Following a pause in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a downsized edition in 2022, INMEX SMM India will take place in the customary format at Mumbai's Bombay Exhibition Centre from 4 to 6 October 2023. We talked with Hauke Schlegel, Managing Director VDMA Marine Equipment and Systems, about the role of Southern Asia’s biggest and most important maritime trade fair for the German shipbuilding market.

Which opportunities do you see in the Indian market for the German supplier industry, especially in the context of the international supply chain problems caused by the Corona pandemic?

With its huge fleet of seagoing vessels India has a firm place among the largest owner states, with further growth potential. Indian merchant shipbuilding is also important for the international supply industry, considering the long term prospects of large domestic demand potential.

Furthermore, thinking about the  context of the international supply chain problems, Indian manufacturers are traditionally important and reliable production partners of the German marine equipment industry. The relationship needs to be strengthened in these challenging times – this opens another potential for common success in the international maritime markets.

VDMA supports the German joint stand at INMEX SMM India 2023. For whom is the participation especially interesting and which advantages does the joint appearance under the brand "Made in Germany“ offer exhibitors?

INMEX SMM India is undisputedly India's leading maritime trade platform for all companies that want to tap into this growth market for the first time or maintain their existing contacts and business relationships.
The promotion of the official German joint participation, for which we were again able to win the support of the German government this year, makes it particularly easy for companies to present themselves in this market in a high-quality and effective manner at limited expense. Medium-sized companies in particular benefit greatly from the effective advertising within the German Pavilion.

What are you personally looking forward to when you are heading to Mumbai for INMEX SMM India in October?

Every time I am in India, I am fascinated by the youthful energy that emanates from the well educated engineers in India's maritime sector. Full of verve, they are determined to do their bit to advance their huge maritime country economically and technically. They see contacts with foreign companies as the key to success. We can definitely learn from  this enthusiasm.

What excites you most about working in the maritime industry?

It’s about working at the heart of global trade, in an industry that has transformed the way the world works. But beyond that it’s the people, because the relationships you build in shipping are unique and priceless.

What is the No. 1 topic on the maritime agenda for you (at the moment)?

Decarbonization. Managing the energy transition and enabling shipping to meet its emissions reduction targets, while maintaining safety standards and continued profitability, is going to take a massive effort, and a degree of cooperation beyond anything we have seen before.

Which topic should be discussed in more depth in the maritime industry?

Safety always has to be at the top of our list – especially when dealing with new challenges like cyber-attacks and how to safely deploy new fuels. Also, the wellbeing of our seafarers and making sure they are treated as the vital workers they are.   

What are you most looking forward to at SMM 2022?

SMM is really one of the best events on the maritime calendar, it’s truly global, and with its focus on innovation, you get to see the future of shipping. But the main thing is to reconnect with familiar faces and make new connections, because shipping really is all about the people.

What will DNV bring?

At DNV we’re always excited to be at SMM, because Hamburg is our home for shipping. This year, for the 30^th SMM, we are proud to launch our flagship report – The Maritime Forecast to 2050. With a focus on fuel sustainability and the carbon neutral fuels needed to reach decarbonization this year’s report is really going to give the industry a lot to discuss.

What excites you about your profession and / or the maritime industry?

Without realising, every person around the world benefits from maritime transport. As rightly described by the UN, our sector is the “backbone of world trade and globalization”. With this huge context in mind, what excites me the most is the potential that digital technologies have to revolutionise the industry, making it safer, more efficient and greener.

What is the No. 1 topic on the maritime agenda for you (at the moment)? And what contribution does Wärtsilä Voyage make to this?

Decarbonisation, which is the most important challenge our industry faces right now. We believe that the ongoing digitalisation of the industry will be an important part of solving this challenge. It’s why we’re focused on helping maritime accelerate its digitalisation journey, realise improved operational efficiency, save time and money, and cut fuel use and GHG emissions.

When was your first SMM visit and what was your most memorable SMM experience ever?

This will actually be my first time at SMM. It’s going to be a great week, and I’m excited to discuss the incredible possibilities that digital technologies are currently bringing and will continue to bring to the industry as a whole.

What are you most looking forward to at SMM 2022? What are your hopes and expectations?

The maritime industry has some major challenges ahead; challenges that will require collaboration across the entire industry to overcome. I’m looking forward to connecting with my peers, customers and partners on how we can work together to solve these challenges.

What objective would you like to achieve through your participation at the Maritime Future Summit?

The key takeaway from my ‘Maritime Future Summit’ speech is all about how better connecting the dots across the maritime ecosystem will enable companies to accelerate their own digital transformation, in turn, helping them to unlock the industry’s full potential.

Thinking of smart ship control, fleet and port optimisation, are there any “analogue niches” left which still harbour major optimisation potential through digitalisation?

There is a huge latent potential for optimisation across the entire ecosystem. For those who are still operating with outdated tech, it’s time to update. For those who have embraced digital technologies, there is a lot of room for development, especially when it comes to breaking silos and sharing data. We’re focused on providing holistic solutions that work together to improve efficiency, safety and commerciality.