Turkish shipbuilders to mount Seatrade pavilion

Led by the influential Turkish Shipbuilders Association, the pavilion will line up alongside other industry group initiatives from India, Iran and Pakistan.

"Following talks with relevant organisations, we are also highly confident of attracting a delegation of Turkish ship owners to Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2004," said Chris Hayman, Managing Director, Seatrade.

"Turkey has huge relevance in today's maritime industries as it is increasingly becoming an international cruise destination and has a huge geographic role to play in the supply route for oil and natural gas coming from the Caspian and Russia to world markets, often through the Bosphorous."

Energy Demand and Tanker Transportation will be the subject of a dedicated session at the Seatrade Middle East Maritime conference, which runs from December 6-8.

"This session, which is sponsored by British Airways, will be set against a background of strong demand for oil and petroleum products, the acceleration of LNG exports and burgeoning chemicals trade," said Hayman. "Given this, the session will look at the likely scale and future development of regional investment in energy transportation in the Middle East and Iran."

The Seatrade Middle East Maritime exhibition, which will run alongside the conference, is almost 80% sold out with five months still to go before the event.

"We now have contracted exhibitors from 19 countries and anticipate the show will be three times the size of the 2003 event," said Hayman.

Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2004 is being held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister. Organisations supporting the event include Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dubai Shipping Agents Association; National Association of Freight Logistics UAE Branch; Indian National Shipowners' Association; The Nautical Institute UAE Branch; and the UAE National Ship Suppliers' Association.

The event is principally sponsored by Dubai Maritime City; Dubai Ports Authority; the Government of Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing; Gulf Energy Maritime PJSC (GEM); and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).

Other sponsors include Aalborg Industries A/S (Dubai branch); Aqua Group, Arabian Adventures; British Airways; Castrol Marine; Clyde & Co; Dubai Metals & Commodities Centre; HSBC; Instone International; Lloyd's Register; Maritime London; Net Cruises; Nico International; Norton Rose; Scan-Trans Chartering LLC and Sharaf Shipping Agency LLC.