Workboats to the fore at Seawork
Tom Keeling, MIMarEST, CMarEng, shares his thoughts on this year’s Seawork – Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine and workboat exhibition.
Seawork, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year in June, attracts exhibitors and attendees from around the world. “[Unlike] the more glamourous boat shows with superyachts, it’s focused on workboats, which are often small,” says Keeling. For the Small Ships Special Interest Group (SS SIG) of which Keeling is Chair, which covers all vessels, including workboats, the event is also the perfect location for their AGM.
“We meet to discuss pending issues, usually revisions to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards and regulatory concerns. This year, we also talked about doing more about mental health issues and engaging with the new Seafarer Mental Health and Wellbeing SIG,” says Keeling.
While those working in the small ships sector are less likely to spend months at sea than their large-ship seafaring colleagues, Keeling notes that the sector does see many people working long hours in isolation.
“We’re also a very male sector, and men aren’t very good at dealing with mental health problems, it seems,” comments Keeling. That feeling is certainly well-founded. Several studies have found that men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues than women and are more at risk of taking their own lives.
A workboat for every occasion
Outside of the AGM, Small Ship SIG members also had the opportunity to explore many different aspects of workboats during the three-day event.
“There are talks and presentations throughout the show, and there’s a big outdoor area with boats and floating pontoons, so you can go and look around on the boats,” Keeling says. “It’s a diverse display – the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Royal Navy, army boats, patrol boats, safety boats, small passenger boats, workboats. It’s a really cool setting and showcases how much workboat use is evolving.”
Among the exhibits that caught Keeling’s eye was: “A power boat with a drop-down door and a little quad bike on the front, so you could drive up to your little island, drop your front down and ride straight off on your quad to go tend to your sheep on [a] remote island.” Another interesting vessel came in the form of a virtually indestructible boat from Holland. “They had a sledgehammer and were inviting people to get on and try and smash it up,” Keeling laughs.
“There was also floating, mobile platform scaffolding that you can build wherever you need it, which is useful for repair work.”
Emerging technologies
One element that particularly stood out at this year's show was emerging technologies. Alongside AI, robotics, and uncrewed surface vehicles were the thorny issues of alternative fuels.
“That’s a challenge for the small ships sector because we don’t have much room on boats to put the equipment needed for environmentally friendly fuels,” states Keeling. Nevertheless, as several talks and exhibitions highlighted, that challenge is being embraced.
“We're seeing some really good advances with electric propulsion in small boats, and we've got great developments in decarbonisation like solar and hydrogen fuels.”
Building relationships
With over 7,500 visitors from 45 countries, Seawork isn’t just a place for learning, it’s a place for building relationships.
“You get to go there in person and meet all sorts of people,” concludes Keeling. Moreover, these events offer a chance to: “Say hello to the people that you might have spent some time the rest of the year talking to by email or video calls.
Even before the day really starts, there are people in small groups sitting around tables having a coffee doing business.”
Keeling also notes that many organisations and volunteer groups, including IMarEST, have increased presence through their booths.
Join the Small Ships Special Interest Group to talk more about workboats and other vessels.
Image: A barge being pulled along by a workboat on the River Thames; credit: Shutterstock.
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