Europort ‘Maritime Odyssey’

In line with the theme for 2011 which is ‘Advanced technology, Your access to the future’, the exhibition opened with an interactive film to inspire the audience to help shape the future themselves.

The future is of course impossible to predict in some ways, but nonetheless, it is clear that in the near future the maritime industry will be focusing on three key aspects – innovation, durability and smart technology.

Bernard Meyer, Chairman of the Community of European Shipyards Association (CESA) said: “Europe has a fantastic basis to build success. Excellent companies, creative staff, the best education and research institutes. But we must make sure we maintain sufficient critical mass. We must continue to invest in training and teach our youngsters the fascination of shipbuilding. Europe, policy maker as much as the industry itself, has to develop concepts and take action to ensure we can sustain our business, prosperity and jobs. Not with subsidies but by joining forces to shape a joint future”.