Review
The 30th edition of SMM in a nutshell
From 6 – 9 September 2022, SMM once again served as the world’s #1 trade fair for the maritime industry and delivered impressively on its mission to support it in driving the maritime transition. It was four days full of innovations on the exhibition floor and programme highlights at the conferences that sparked unanimous enthusiasm among all participants.
To bring even more attention to pathbreaking solutions, SMM established new presentation formats like the transition stages, introduced the SMM Maritime Start-up Award, and helped to initiate one or the other connection by inviting to celebrate its 30th edition at "Wine o' clock" and other meeting and networking occasions.
A survey among exhibitors and visitors of SMM revealed highest contentment about the event’s performance as the maritime industry’s most important platform for presenting innovations and driving business as well as discussing the industry’s big topics and making contacts with established and upcoming players.
Watch the video to get a brief impression of SMM 2022 and how it felt to finally meet again live and in person after the pandemic.
You couldn't attend SMM 2022 live?
Or were you on site and didn't make it to all programme points? No problem, we have recorded the various expert conference sessions and the programme at the Transition Stages as well as the official opening ceremony.
Watch the supporting programme on demand – we wish you good entertainment!
Numbers
Facts & Figures
the #1 meeting place for the maritime industry
The participants
- 40,000
participants
- 2,000
exhibiting companies
- 100
nations
- 90%
referral rate among the exhibitors
- 79%
decision-makers among the visitors
The venue
- 90,000
sq.m exhibition space
- 11
exhibition halls
The conferences & speakers
- 5
conferences during 5 days
- 80
international speakers at the conferences
- 160
speakers on 3 dedicated Transition Stages
The start-ups
- 16
Start-up pitches
- 18
Start-up companies
The exhibitors’ feedback*
bewertung der Aussteller 2
Planned presence at SMM 2024 – 83% of the exhibitors declared their definitive or probable participation at SMM 2024.
The marketplace for commercial success – 65% of the exhibitors declared themselves very satisfied to satisfied with their business success at SMM 2022.
Engaging peers and target groups – 66% of the exhibitors declared that they achieved to meet all or at least the greatest part of their target groups at SMM 2022.
Indispensable event
Indispensable event – 88% of the exhibitors rated SMM 2022 either very good or good in an overall assessment of the event.
rated SMM either very good or good
The visitors’ feedback*
Unanimous praise
94% of the visitors rated SMM 2022 either very good or good in an overall assessment of the event.
rated SMM either very good or good
Bewertung der Besucher Liste
Return intent at an all-time high - 86% of the visitors declared their definitive or probable participation at SMM 2024.
High referral rate - 93% of the visitors will certainly or probably recommend SMM.
World-leading event - 97% of the visitors regard SMM as the most important maritime industry fair.
* Note: all percentages are taken from an independent trade fair survey at SMM 2022.
Kitack Lim, Secretary General, International Maritime Organisation IMO
Helge H. Grammerstorf, National Director, CLIA
Bernd Aufderheide, CEO, Hamburg Messe und Congress
Programme
The conferences
Starting on the eve of SMM, the conference series stretched over five days, covered pressing topics in all areas of the maritime industry, and presented no less than 80 high-profile speakers to an international audience.
Maritime Future Summit
Under the motto “Connected technologies on the rise”, leaders of the maritime industry took the stage to discuss how to strengthen the competitiveness through the fusion of data and technology.
TradeWinds Shipowners Forum
“The business of transition: how to play and who pays?” served as the guiding motto for renowned leaders of the shipping business, who joined an intense debate spanning over two sessions.
gmec, the global maritime environmental congress
Top-notch speakers from leading organisations, companies and NGOs let the audience participate in exciting discussions at this five-panel-event under the motto “Setting a green course”.
Offshore Dialogue
Under the motto “New technologies for future needs” the conference focused on innovative solutions regarding maritime and energy technologies for monitoring, mitigating, and adapting to climate change in the oceans.
MS&D, the international conference on maritime security and defence
The two-day event under the motto “Secure your position” brought together high-ranking speakers from academia, defence organisations, navies and the naval industry to discuss highly topical technological and geo-strategical subjects.
Maritime Career Market
At the final day of SMM, leading employers and training institutions seized this unique opportunity to introduce themselves to potential employees. Moreover, the Career Forum gave visitors the chance to see a broad range of speakers portraying job and career profiles, apprenticeships, training and study programmes offering exciting ways of personal and professional development in the maritime industry.
Transition Stages
With 160 speakers on three dedicated Transition Stages, this newly introduced presentation concept was enthusiastically received the first time. The Green Transition Stage as well as the Digital Transition Stage, and the Cruise & Ferry Stage offered a mix of 10-minute-speaker-slots and sessions on big industry topics to an international audience.
Start-ups
A total of 18 start-up companies exhibited at SMM 2022 and 16 start-ups competing for the newly introduced SMM Maritime Start-up Award. To draw attention to their innovations, start-ups had the opportunity to exhibit in dedicated start-up areas or to share a stand with main exhibitors. The Start-up Pitches as well as the festive Start-up Night created a highlight for visitors and innovative entrepreneurs alike. Congratulations to the winner ANKERI Solutions.
Networking
After the pandemic, the need for relaxed business chats and entertainment was met with pleasure: let’s #celebrateSMM and have a drink at "Wine o’clock"! Every day, from 17.00 – 19.00, all three Transition Stages turned into communicative meeting places with lots of participants enjoying networking.
Exhibitor events
From press conferences to receptions and workshops at the stands to various exhibitor stand parties or award ceremonies such as the U.S. Coast Guard Amver Awards - numerous events outside the official programme ensured a full calendar for some visitors.