The countdown to next week’s Ocean Business 2023 is on!

With more than 300 manufacturers and service providers booked for the sold-out exhibition, this year’s edition of the global technology and science show for the marine sector is set to attract record crowds.

On day one, a line-up of industry leaders will share their insights during a free to attend conference, which will look at how the ocean science community is meeting challenges in the blue economy.

And a packed schedule of networking and social events – from the Wine Trail to the International B2B Matchmaking sessions – will ensure show-goers can catch up around the clock.

The exhibition, which runs from April 18-20 at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, is open to all visitors for free by registering online at www.oceanbusiness.com.

Stakeholders have described Ocean Business as a ‘must attend’ event on the international ocean technology calendar, offering invaluable access to ground-breaking industry developments.

Visitors will have the chance to observe cutting edge technology close up and meet the top innovators in the sector, with 130-plus hours of demonstrations on the dockside, on board vessels, in a purpose built test tank and in the classroom in this year’s Training and Demonstration programme.

A major draw will be the range of autonomous vehicles, with ROVs, USVs and AUVs on display from Singapore, the US, Norway, Spain, Ireland and the UK.

Also on the dockside - which will be fitted with a 33m floating pontoon to accommodate the mobilisation of autonomous vehicles - Maritime Robotics will stage demonstrations of its Otter Pro, with the Norbit, Teledyne Marine and Kongsberg multibeam systems, the ultimate in unmanned survey platforms.

Other highlights, inside and outside the exhibition halls, include updates from uncrewed surface vessel specialist XOcean, advances in AUV technology from Singapore’s BeeX, Teledyne’s marine interconnect technology advancements, and EdgeTech’s 3D sub-seabed imaging sonar, eBOSS.

Nortek’s experts, meanwhile, will demonstrate their acoustic underwater sensors and explain how to achieve quality current measurements from a moving vessel.

Bringing together the best in transformational ocean technology from the Netherlands, the Dutch Ocean Group’s pavilion will feature WaveGuide wave radar from Radac, monitoring solutions from Tarka-Systems, N-Sea’s subsea infrastructures for the oil, gas and renewable sectors, and much more.

And, for the first time, the world’s only conference dedicated to marine electromagnetics – MARELEC - will run alongside Ocean Business. Delegates will hear from eminent scientists, engineers and academics of progress made in the past four years in the fields of geophysics, geotechnical engineering, oceanography and naval warfare.

For students, Ocean Careers, also running for three days, will provide advice on opportunities within the ocean technology, marine science and offshore sectors.

Cheri Arvonio, Event Director at show organiser Diversified Communications, said: ‘With just days to go, excitement is building among the Ocean Business team for a truly memorable show.

‘This year’s exhibition will showcase the most up-to-the-minute technology in today’s ocean space, as well as offering tantalising glimpses of tomorrow’s scientific and engineering breakthroughs.

‘We’re looking forward to welcoming exhibitors and visitors from across the globe for three days of serious business, lively discussions, meetings with new contacts, and reunions with Ocean Business regulars. See you all next week!’