Review

The 30th edition of SMM in a nutshell

From 6 – 9 September 2022, SMM once again served as the world’s #1 trade fair for the maritime industry and delivered impressively on its mission to support it in driving the maritime transition. It was four days full of innovations on the exhibition floor and programme highlights at the conferences that sparked unanimous enthusiasm among all participants.

To bring even more attention to pathbreaking solutions, SMM established new presentation formats like the transition stages, introduced the SMM Maritime Start-up Award, and helped to initiate one or the other connection by inviting to celebrate its 30th edition at "Wine o' clock" and other meeting and networking occasions.

A survey among exhibitors and visitors of SMM revealed highest contentment about the event’s performance as the maritime industry’s most important platform for presenting innovations and driving business as well as discussing the industry’s big topics and making contacts with established and upcoming players.

Watch the video to get a brief impression of SMM 2022 and how it felt to finally meet again live and in person after the pandemic.

You couldn't attend SMM 2022 live?

Or were you on site and didn't make it to all programme points? No problem, we have recorded the various expert conference sessions and the programme at the Transition Stages as well as the official opening ceremony.
Watch the supporting programme on demand – we wish you good entertainment!

Numbers

Facts & Figures

the #1 meeting place for the maritime industry

The participants

  • 40,000

    participants

  • 2,000

    exhibiting companies

  • 100

    nations

  • 90%

    referral rate among the exhibitors

  • 79%

    decision-makers among the visitors

The venue

  • 90,000

    sq.m exhibition space

  • 11

    exhibition halls

SMM

The conferences & speakers

  • 5

    conferences during 5 days

  • 80

    international speakers at the conferences

  • 160

    speakers on 3 dedicated Transition Stages

The start-ups

  • 16

    Start-up pitches

  • 18

    Start-up companies

The exhibitors’ feedback*

bewertung der Aussteller 2
  • Planned presence at SMM 2024 – 83% of the exhibitors declared their definitive or probable participation at SMM 2024.

  • The marketplace for commercial success – 65% of the exhibitors declared themselves very satisfied to satisfied with their business success at SMM 2022.

  • Engaging peers and target groups – 66% of the exhibitors declared that they achieved to meet all or at least the greatest part of their target groups at SMM 2022.

Indispensable event
  • Indispensable event – 88% of the exhibitors rated SMM 2022 either very good or good in an overall assessment of the event.

rated SMM either very good or good

The visitors’ feedback*

Unanimous praise

94% of the visitors rated SMM 2022 either very good or good in an overall assessment of the event.

rated SMM either very good or good

Bewertung der Besucher Liste
  • Return intent at an all-time high - 86% of the visitors declared their definitive or probable participation at SMM 2024.

  • High referral rate - 93% of the visitors will certainly or probably recommend SMM.

  • World-leading event - 97% of the visitors regard SMM as the most important maritime industry fair.

* Note: all percentages are taken from an independent trade fair survey at SMM 2022.

 

 

Kitack Lim, Secretary General, International Maritime Organisation IMO

It didn't show that SMM had to take a long involuntary break. We went down to business at SMM 22 right away. We used this trade fair unlike any other to interact with our existing customers, meet with partners, and expand our network. Walking through the halls you noticed the enormous innovative strength of the sector. We are currently in an exciting transitional phase towards becoming a digitalised and sustainable industry. The fair gave us an impression what that future industry might look like.

Sven Schreiber
Managing Director
Alfa Laval Mid Europe Region

For MAN Energy Solutions and for me personally, SMM has always been something to look forward to. It is a true crossroads for suppliers and customers, and all others interested in the fascinating world of the maritime industry. Our company has a long history of partnership with SMM and we were very pleased to be part of the celebration of SMM's 30th in 2022.

Dr Uwe Lauber
CEO
MAN Energy Solutions

As in previous years, SMM 22 was primarily a trade fair where personal contacts matter. We've seen familiar faces and finally had time for some in-depth conversations and an exchange of views. In Rotterdam in 2021 there wasn’t much going on at all. In Hamburg you finally felt the forward-looking spirit.

Richard Nieuwenhuize
Account Manager
Damen Schelde Marine Service

Anyone who wants to know what is driving the sector and where the voyage is headed should go to SMM. We had made up our minds early to return to Hamburg again in 2022. We were not disappointed. Despite a few organisational glitches, which were understandable, we are very thankful to Hamburg Messe for this event, which has demonstrated time and again how lively and multifaceted our industry is.

Vollrath Schuster
Chief Executive Officer
Reinhold & Mahla

Helge H. Grammerstorf, National Director, CLIA

As a marketplace for innovations, SMM is an important information basis for investment decisions of German shipowners. The focus in 2022 was on the transformation of the maritime industry to achieve carbon neutrality. We are communicating about this with shipbuilders and suppliers as well as numerous experts around the world, many of whom we could meet personally at SMM in Hamburg.

Dr Martin Kröger
Managing Director
German Shipowners Association (VDR)

The fact that the professional SMM team succeeds in bringing the entire shipbuilding world to Hamburg every single time is an admirable accomplishment. As an industry that is well-established in the host country, we are well advised to appreciate and nourish SMM. It mirrors our technology leadership. There is no better opportunity to familiarise the general public, including young talents who are so important for our future, and political decision-makers with the breadth and depth of our industry.

Dr Reinhard Lüken
General Manager
German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association (VSM)

We are very glad that SMM was able to take place in the customary format again. This is an important trade fair, and there is no other place where so many customers, suppliers and other market players can meet within such a short time span. We have not only seen familiar faces but also introduced ourselves to many new people; we followed up on ongoing projects and signed several major new contracts. For Becker, SMM is and will always be the world's most important shipbuilding trade fair.

Henning Kuhlmann
Managing Director
Becker Marine Systems

For us as an industry association, SMM, as the the leading international maritime trade fair, is a focal point of our activities. We are proud to contribute to the quality and internationality of SMM which we all appreciate so much.

Hauke Schlegel
General Manager
VDMA – Marine Equipment and Systems.

Bernd Aufderheide, CEO, Hamburg Messe und Congress

Programme

The conferences

Starting on the eve of SMM, the conference series stretched over five days, covered pressing topics in all areas of the maritime industry, and presented no less than 80 high-profile speakers to an international audience.

SMM 2022 - Maritime Future Summit - Blick auf die Bühne

Maritime Future Summit

Under the motto “Connected technologies on the rise”, leaders of the maritime industry took the stage to discuss how to strengthen the competitiveness through the fusion of data and technology.


TradeWinds Shipowners Forum - Panel

TradeWinds Shipowners Forum

“The business of transition: how to play and who pays?” served as the guiding motto for renowned leaders of the shipping business, who joined an intense debate spanning over two sessions.


gmec, the global maritime environmental congress

Top-notch speakers from leading organisations, companies and NGOs let the audience participate in exciting discussions at this five-panel-event under the motto “Setting a green course”.


Offshore Dialogue

Under the motto “New technologies for future needs” the conference focused on innovative solutions regarding maritime and energy technologies for monitoring, mitigating, and adapting to climate change in the oceans.


MS&D, the international conference on maritime security and defence - Blick auf die Bühne

MS&D, the international conference on maritime security and defence

The two-day event under the motto “Secure your position” brought together high-ranking speakers from academia, defence organisations, navies and the naval industry to discuss highly topical technological and geo-strategical subjects.


Maritime Career Market  - Teilnehmende im Gespräch

Maritime Career Market

At the final day of SMM, leading employers and training institutions seized this unique opportunity to introduce themselves to potential employees. Moreover, the Career Forum gave visitors the chance to see a broad range of speakers portraying job and career profiles, apprenticeships, training and study programmes offering exciting ways of personal and professional development in the maritime industry.


Transition Stages

With 160 speakers on three dedicated Transition Stages, this newly introduced presentation concept was enthusiastically received the first time. The Green Transition Stage as well as the Digital Transition Stage, and the Cruise & Ferry Stage offered a mix of 10-minute-speaker-slots and sessions on big industry topics to an international audience.


Start-ups

A total of 18 start-up companies exhibited at SMM 2022 and 16 start-ups competing for the newly introduced SMM Maritime Start-up Award. To draw attention to their innovations, start-ups had the opportunity to exhibit in dedicated start-up areas or to share a stand with main exhibitors. The Start-up Pitches as well as the festive Start-up Night created a highlight for visitors and innovative entrepreneurs alike. Congratulations to the winner ANKERI Solutions.


SMM 2022 - Networking

Networking

After the pandemic, the need for relaxed business chats and entertainment was met with pleasure: let’s #celebrateSMM and have a drink at "Wine o’clock"! Every day, from 17.00 – 19.00, all three Transition Stages turned into communicative meeting places with lots of participants enjoying networking.


Exhibitor events

From press conferences to receptions and workshops at the stands to various exhibitor stand parties or award ceremonies such as the U.S. Coast Guard Amver Awards - numerous events outside the official programme ensured a full calendar for some visitors.


Thank you!