The International WorkBoat Show was held from 3–5 December in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a trade-only conference and expo for commercial vessel owners, operators and builders, along with the vendors and suppliers that serve them, this year’s Show positioned 1,000 leading maritime and offshore companies in front of more than 13,000 attendees from over 40 countries around the world.
Attending for the second consecutive year, the Australian Stand featured Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) and Australian Commercial Marine Group (ACMG) members including Globatech, Nebo Fleet, Poly Flex Group and Spear Green Design. Whilst Ayres Composites, Maritime Professional Solutions and Muir Engineering also exhibited on their own independent stands.
All major U.S. shipyards were represented alongside an extensive range of international equipment and service suppliers. The exhibition halls were filled with fleet owners, operators and key decision-makers, creating a rich landscape for meaningful discussions and new business opportunities.
Jeremy Spear, Director of Spear Green Design and President of AIMEX attended the show for the first time and commented on his participation; “For organisations seeking to supply goods and services to the U.S. workboat market, WorkBoat 2025 is an event I highly recommend. Its scale, professionalism and exceptional executive participation make it an invaluable platform for anyone serious about this industry.”
He continued; “A standout feature was the unusually strong presence of senior leadership. Unlike many international marine trade shows, CEOs, directors, senior managers and business development leaders from across the sector attended in force and made themselves readily accessible. Their willingness to engage with all participants created a highly productive environment rarely seen at events of this scale. Major contracts, some extremely large, were finalised or signed during the show, while countless smaller businesses reported strong, high-quality commercial activity throughout the week. As one attendee aptly put it – This show is nuts!”
Launching their tracking solution for workboat fleets at the Show in 2024, Nebo Fleet returned to the Show for the second year, whilst new AIMEX member Globatech arrived fresh from Metstrade in Amsterdam to showcase one of their product ranges ENVsonic, targeting the U.S. market.
Poly Flex showcased their advanced polymer technology for vibration control in the marine industry and continued to make a strong impression with their product range.
The show provided invaluable opportunities for Australian exhibitors to engage with international buyers, discuss emerging industry trends and form strategic partnerships, affirming AIMEX and ACMG’s ongoing commitment to promoting Australian excellence on the global stage.
David Good, CEO of AIMEX commented “After the success at last year’s WorkBoat Show we received a better location for the Australian stand right on the main spine of the show which significantly increased the traffic for exhibitors. We have again locked in this same location for 2026 and look forward to having more members benefit from attending this show.”
Jeremy Spear reiterated; “I commend the organisers and exhibitors of WorkBoat 2025 in New Orleans for delivering a standout event for the global commercial and workboat sector. This year’s show was exceptionally busy, highly organised and impressively executed, an industry gathering where exhibitors clearly invested significant effort and resources to present themselves at the highest standard.”
The International WorkBoat reinforced its position as one of the most important trade events in the commercial marine calendar, with the show earmarked for repeat attendance in 2026 by AIMEX and ACMG Members.
