The International WorkBoat Show is again taking place at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, from Wednesday, November 29 to Friday, December 1.

Official activities will take place Wednesday and Thursday, November 29 and 30, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time, and Friday, December 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The event is a trade-only conference and exhibition for commercial vessel owners, operators, and builders, as well as the vendors and suppliers that serve them.

Targeted Learning Opportunities

Separate educational tracks will take place throughout the week to spotlight specific market segments, including “Shipyard,” “Inland/Passenger Vessel,” and “Offshore.” Each represents an intensive half-day program with several individual speaker-led sessions, allowing participants to dive deeper into the challenges and opportunities facing commercial mariners today.

This year, the show will also introduce a new Maintenance & Repair Day on Wednesday, November 29.

Led by industry experts, all programs will encourage critical thinking as attendees work through issues, ask questions, and receive actionable information that they can immediately put to work.

Exhibitors of Potential Interest

On the exhibition side, exhibitors of potential interest to coatings contractors could include Belzona of Baton Rouge, Carboline Company, Desco Manufacturing Co., Dex-O-Text Marine, Dustless Blasting, Eagle Industries, Hempel Coatings, Ingersoll Rand, International Marine and Industrial Applicators, International Paint, International Ship Repair, Mascoat, MONTI Tools, NACE International, PPG Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams, Sika Corp. Specialty Products Inc., Sponge-Jet, TEMP-COAT, VitaFlex, and Wooster Products.

Of last year’s attendees, 92 percent discovered new products or vendors at the show, while 70 percent planned to make a purchase as a result of attending, according to event organizers.

In all, about 15,000 members of the commercial marine industry are expected to attend. Held every year in New Orleans, the show attracts attendees from around the world who come together to network, learn, spot new industry trends, and uncover innovative products and solutions.