SMM Opens Its Doors in Hamburg

The biennial international maritime trade show SMM, which is taking place in Hamburg, Germany, has officially opened its doors this morning.

The event has been kicked off with a press conference, focusing on the IMO Sulphur Cap 2020 and the industry’s commitment to the IMO goal to halve Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shipping by 2050.

Speaking on the agreement of the IMO member states to halve the industry’s GHG footprint, Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), commended the effort, adding that a more substantial discussion on concrete actions to be taken on the ambitious commitments of the industry is set to take place.

As explained, there are major technical challenges for the industry to halve emissions by 2050, which would require considerable efforts and ingenuity of the engineers and ship designers to provide the industry with environmentally-friendly technological solutions.

“We cannot change the target and therefore we have to undertake all the necessary efforts to achieve the goal,” he added.

Considerable progress has already been made in reducing the global GHG footprint from shipping, according to Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

“There are a lot of projects underway and we are confident that engineers will come up with the technology to develop zero-emissions solutions. I’m very confident and optimistic, because the incentives are there,” he said.

“We need clarity and predictability,” Frank Starke, CEO of Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co KG, said, noting that motivation and enforcement are key to making that possible. ” We need to make sure we have clear boundary conditions.”

The fair, being held September 4 – 7, 2018 at the Hamburg Messe und Congress (HMC), will gather 2,289 exhibitors and around 50,000 visitors from more than 124 countries over the four days.

For the first time the event features a special exhibition on 3D-printing for the maritime industry, as well as a new theme route for the Cruise & Ferry segment.

Under the motto of “Trends in SMMart Shipping”, the fair has a comprehensive conference programme, with Smart Shipping and Industry 4.0 taking center stage.

Novelties at the event will include 3D printing, Cruise & Ferry Route, future-looking topics, cybersecurity, job exchange, new countries and ship-owning companies and the TradeWinds Shipowners Forum.

World Maritime News Staff; Image by WMN