Pacific Marine Expo 2024 to Feature New WorkBoat West and Partnership with Washington Maritime Blue

The Pacific Marine Expo (PME), the largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast, will return to Seattle's Lumen Field Event Center from Wednesday, November 20th, through Friday, November 22nd. This year's Expo introduces new WorkBoat West programming and a strategic partnership with Washington Maritime Blue, aiming to make the 2024 event the most engaging for the maritime industry to date.

Bob Callahan, Group Vice President of Diversified Communications, which produces the show, highlighted the expanded focus on new technologies and WorkBoat Show programming. "Thanks to new partnerships and innovative education, this year's Expo will deliver just that and make this a must-do event for the entire fishing and commercial marine industry," Callahan stated.

Last year's Expo drew over 5,000 industry leaders who participated in the free Expo Education Program curated by National Fisherman. This year, the program will cover essential topics such as marine safety, business management, regulatory issues, and technical advancements, fostering an environment for open discussions and networking among industry professionals.

WorkBoat West, a new addition to the Expo, will cater specifically to shipyards, vessel owner-operators, and other commercial marine stakeholders. This spinoff will bring themes from the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans to the West Coast, connecting commercial fishermen with other mariners through sessions focused on Maritime Blue, shipyards, and military sectors. "Adding this focus will help attendees connect with everyone who is making their living on the water," Callahan remarked.

Emphasizing innovation, this year's Expo will benefit from a new partnership with Washington Maritime Blue, a Seattle-based economic accelerator committed to developing sustainable maritime business practices. The Maritime Blue Pavilion will showcase the latest technologies and services, offering attendees opportunities to engage with start-up leadership and learn about initiatives in sustainable maritime fuels, Quiet Sound, workforce development, green technologies, and fast ferries. "We're excited to present a forum that will showcase innovations that will shape the future of the entire maritime industry," Callahan added.

The 2024 PME will also feature popular elements such as the Alaska Hall, the King County Maritime Economic Forecast Breakfast, product demonstrations, The National Fisherman Highliner Ceremony, performances by Fisher Poets, and the Coastal Challenge, formerly known as the Fisherman of the Year contest. Additionally, the Expo will collaborate closely with the Maritime High School and other regional youth training programs, offering students tours of the show floor to explore diverse maritime careers.

Registration for the Pacific Marine Expo opens on July 23rd. For more information, please visit www.PacificMarineExpo.com.