Singapore will play host to a major new maritime event, Sea Asia, in April 2007, Chairman of Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) Teo Siong Seng announced at a press conference on Wednesday.

Comprising conference and exhibition, Sea Asia 2007 will cover multiple maritime sectors including ship-operation and management,ship-building, ship technology, ship finance, marine insurance as well as maritime law. Describing Asia as a powerful force in world shipping,

Christopher Hayman, Managing Director of Seatrade, co-organizer to SMF, pointed out that the first objective of the event is to provide a public platform for the projection of Asian views.

Asia has seen rapid growth of maritime industry in recent years with shipowners and managers in the region accounting for at least 40 percent of the world's shipping tonnage. Twelve of the top 20 container lines as well as seven of the top 10 container ports worldwide are located in the region.

Hayman stressed that Asian shipowners should make their voice on shipping matters, with decision making in particular, louder and clearer in the international maritime community, which is currently dominated by northern European countries.

The organizers will invite delegations from maritime centers around the world to Singapore in 2007, aiming to make Sea Asia, a biennial event, a genuine international gathering of industry professionals.

"Sea Asia's unique offering is that the event will be Asian in character and perspective, yet global in reach," said Teo, echoing the theme of the inaugural maritime show "New Maritime Horizons".

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Seatrade has been with the industry for more than 30 years as a publisher and organizer of maritime-related activities such as conferences, exhibitions, training courses and trade fairs.

Source: Xinhua