Fifty eight young people have been honoured yesterday by British Marine, the membership organisation for the UK leisure, superyacht and small commercial marine industry, at its annual Graduation Ceremony at the 2016 Southampton Boat Show.

Now in its sixth year, the event celebrates a selection of graduating apprentices from all areas of the industry, in roles varying from marine engineers to shipwrights and joiners; recognising the diversity of skills and careers in the sector. Apprentices from eight member companies were recognised, from Berthon Boat Company, BHG Marine, Cooney Marine, RNLI, Seadub, Spinlock, Sunseeker International, Pendennis Shipyard and Princess Yachts.

The marine industry has over 470 apprentices across 100 businesses, with three quarters of apprenticeships in manufacturing and engineering, according to a new report* released at the Show yesterday.
Apprenticeships are important within the marine industry as an inability to recruit skilled workers is holding back business growth, according to the new report. 30% of companies have identified critical skills gap, with technical skills the biggest obstacle to recruitment. British Marine is working with its members to tackle the skills gap, turning to apprenticeships as well as providing a range of training and development opportunities for existing staff.

Sarah Dhanda, Director of Membership & Services at British Marine, said: “We are delighted to honour these 63 young people at our Graduation Ceremony. They are the workforce of the future and it is wonderful to be able to recognise their hard work and dedication. British Marine has been working with companies to support marine apprentices for a number of years to ensure that the industry, bringing £3.6 billion worth of turnover to the UK economy, addresses the skills gaps and continues to thrive.”

The Royal Navy’s Deputy Chief of Staff Engineering Support, Captain Matt Bolton, who presented the awards alongside Libby Greenhalgh of the Magenta Project, added: “A career in the marine industry offers a wide range of opportunities and an apprenticeship is an invaluable way to enter the sector. Thirty five years ago I started off my career as an apprentice and today I still draw on the knowledge and skills I learnt at the time. It is exciting to see so many young people taking on the oceans of opportunity within the industry.”

The 48th Southampton Boat Show kicked off to a fantastic first four days over the weekend with strong sales results being reported and Irish boat firms are among the winners in boat brokerage business.

An impressive 23 brands made their World debut on opening day, Friday 16 September, from the likes of global brands Oyster Yachts, Princess Yachts, Bavaria Power, Sunseeker International and Haines Marine. Seven others will have made their European debuts, with 72 UK debuts and 33 new boats being welcomed to the Show over the next seven days.

Over 1,500 have already got out on the water for free with the Show’s Try-A-Boat attraction which sees visitors climb onboard the latest RIBs and luxury yachts, and the Get Afloat! area, where 8-16 year olds can try out dinghy sailing and Stand Up Paddleboarding.

Murray Ellis, Managing Director of British Marine Boat Shows, comments: “We’ve had a terrific start to the 2016 Show. We are already hearing of strong sales reports from our exhibitors with many reporting an increase compared to this time last year. As a global Show, attracting exhibitors and visitors from around the world, this is an important aspect of retaining the strong business reputation of the Southampton Boat Show.”

'It has been very busy so far on this stand and we are up 10% on last year in listings and enquiries' Martin Salmon of MGM Boats told Afloat.ie. 'We have just shy of 200 boats on the wall and the customer feedback has been excellent'.

MGM Boats have been consistent exhibitors at the UK show throughout the recession and appear to be reaping some rewards. 'There is definitely an appreciation from the public of the effort and consistency of our boat show presentations', Salmon said. 'A lot of people have remarked about the half hearted efforts of their local brokerage companies just listing on the web and sitting back waiting on the phone to ring'  'I am very confident that we will achieve multiple sales and sign up plenty of new listings as a result of this show', he added.

Kiran Haslam, Marketing Director at Princess Yachts, comments: "Fantastic feeling; the sun has been shining today, and our hospitality area as well as our yachts on display are buzzing with show visitors and invited guests. The right conversations are taking place and we are delighted with the organisation of the show this year."

Commenting on the strong retail sales figures, Sean Robertson, Sunseeker International’s Sales Director, said: “The first weekend at Southampton Boat Show has been extraordinary and we are pleased that the Manhattan 52 has commanded so much interest; testament to our substantial investment in new model development which is having broad appeal from both existing clients and customers new to the brand, keen to join the Sunseeker family. The show has predicted to attract over 110,000 people over the ten day period and we look forward to welcoming even more visitors to the stand.”

Sebastian Hirst, Head of Sales for Sunsail and The Moorings, said: “It has been a great Southampton Boat Show so far for us. We have taken more bookings so far this show than we would usually expect, with more people committing to booking here and now, rather than taking the quote and contacting us later. We are also impressed with the busy buzz about the Show and we are very happy with the new layout of Ocean Hall and our stand position – it feels much more open and welcoming.”

Paul Martin of BHG Marine, said: “The start of the Southampton Boat Show 2016 has been promising, with great interest in our new products and higher levels of interest than we anticipated. We are confident that by the end of the week the enthusiasm will continue.”

The Show opened to the British Sailing Team, including Olympic medallists, Giles Scott, Saskia Clark, Hannah Mills and Nick Dempsey alongside award-winning actress, Michelle Keegan. Gold medal winner, Giles said: “The Southampton Boat Show is a highlight on any sailor’s calendar and is a great place to spend time with family and friends. It’s something everyone should experience”.

Featuring one of Europe’s largest purpose-built marinas, the event will play host to lots more activity over the next seven days. Today, Tuesday 20 September, saw nearly 60 apprentices celebrating their graduation whilst British Marine’s new careers video was also launched on the Show’s Festival Stage powered by Datatag & the COMPASS scheme. The Show will also welcome the Rt Hon John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Transport, on Wednesday, 21 September.

The Southampton Boat Show kicked off this weekend with special guests, Michelle Keegan and the British Sailing Team in attendance. Running until Sunday 25 September, the Show will showcase the very best that the international boating world has to offer. With hundreds of boats on display, including 330 on the stunning marina itself, the Southampton Boat Show is a festival of boating fun for all the family.

Already there has been a boost for Irish exhibitor MGM Boats with its agency for the Lagoon Catamaran voted best by UK Sailing title, Sailing Today.

Key Irish Marine Industry figures are expected to the show this week including Irish Marine Federation Chairman Damien Offer, Paal Janson of Dun Laoghaire Marina, Brian O'Sullivan from O'Sullivan's Marine in Tralee. Also exhibiting at the show is Conor Fanning with the X-Yacht brand. Bernard Gallagher and James Kirwan of BJ Marine in Greystones will be on the Beneteau stand.

MGM Boats is celebrating after the Lagoon 42 was announced as the winner in the Multihull category in the 2016 awards, which were presented at a champagne reception on Friday , the opening day of the Show. MGM Boats is the Irish dealer for Lagoon Catamarans.

Southampton boat show is attracting the crowds. Photo: World Wide Images

On the back of her new hit BBC show, Our Girl, multi-award winning actress Michelle Keegan officially opened the Southampton Boat Show 2016. Michelle said “I’m so excited to be a part of this year’s Show. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time onboard boats around the world, but there’s nothing like seeing all these spectacular boats displayed together in one place here in the UK. It’s an incredible experience.”

The Show also played host to the British Sailing Team, which included Olympic medallists, Giles Scott, Saskia Clark, Hannah Mills and Nick Dempsey. Gold medal winner, Giles Scott said: “The Southampton Boat Show is a highlight on any sailor’s calendar and is a great place to spend time with family and friends. It’s something everyone should experience”. Saskia Clark, Women’s 470 sailing gold medallist, said: “Having an annual event like the Southampton Boat Show that gives the opportunities for people to try out different types of water activities is crucial for the sport of sailing. Who knows, maybe the next generations of Olympic medallists are among us here today?”

Featuring one of Europe’s largest purpose-built marinas, and as one of the world’s top 10 Boat Shows, the event plays host to lots of family-friendly attractions, including:

• Plenty of free on-water experiences, including Try-a-Boat, offering unique opportunities onboard the latest RIBs to luxury yachts, and the Get Afloat! attraction, where 8-16 year olds can try out dinghy sailing and Stand Up Paddleboarding
• The Festival Stage, powered by Datatag & the COMPASS scheme, hosting live music, talks from boating professionals and fashion shows across the 10-day event
• A number of spectacular air displays over the Marina, powered by KUBE, including performances from the Royal Navy Parachute Display Team and renowned British fighter aircraft, the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane
• The magnificent Artemis tall ship, with visitors being able to climb aboard her stunning deck
• Bumper Boats, sponsored by Sunseeker in support of Macmillan Cancer Trust, offering the younger Show visitors the opportunity to master steering

Over the course of the Show, visitors will be able to explore over 130 debuting boats. Among them are the World debuting Hanse 588, Cormate U23 Racing Edition and Greenline Hybrid 36, and the UK launch of the Azimut 55S and Sunseeker Predator 68 MK II.

There’s close to 600 brands exhibiting at the Show this year, with nearly 30 of these making their first appearance, including powerboat manufacturers BIC Aluminium and Alpha-Centauri and sail yacht brands North Carolina (EDPNC) and Nautor’s Swan.

Flights from Dublin to Southampton include handy day return schedules with Flybe

The Southampton Boat Show 2016 (16-25 September) is set to showcase a variety of exciting new attractions, brands, boats and product debuts at this year’s Show. It will also herald the first Show for new British Marine Boat Shows’ Chairman, Greg Munford, who is steering the way for both the Southampton and London Boat Show going forward. Irish exhibitors are expected to attend including yacht brokers MGM Boats Ltd.

Every year, the Show welcomes a mix of historic and innovative feature boats and this year is no different. From the awe-inspiring Norwegian three-masted sailing barque, Artemis to the revolutionary Team Britannia vessel bidding to break the world record for the fastest powerboats circumnavigation of the globe, the Marina, powered by KUBE, will showcase an array of boating past and future along its 2km of pontoons. On land, visitors will be able to explore the 18ft Sailfish, Marlin, and meet its owner, Dave Selby, fresh from completing his 300 mile charity sail in the vessel.

In addition, visitors will be able to explore over 60 debuting boats. Among them are the World debuting Hanse 588, Cormate U23 Racing Edition and Haines 26, the European debuting Dehler 34 and Greenline Hybrid 36 and the UK launch of the Azimut 55S, Sunseeker Predator 68 MK II, Sealine F530 and Fjord 40 Open.

Alongside well-established attractions, On the Water’s Try-a-Boat and Get Afloat, this year’s Show will offer a new opportunity for the youngest generation to get on the water for free. Suitable for children aged 3 to 13, Bumper Boats provides youngsters with a chance to master boat steering, as well as the boat’s built-in water cannon.

Onshore, organisers will be looking to entertain further with its new Festival Stage, located in Solent Park. Throughout the 10 days, visitors can expect to enjoy a line-up of live music, fashion shows and expert talks. There will also be the opportunity for visitors to be part of the Show’s very own Guinness World Record Attempt of the ‘Largest human image of a boat’ on Saturday 24 September.

What’s more, visitors will be able to discover over 27 new brands exhibiting in 2016. On show are powerboat manufacturers: BIC Aluminium and Alpha-Centauri, sail yacht brands: North Carolina (EDPNC) and Nautor’s Swan, electronics and equipment suppliers: Racegeek, Aqua-cote and UK Sailmakers, as well as holiday & charter companies: Rubicon 3 and UGuest.

This year’s Show will be the first for Greg Munford in his newly appointed position as British Marine Boat Shows’ Chairman. As Chief Executive of Richardsons Leisure, Greg Munford is familiar with taking a fresh approach and bold ideas. Already in his short period in office he has been instrumental in planning for this year’s Show.

As Greg comments: “As Britain’s biggest boating festival, the Southampton Boat Show is much-loved by sail and powerboat enthusiasts alike and one of the leaders in the global boating calendar. We’re thrilled to have seen soaring tickets sales so far, which are now more than double what they were this time last year.

“Helping plan this year’s event with all its new attractions to entertain the diversity of visitors and more importantly, get more people out on to the water has been a fantastic experience. Being a boater myself, the mix of new international and British brands who will be showcasing the latest boats and marine equipment makes this Show even more exciting for me to be a part of.”

Did Southampton Boat Show 2015 that ended yesterday mark the end of the recession for the Irish Marine trade? That depends on who you talk to but if numbers are any evidence to go by there was plenty more Irish faces among the 110,000 that enjoyed a taste of Britain’s biggest boating festival. 

Irish show-goers made good use of the Flybe connections from Dublin and the sprinkling of Irish marine firms among the 500 exhibitors gave a great sense of pre-recessionary times.

Mid–week wet weather may have dragged down attendance numbers but it failed to dampen the mood at this year’s Show.

Trade bodies made good use of the opportunity for a useful 'heads-up' on numerous industry matters too. The Society of Maritime Industries, British Marine and the UK Chamber of Shipping signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set out the basis for all three to work together. 

On an international footing, there was a consensus that better promotional co-operation between member states could increase participation levels in EU boating. The recently rebranded British Marine Federation (now known as 'British Marine') are certainly doing their bit. Murray Ellis, Managing Director, British Marine Boat Shows said: “We have had yet another incredibly successful Southampton Boat Show with more than 10,000 visitors getting out on the water for free. Our attractions have been very popular this year with over 18,000 visits to our tall ship, the Earl of Pembroke, 5,300 rides on the Honda Boat Show Eye and over 27,000 visitors to the Show’s very own Aquarium. 

#boatsales – Last week's Southampton Boat Show resulted in new boat sales totalling €600k for one Irish boating firm who say the four new craft sold – in an equal split between sail and power boats –  will be coming home to Ireland.

The uplifting news comes from leading Irish boat sales firm BJ marine who operate from Bangor, Malahide and Greystones on the Irish East coast.

The Beneteau Antares 30 (pictured above) was sold at last week's UK show and is one of four new boats sold by the firm that are coming back to Irish waters. The Antares 30 is the show display model and will arrive back into Greystones Harbour marina in County Wicklow during October.

BJ Sales Manager James Kirwan says the show also created massive interest in second hand boats, continuing the trend of the last 12 months where well presented brokerage boats are selling quickly through BJ's three Irish offices.

#ClipperRace - Clipper Round The World Race organiser Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and America's Cup hero Sir Ben Ainslie teamed up today at the PSP Southampton Boat Show to announce a new youth prize for the next edition of the world's longest ocean race.

As Practical Boat Owner reports, the £10,000 prize is open to any youth sailor aged between 18 and 24 regardless of experience, giving them the chance to crew on the Pacific Ocean leg of the world's longest ocean race.

It's all thanks to a donation from the Clipper chairman to the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation founded by Ainslie in memory of his friend who died while training for last summer's America's Cup.

"When you take on the Pacific Ocean crossing, you are taking on something very, very special," said Knox-Johnson. "There is nothing bigger or more awesome on this planet.

"This is something that will test you and push you to limits you didn't know you had. Very few people have tackled this challenge and now it's your chance to be one of them."

Ainslie added: "It really will be a once in a lifetime experience for the competition winner."

Practical Boat Owner has more on the story HERE.

#southamptonboatshow – In addition to the boats on display and that of the tallship Pheonix visiting the PSP Southampton Boat Show will be the Royal Navy's HMS Severn (P282), which too will be open to visitors albeit for one day.

HMS Severn will be a visitor attraction next Thursday 18th September. You are invited to come board the 1,677 tonnes OPV offshore patrol vessel on that day (between 1 and 4pm) when she is berthed opposite Solent Park. It is understood that she acted as the starter ship during the Tall Ships Race from Falmouth last month.

She is the second of the River-class built by locally at Vosper Thornycroft's Woolston yard in Southampton.

The 79m vessel is based in neighbouring Portsmouth Naval Base where she is part of the Fishery Protection Squadron that inforces UK and EU laws during 275 days spent at sea annually. Other tasks for her crew of 45 can be anything from fire-fighting to disaster relief operations.

She along with her sister ships, entered service in 2003 and they replaced the Island Class Patrol Vessels, where one of the vessels was converted into a private luxury superyacht.

#southamptonboatshow – The PSP Southampton Boat Show has almost 150 boats on display and accompanied by larger visiting vessels, among them the attraction of the tallship Phoenix.

The two-masted brig Pheonix welcomes those on board during the show which continues to next Sunday 21 September.

Phoenix has starred in countless shows and films including: Alice In Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Cloud Atlas, Dr. Who and the Count Of Monte Cristo.

She is berthed in one of Europe's largest purpose-built marinas with over 2km of pontoons. So make sure you get on board the 112ft brig and explore the three decks of this vessel that could be straight out of the times of Blackbeard and his pirates!