A 44-year Maritime Industry Tradition – 2024 International WorkBoat Show, 11/12 – 11/14

A 44-year Maritime Industry Tradition – 2024 International WorkBoat Show, 11/12 – 11/14

Written by the National Working Waterfront Network

Supporting the Marine Industry of Working Waterfronts

Working waterfronts, small and large, support multiple water-dependent uses and coastal communities. However, in many regions, they are going through transitions as traditional water-dependent operations have decreased and are in competition with other non-water dependent land-use developments.  

Commercial fishing, transportation, marine trade, shipbuilding and repair, are just a few of the essential activities that occur along the working waterfront. The maritime industry is crucial to the national economy and both global and domestic trade operations. This industry is highlighted and showcased every year at The International WorkBoat Show, a trade-only conference, and exposition for Commercial Vessel Owners, Operators, and Builders, as well as the Vendors and Suppliers that serve them. The conference is significant for helping to promote and advance the maritime industry and address current and future challenges. It is an exciting opportunity for participants to network, discover new products, learn about and discuss the evolving issues that are affecting the marine trades industry, and network.  

What to Expect at This Year’s International WorkBoat Show

This year’s show will include oral presentations, panel discussions, and hands-on demonstrations. Presentations and discussions will focus on topics such as military and defense, electrification, shipyards and shipbuilding, autonomous vessels, offshore wind, and green technology, among many more. This year, the WorkBoat Show will be hosting two classrooms offering education on key topics (boatbuilding, repair, drydocking, electric systems and components, safety and survival).  

Keynote speakers from Offshore Marine Service Association, Hudson Institute and Navy League Center for Maritime Strategy, and the Shipbuilders Council of America will discuss the current landscape, including challenges and opportunities, of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (the Jones Act), a federal statute intended to support the development and maintenance of American merchant marine.  

New to this year’s WorkBoat Show is the inaugural Women in Maritime Luncheon, a panel discussion with female industry leaders in the maritime industry, and an opportunity for women professionals to network and share experiences. Alongside this year’s WorkBoat show, the Underwater Intervention is making a return. A collaboration with the Association of Diving Contractors International, and the ROV Committee of the Marine Technology Society, this innovative exhibit and conference offers a program covering challenges, innovative technologies, and solutions to issues affecting the subsea industry.  

To learn more, and register, visit their website using one of the helpful links below:

Register for the WorkBoat Show 

WorkBoat Show Schedule at a Glance 

Classroom – Maritime Innovations at Workboat 

Become an Exhibitor 

Confirmed Exhibitor List