International WorkBoat Show Starts Wednesday featuring Keynote by War-hero Retired Army SSgt Travis Mills, New Maintenance & Repair Day, and Extensive Commercial Marine Conference Program

North America's largest commercial marine trade show and conference is set for New Orleans from Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 and is expected to attract more than 1,100 exhibitors and nearly 15,000 business leaders from 45 states and 27 countries.

NEW ORLEANS, LA, November 28, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The annual International WorkBoat Show, North America's largest commercial marine trade show and conference, returns to the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from Wednesday, Nov. 29, through Friday, Dec. 1. This year's show features a keynote address by war-hero retired Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills, a new Maintenance & Repair Day and an intensive series of half-day conference programs focused on key sectors including Shipyards, Offshore, and Inland & Passenger Vessel.

The 2017 show is expected to attract more than 1,100 exhibitors and nearly 15,000 business leaders from 45 states and 27 countries.

"The WorkBoat Show is the premier event for the commercial marine industry," said Denielle Christensen, event director. "It's the top marketplace for businesses that serve the coastal, inland and offshore waters."

Where
The International WorkBoat Show and Annual Conference will take place in Halls B through F in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Registration will be in the lobby outside of Hall D.

To Attend
Qualified members of the industry can attend the WorkBoat Show exhibit hall and keynote for free by registering on or before Nov. 28. Attendees will also save on upgrades to the Annual Conference program by registering early. To register, visit www.WorkBoatShow.com.

Press Credentials
Pick up your complimentary press credentials at the Show Office, which is located outside of Hall A. The Press Room is located adjacent to the Show Office.

Keynote Speaker: Travis Mills, Retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant
3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 29, Presentation Theater
While patrolling for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the minesweepers missed one IED, and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Mills' world changed forever. In his inspiring address, Mills will recall his heroic fight for survival, the action-packed and challenging days of his earlier tours of duty with the legendary 82nd Airborne Division, the agony of encountering a hidden bomb while on patrol with his men, and his odds-defying physical and spiritual struggle afterward to come back from severe quadruple amputee injuries and rebuild his life. In his keynote, Mills will illustrate how resilient the human spirit is, how unbreakable the will is when pressed with difficult demands, and how triumphant a person can be when tasked with the seemingly impossible.

New, Innovative and Extensive Conference Programming
For the first time, the WorkBoat Annual Conference will feature a Maintenance & Repair Day, a full day of programming focused on all things pertinent to maintenance and repair from best practices to emerging technologies and more. Maintenance & Repair Day, which will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 29, is an important educational opportunity for owners/operators, port captains, fleet managers, engineers, and others responsible for keeping U.S. commercial vessels in service and operating efficiently.

The new WorkBoat Annual Conference Half-Day Programs are broken out across two days. Each half-day program will feature a combination of roundtable discussions and interactive presentations. There will also be a series of networking events for idea sharing and problem solving.

Shipyard Program - From design and construction trends to technological advancements and regulatory compliance, this half-day program will provide an unprecedented opportunity for those in the shipyard industry to learn about and discuss the latest trends, challenges and best practices.

Offshore Program - Some officials and others have been more optimistic recently that an improved offshore energy market is on the way. Additionally, emerging markets such as offshore wind power continue to gain momentum. This track will address the critical issues affecting the offshore industry as well as the trends that will continue to sustain the sector in the future.

Inland & Passenger Vessel Program - From aging inland infrastructure and the modernization of the tug and barge and towboat fleets to the booming passenger vessel and ferry market, the Inland & Passenger Vessel track will address the issues and opportunities in this important sector

The full Conference program schedule and speakers are available here.

Other New Features
Dock Talks bring education right to the exhibit floor. Stop by the Collaboration Zone for 20-minute breakout sessions addressed by industry speakers as they review the issues that may be affecting your commercial marine business today.

Supplier Solutions will give buyers a chance to learn more about specific products from exhibitors as they present and demonstrate their services at the Presentation Theater in Hall B.

Christensen noted that at the Show, the attendees will find thousands of solutions, strategies, technologies, and ideas to give a business an edge in 2018. "You'll find exhibitors offering demos, special presentations, partnerships and deals to help you power through the challenges and opportunities facing the marine industry," she said.

For more information visit www.WorkBoatShow.com.

About WorkBoat
WorkBoat is part of the Diversified Communications portfolio of commercial marine events, publications and e-media products. The WorkBoat brand has been connecting qualified buyers with leading suppliers for more than 70 years. In print through WorkBoat magazine, online at WorkBoat.com, face-to-face at the International WorkBoat Show and through education with the Professional Series, WorkBoat delivers high-quality information to all segments of the marine industry in North America. For more information, visit www.workboat.com.

About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications is a leading international media company providing market access, education and information through global, national and regional face-to-face events, digital products, publications and television stations. Diversified serves a number of industries including: technology, seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine, and business management. Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified has divisions in the Eastern United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. For more information please visit www.divcom.com.

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