Fincantieri Joins Industry Support for Cruise + Ferry Revamp

Fincantieri shipyard group has been confirmed as an event partner for Cruise + Ferry 2007 in London this April, joining some of the industry's biggest names for a three-day trade show and the most comprehensive conference program in the event's history. The company will occupy a custom-built stand manned by senior purchasers and specifiers from its eight yards. Giants of the industry will also be represented in the line-up of conference speakers, which includes former P&O Group chairman Lord Sterling and numerous shipping line chiefs as well as UK minister of state for transport Dr Stephen Ladyman, who is making the keynote opening address. Taking place at ExCeL London from April 24-26, the 12th biennial event marks a total revamp of the only exhibition and conference forum dedicated to passenger ship technology and operations. Exhibition attractions include national pavilions for Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden and a new interiors zone where exhibitors will include one of the first such participants from China, Horizon Furniture.

Cruise + Ferry 2007 will also be the launch pad for a string of new Products and services. The Mettle group - a consortium of seven marine technology specialists supported by the European Commission - is demonstrating the sea routing system Wings, which integrates weather data with ship characteristics to optimise passenger comfort and fuel consumption. On a different tack, the newly-formed Botnia Gulf Ports group of six ports in Finland and Sweden is promoting the 'gateway to Lapland' as a cruise destination by hosting a reception at the ports and destinations conference. This looks at itinerary planning, port operations and ground services in northern Europe and is among no less than seven conferences taking place on April 25-26.

These will be preceded on April 24 by novel 'chat show' sessions on the European cruise and ferry industries, with interviews conducted by Tom Allan, former chairman of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee. The cruise interviews take place in the morning and will include David Dingle, MD of Carnival UK; Nigel Lingard, marketing director at Fred. Olsen; Sebastian Ahrens, MD of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises; Susan Hooper, senior VP at Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruises; Charles Arkinstall, executive VP of technical and maritime affairs at P&O Princess Cruises; and Thomas Weigend, head of design at Meyer Werft. Attention turns to the ferry sector in the afternoon with interviewees including Lord Sterling, P&O Ferries CEO Helen Deeble, Color Line newbuilding director Rolf Kjaer, Fincantieri's Georgio Arena and Superfast Ferries head Alexander Panagopulos.