipping Finance - Middle East & Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, a panel of experienced African businessmen, regulators, operators, financiers and investors will discuss these and other key concerns, with the speaker line-up including Ify Anazonwu-Akerele, Director General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping; Ian Hugo, Managing Director Nigeria, Smit Lamnalco; Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board; Greg Ogbeifun, Chairman and CEO, Starzs Investments Company Limited; and Tim Stear, Global Head of Maritime Security, Control Risks.

PwC also puts potential industry investment through foreign direct interest for the continent at US$30 billion per annum with equity the preferred option due to its relative accessibility, and primarily targeting the Exploration & Production (E&P) sector.

The PwC report flags the trend for direct investment in Africa by African-based companies as local businesses and foreign national oil companies expand their portfolios and risk across the region, creating a new breed of independents presence alongside established multinationals.

A number of Middle East oil companies are already seizing frontier market opportunities with Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) and Total SE entering into an agreement earlier this year that would give QPI a 15% share capital increase in Total E&P Congo as part of long term plans to expand its presence in Africa.

“The offshore support vessel market is also proving attractive to new local entrants attracted by the new Local Content Act requirements, investing in suitable vessels for deeper water and reaping the benefits of rapid growth in West Africa” said Knut Mathiassen, Regional Head - Shipping Finance - Middle East & Africa, Standard Chartered Bank.

In its World Deepwater Market Forecast 2013-17, research firm Douglas-Westwood is forecasting global capital expenditure of more than US$223 billon, twice the spend of the previous five years, with long-term opportunity in Africa largely concentrated in Angola, Ghana and Nigeria.

This year’s event line-up also includes the inaugural Global Workboats Technology Forum, in strategic partnership with Saudi Aramco, on 1st October during which international experts will present a series of technical papers on industry agenda-leading topics, with Dynamic Positioning (DP) capability and systems development dominating the final day’s debate on 2nd October.

Building on the success of the 2011 edition, which welcomed more than 2,800 participants, with a 23% increase in total show floor space, Middle East Work Boats & Offshore Marine 2013 has already signed up over 165 exhibitors for this year’s event which will offer business and social networking both in the conference sessions and on the exhibition floor.

For more information and event updates, go to middleeastworkboats.com.
 

About Seatrade

Established over 40 years ago, Seatrade is a leader in maritime and cruise publications, conferences and exhibitions, training, awards and other special projects. Regular events include international trade exhibitions and conferences across all maritime sectors, management training courses for shipping professionals, training seminars for travel agents and maritime award schemes, including the prestigious Seatrade Awards held at the Guildhall in London. Seatrade publications include magazines, supplements and yearbooks, while daily maritime news is provided online by seatrade-global.com and seatrade-insider.com

For further information: Emma Howell, Head of Marketing, Middle East, Seatrade. Tel: +44 1206 545121; Email: ehowell@seatrade-global.com