THE Port of Southampton is preparing to welcome hundreds of business bosses and marine experts for Europe’s fastest growing seafarers’ exhibition in Hampshire.

Thousands of people from across the world are expected to head to Southampton’s Canary Islands Fruit Terminal for the 18th annual Seawork International in just over a fortnight.

Billed as Europe’s largest commercial marine and workboat exhibition, Seawork will be home to hundreds of businesses where all aspects of the industry will be represented.

Scores of vessels will be displayed at the Herbert Walker Avenue venue where buyers, sellers, innovators and legislators will come together for two days in June.

Many of the world’s leading marine designs will be showcased at the two-day show which is expected to bring in more than 7,500 visitors and £2million into the city in addition to boats sales made at the event.

Firms from as far away as China, America and Australia are among those to have booked up and with six months to go 80 per cent of space at the custom-made marina is sold or reserved.

There will be 550 exhibitors and the unique on-the-water demonstration facility with about 70 vessels.

More than 100 marine companies from the southern region will be represented.

Seawork’s free two-day conference will deliver a programme of sessions embracing technical discussions, industry updates and emerging hot topics.

Nominations are rolling in for the Seawork Innovations Showcase, whereby cutting edge technology and new products are revealed.

There will also be a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Maritime Professional of the Year Award, all of which culminate in an Award Ceremony hosted by champion power-boater, Shelley Jory, on Tuesday June 16.

Mercator Media founded Seawork in Southampton in 1998.

This year’s event will take place from June 16 and 17. Reserve a place at seawork.com.