WorkBoat Maintenance & Repair Conference and Expo to Return to New Orleans in 2016

    NEW ORLEANS, LA, May 22, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The inaugural WorkBoat Maintenance & Repair Conference and Expo, held in New Orleans April 14-16, was a well-received, quality event that focused exclusively on the maintenance and repair of commercial vessels.

"It was an information-packed three-day conference and expo that exceeded our goals and exceeded the expectations of most exhibitors and attendees," said Denielle Christensen, event director for Diversified Communications, the conference and expo producer. "The event attracted more than 1,800 fleet managers, port captains, engineers and other vessel-related personnel. Eighty percent of the exhibitors have already reserved space for next year's show." The New Orleans Convention and Visitor Bureau estimated the event had an economic impact of more than $5 million for the city.

Christensen said that next year's Maintenance & Repair Expo will be held in New Orleans from April 12-14, 2016, in Hall F of the Morial Convention Center.

"Fleet owners and operators have to stay on top of expanding technology to help reduce costs, increase reliability, increase fleet longevity, improve efficiency and ensure regulatory compliance. That's why this show is important to the industry," said Chris Breaux, president, Harvey Canal Industrial Association, who exhibited at the inaugural event.

John Mangano of International Paint said the event "got us out in front of our maintenance and repair customers to tell them what's new and it gave us an opportunity to see these customers all in one place."

The 2015 conference and expo featured keynote addresses by Capt. Nick Sloane, salvage master for the wreck removal of the cruise ship Costa Concordia, and legendary college football coach Terry Bowden, plus an in-depth conference program and a nearly sold out exhibit floor featuring 200 booths that showcased the latest products and services.

"This show is important to the maintenance and repair industry because it helps give a lot of confidence to the underwriters who are spending the money and the ship owners," Capt. Sloane said. "This show clearly demonstrates that when a major casualty does happen, we have the industry that can support them."

Christiansen said the Conference program with its three dynamic and informative tracts was particularly well received.

"Nationally, the repair, refit and maintenance side comprises a big chunk of the work done in the shipyard industry. There are huge issues around corrosion, rework, and new technologies. This show provided solutions for people who handle repair and maintenance," said Ann Avary, Skagit Valley College and Washington State Maritime.

"We work in a lot of different markets, but the marine shipyard business is becoming a very large segment for us," said Brandon Willis, Dryco Group, "so it's important for Dryco to stay in front of all of the workboat companies and ports. This has been a great show to meet new customers as well as keep those relationships going with our current customers."

Christiansen added that Diversified created the new show at the "request of our customers and the response was overwhelmingly positive."

For more information, visit www.WorkBoatMaintenanceandRepair.com.

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