International WorkBoat Show Opens Wednesday; Features Keynotes by Capt. Richard Phillips, Vigor Industrial CEO and MARAD Administrator, Conference Program, and Free Military to Maritime Career Fair

    NEW ORLEANS, LA, December 02, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The 2014 International WorkBoat Show, North America's largest commercial marine trade show, opens Wednesday, December 3, in New Orleans at the Morial Convention Center. Register by December 2 and save $50 on seeing more than 1,100 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services. Registration for the WorkBoat Show and Annual Conference is available at www.workboatshow.com.

This year's WorkBoat Show, which runs through Friday, December 5, promises to be the best ever and should attract more than 14,500 visitors from 45 states and 27 countries. "Tradeshow Week" ranks the WorkBoat Show as one of the Top 200 largest U.S. trade shows.

For complimentary press credentials, please stop by the Show Office outside of Hall D at the Morial Convention Center.

2014 Show Highlights include:
Capt. Richard Phillips will speak at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3. For five days in April 2009, the world was glued to their TV screens as Capt. Richard Phillips became the center of an extraordinary international drama when he was captured by Somali pirates who hijacked his ship, the first hijacking of a U.S. ship in more than 200 years. The keynote is sponsored by RSCBiosolutions.

Frank Foti, President and CEO, Vigor Industrial, will speak at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday, December 4. With eight locations in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, Vigor Industrial is the leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and other industrial services in the Pacific Northwest. Foti is the President and CEO of the privately held company and is also serving his second term as Chairman of the Shipbuilders Council of America, which represents 41 companies that own and operate over 120 shipyard facilities.

Paul Jaenichen, the Maritime Administrator, U.S. Department of Transportation, will speak at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 4. The Maritime Administration works in many areas involving ships and shipping, shipbuilding, port operations, vessel operations, national security, environment, and safety. The Maritime Administration is also charged with maintaining the health of the merchant marine.

A free Military to Maritime Career Fair will be held from 1 - 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, in the Rivergate Room. During the Career Fair, current and former military personnel from all services can meet with representatives from some of the region's premier maritime companies, training schools, unions and others to learn about career opportunities in the maritime industry. No prior maritime experience is necessary and all services are welcome.

The WorkBoat Annual Conference provides crucial information on the most current regulations, technology and issues facing the commercial marine industry today. The Annual Conference will feature tiered programming that focuses on business management, legal and regulatory issues, marine safety and security, and technical issues/advancements.

"By successfully bringing together thousands of people who want to buy, with thousands of businesses selling the latest products and technologies, and by offering strong conference programs, the WorkBoat Show has become the premier event for the commercial marine industry," said Bob Callahan, Show Director, Diversified Communications.

Registration after December 3 is $50 per person.

About Diversified Communications
The International WorkBoat Show is produced by Diversified Communications, which is based in Portland, Maine, and provides information and market access through face-to-face events, publications and eMedia. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine, and business management. Diversified operates divisions in Australia, Hong Kong, India, the UK and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.divcom.com.

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