The International Far Eastern Maritime Show,
held from 26 to 28 July on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University on
Russky Island, came to a close in Vladivostok. More than 1000 people from
Russia and countries of the Asia-Pacific region took part in preparing and
carrying out the event. Representatives of 21 countries were involved in the
Show’s business and cultural programmes and outdoor events. IFEMS 2018 was
organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
IFEMS 2018 was initiated by the head of Primorye Territory, Andrei Tarasenko, and was operated by the
Roscongress Foundation.
IFEMS 2018 participants discussed relevant
issues such as the development of shipbuilding, infrastructure, and logistics.
A separate block of events was devoted to instruments of industry regulation.
Guests of the Show took part in live discussions about the use of digital
technologies, ship tracking, and blockchain. More than 15 business events took
place at the International Far Eastern Maritime Show.
“No other country in the world has as much potential in the shipbuilding
industry as Russia. The first maritime show in Vladivostok put on full display
the potential and opportunities for domestic civil shipbuilding and ship
repair, navigation, and port infrastructure. This event literally ‘dropped
anchor’ in the Far East, a fact confirmed by the large number of meetings, negotiations,
and the first agreements concluded at IFEMS 2018. I am confident that in the
future, industry experts will come to Vladivostok to participate in the Show on
a regular basis,” adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Anton
Kobyakov said.
IFEMS 2018 participants focused on issues
related to the work of the Zvezda shipbuilding dockyard, the largest enterprise
of its kind in Russia, under construction in the city of Bolshoy Kamen. The
plant will be able to build and service the largest ships in the country,
including large-capacity vessels, in the nearest future, which will make it
possible for Russia to enter the international market and compete with Asian
and European shipbuilding corporations.
“The International Far Eastern Maritime Show is
of great importance to the development of the domestic shipbuilding cluster and
related industries in the Russian Far East. The choice of Vladivostok as a
venue for the event opens up opportunities for cooperation and integration with
partners from the Asia-Pacific region, who have shown a marked interest in
innovations in Russian shipbuilding and technologies in ocean development and
the development of the Arctic,” Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov emphasized.
“The International Far Eastern Maritime Show is
an event which proves once again that Russia is a major player in the global
shipbuilding industry. I am convinced that the Show will have a positive impact on the development
on the Russian Far East as a whole, as well as being an excellent platform for
developing business ties,” Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian
Federation Oleg Ryazantsev said.
The National Technological Initiative MariNet
Conference and an NTI MariNet Far Eastern Subgroup Open Session were held at
the International Far Eastern Maritime Show. Participants had the unique
opportunity to discuss the latest technologies employed in shipbuilding,
including robotic, laser, and neural network technologies.
Special attention was paid to the shipbuilding industry labour pool. Several important problems exist in this area: a general lack of personnel, a shortage of specialists in remote regions of the country and small towns, a discrepancy between training programmes and the requirements of potential employers. In this regard, the participants discussed breakthrough civil technologies and personnel capable of developing these technologies. In addition, throughout the Salon, the main part of the youth business program was held at the “Ot Vinta” stand, where representatives of specialized maritime educational institutions, scientific laboratories, academic circles and opinion leaders met, and a presentation of young engineers' projects was held.
In addition to the business programme, Show participants
also had the opportunity to visit the exhibition programme: in an area of 1200
square meters, leading companies such as United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC,
Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Centre JSC, Admiralty Shipyards JSC,
Baltiysky Zavod JSC, A.M. Gorky Zelenodolsky Zavod JSC, Eastern Shipyard JSC,
Era JSC, Zvezda Shipbuilding Company LLC, and Armalit JSC among others.
A diverse cultural programme was prepared for residents and guests of Vladivostok and Primorye Territory. Eight ships and vessels were opened to the public: a Grachonok series cruiser, the survey vessel Victor Faleev, the corvette Perfect, the training sailboats Pallada and Nadezhda, an ice class tanker RN Sakhalin, a Pacifico Adventure 72 cruiser, and the Pacifico Cruise 120 catamaran built at the shipyards in Primorye. Ships and vessels participating in the International Far Eastern Maritime Show were moored to the piers of the Pacific Fleet.
The International Far Eastern Maritime Show and
its participants proved that Russia is a recognized leader in international
shipbuilding. The fact that an industry event of this caliber has been held
here is a momentous occasion for the whole Asia-Pacific region and has laid the
foundation for the development of the Russian Far East as a centre for the
attraction of high technologies and professional personnel.
The next major event in Vladivostok will be
held from 11 to 13 September. On the campus site of the Far Eastern Federal
University on the Russian Island will be the IV Eastern Economic Forum.
The official website of the Forum: www.forumvostok.ru.