The Pacific Marine Expo opens this Sunday, Nov. 18, in Seattle, the West Coast’s big annual meet-up for mariners, commercial fishermen and the suppliers that help their businesses thrive.
Experts will give insight into how to grow and manage business using big data and social media. Need a new boat? The considerations for newbuild vs. conversion is another topic.
Safety and survival in Pacific Northwest waters is paramount, and fatigue management will be discussed by longtime Alaska safety trainer Jerry Dzugan with fellow panelists Aaron Barrett and Michael Lynch.
“This is What Will Sink Your Boat Next Season!” is the inviting title of a talk that naval architect John Myers of Hockema Whalen Myers Associates will present. It’s all about specific maintenance, operational and design issues that can weaken a vessel’s stability, increase chances of flooding, draw away the operator’s attention at critical moments and generally put the crew at risk.
In Alaska Hall is the center stage for panel discussions, and the annual Fisherman of the Year Competition, where mariners compete in three heats of rope splicing, net mending and blindfolded knot tying. Each heat winner takes away $100 cash, and will move on to compete in the final round – the survival suit challenge. The final round champion takes home the coveted Fisherman of the Year title, $100 cash and a custom National Fisherman jacket.
We will be reporting from the show for WorkBoat and National Fisherman. As my colleague Jessica Hathaway writes, “Pacific Marine Expo draws thousands of fishermen, fleet owners, processors and other stakeholders to a show floor packed with more than 500 exhibitors. Each one is vying for your attention with innovation at great prices.”
There is still time to register online here. See you there.
