Maritime Fair 2019, the biannual maritime cluster gathering at the Finnish port and shipbuilding city of Turku, will this time focus on the effects of digitalisation to the cluster and employment prospects in it, event organisers said in a statement.

An exhibition highlighting shipping industry and start-up companies will form part of the fair, while a conference with workshops, panel discussions and career events, will run parallel to it.

The fair will take place at Aboa Mare, Auriga Business Center in Turku, Finland, from 31 October to 1 November. The Maritime Fair 2019 targets professionals within the shipping industry, seafarers, shipping and start-up companies, authorities, maritime trainers and students. The fair is organized every second year.

Alexander Avanth, digital entrepreneur and director of business innovation at PTC Holdings hosts a keynote during day one and a ‘Future Leadership and Forecasting’ workshop during day two at the Maritime Fair.

The workshop is intended for leaders from the maritime industry and enables participants to visualise a road map concerning leadership and strategies, in a digitalised maritime future.

The effect of technologies such as autonomous vessels, general artificial intelligence (AI), genetic modification and biotechnology often overwhelm us, according

to Alexander Avanth. It is necessary to grasp the future in the sense most common to ourselves. This means that an organisation quickly must locate their limitations in knowledge, in order to find a strategical business partner, Alexander Avanth adds.

A panel debate on autonomous shipping will take place on the first day during the Conference, titled ‘Will autonomous shipping be reality and in what extent?’. Maritime industry leaders share their views and discuss the future of shipping in the panel debate.

The career day event also takes place during day one. The event is organised by Aboa Mare ́s student association, ENÅ. Representatives from different shipping companies, private yachts and the Finnish Maritime Authorities will give presentations about career possibilities and discuss job opportunities with the audience.