'Sea Asia 2013,' Asia’s leading maritime conference and exhibition, ended on a high note with a record breaking attendance of more than 13,000 participants and a clutch of records broken at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

The enthusiasm for Sea Asia 2011 demonstrates the need for a clearer and stronger voice for the Asian shipping community is now even higher on the international agenda, said the organisers.

The level of international participation in Sea Asia from exhibitors and visitors is a reflection that this show is on the right track to become one of the must-attend maritime events in the global maritime calendar, they added.

As Sea Asia closed at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, it was revealed by the organisers that 13,167 people from 68 countries attended the three-day event this week.

The number of participants, comprising visitors, exhibitors, conference delegates, speakers and media, was announced as the dates for the next Sea Asia were confirmed. The next Sea Asia will take place on April 21 to 23 in Singapore in 2015, co-organisers Seatrade and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) said.

The Sea Asia conference sessions too saw an increase in the number of participants this year with the final delegate number up at around 700 over three days from 39 countries.

SMF chairman Michael Chia said, "Sea Asia 2013 has been a significant success. The show has managed to draw a total of more than 13,000 unique participants, exceeding the previous attendance figures at the Sea Asia 2011 show and its previous editions."

"We have achieved yet another milestone for the Sea Asia show and we look forward to make the next Sea Asia show in 2015 an even greater success," he added.

Chris Hayman, the chairman of Seatrade, said: “These numbers cement Sea Asia’s status as a leading event in the global maritime calendar. The Asian Voice theme is one that will remain a cornerstone idea for the show in future and I am convinced the show has now reached the next level in terms of its vibrancy and maturity.”

“To achieve the figures we have seen across these past three days shows the resilience and optimism of the Asian maritime community. They bode well for our next event in 2015,” he added.

 Sea Asia has grown dramatically since its inauguration in 2007. The 2011 show showed significant growth on the launch show figures. And this year’s event has been able to show further growth in what is still a difficult market for most shipowners around the world today.

Sea Asia 2013 occupied almost 17,000 sq m of gross space for the exhibition of 385 maritime businesses from 36 countries. There were country pavilions from China, Holland, Japan, Korea, Norway, Panama, Qatar, Singapore and the UK.

The event was the crown jewel of Singapore’s Maritime Week and show visitors were able to take part in a host of other side events and activities which truly reflected the strength and depth of Singapore’s emergence as an international maritime centre.-TradeArabia News Service