The International WorkBoat Show is again taking place at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, from Wednesday, November 28, to Friday, November 30.
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
This year's conference will be broken out across three days. The conference’s educational track includes breakout sessions in categories such as “Maintenance & Repair Day,” “Tugs and Coastal Towing,” “Shipyard Program,” “Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel Program,” and “Offshore Program.”
Each is custom designed to provide high-level education and networking opportunities in a comprehensive format. The cornerstone of the program will be intensive half-day sessions, which allow participants to dive deeper into the challenges and opportunities facing commercial mariners today.
Led by industry experts, the program will encourage critical thinking as attendees work through issues, ask questions, and receive actionable information that they can immediately put to work.
Hundreds of Exhibitors
On the show floor, exhibitors of potential interest to coatings contractors may include Belzona of Baton Rouge, Carboline Co., CertainTeed Corp., Desco Manufacturing Co., Dustless Blasting, Eagle Industries, FLIR Systems, Hempel Coatings, Ingersoll Rand, International Paint, Jotun Paints Inc., 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 annually 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.