Hugues du Plessis d’Argentré, Director, DG SOGENA: EUROMARITIME’s ambition is to bring together all the players in the maritime industry
Hugues du Plessis d’Argentré, Director, DG SOGENA
An exclusive interview to Baltic Journalist Maritime Club of the Baltic Sea & Space Cluster (BSSC)
By Marek Grzybowski
EUROMARITIME’s ambition is to bring together all the players in the maritime industry in France, but also throughout Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean sea, and even the Middle East and Africa. That’s why we’re holding the show in Marseille.
At EUROMARITIME we have an area dedicated to cyber security that we call SEA-IT Security. Here we welcome companies specialising in the fight against cyber threats. This SEA-IT Security space is run by the France Cyber Maritime organisation, which was set up 3 years ago with the aim of bringing together all those involved in the fight against cyber threats in the maritime sector.
EUROMARITIME is not really intended to deal with defence issues, which will be at the heart of the EURONAVAL exhibition that we are organising in November 2024 in Paris – Villepinte.
Marek Grzybowski: Maritime business in Europe is developing slowly after the pandemic. The world economy has slowed down. Forwarding, ports and logistics are experiencing a reduced demand for containers. Demand for the transport of crude oil and LNG by sea has increased. European shipyards focus on the production of passenger and offshore ships. The Navy orders new ships. Offshore wind farms are developing. Maritime tourism is recovering. Maritime business is also the production of fish and seafood, it is sea tourism and exploration, it is science and education. The maritime economy is a large area of innovation. Can you briefly describe the EUROMARITIME event?
Hugues du Plessis d’Argentré:
EUROMARITIME is the trade show for the entire maritime industry, with the exception of boating, which has its own show (the Nautic), and defense, which also has its own show, EURONAVAL.
EUROMARITIME’s ambition is to bring together all the players in the maritime industry in France, but also throughout Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean sea, and even the Middle East and Africa. That’s why we’re holding the show in Marseille.
As with any industry show, the main focus is on technological innovation. As you say, innovation is essential to all our areas of activity, including shipbuilding, maritime transport, ports, fishing, new energies and all maritime activities.
EURONAVAL has been the showcase for this innovation since 2013!
Marek Grzybowski: The maritime industry is currently developing under the pressure of dynamic implementation of innovations. Ships and ports, freight transport, offshore installations and tourism depend on IT, AI, spacial space systems, VR and IoT. All these areas are at risk of cyberattacks. What proposals does EUROMARITIME offer for the presentation of the business sector, science and companies just entering the maritime market in exhibition halls?
Hugues du Plessis d’Argentré:
You’re right, a large proportion of technological innovation stems directly from advances in computing and AI. As such, they are particularly exposed to cyber risks.
However, most of them are cyber-resistant “by design”, i.e. their inventors have taken the cyber threat into account right from the design and industrialisation stages. Unfortunately, the threat itself is also innovative and protection tools need to be regularly updated.
At EUROMARITIME we have an area dedicated to cyber security that we call SEA-IT Security. Here we welcome companies specialising in the fight against cyber threats. This SEA-IT Security space is run by the France Cyber Maritime organisation, which was set up 3 years ago with the aim of bringing together all those involved in the fight against cyber threats in the maritime sector.
Marek Grzybowski: EUROMARITIME is an opportunity to present the latest achievements in science and technology. Oceans and coasts are threatened by pollution. Decarbonisation in maritime transport, fisheries and maritime tourism is slow. EUROMARITIME 2024 renews the SEAprotect extension launched in 2022. What is the purpose of this offer and activity? What does SEAprotect focus on? Who are you addressing the offer to?
Hugues du Plessis d’Argentré:
The maritime world has fully embraced the need for an energy transition for all its activities, and particularly for maritime transport.
This transition will be at the heart of almost all the conferences of EUROMARITIME. How can we reduce our impact? What are the possibilities for new fuels and new means of propulsion? We’ll be talking about sailing propulsion, LNG and future low-carbon fuels.
There is still a lot to be done, but the movement has started and is set to gain momentum over the next few years. EUROMARITIME wants to make its contribution by presenting the innovations that are improving the carbon footprint of maritime transport and by showcasing all the players in the maritime transport of the future.
Marek Grzybowski: In 2020, Euromaritime created a “Research” space bringing together several research institutes. Decarbonisation in ports and maritime transport is slower than planned. The population of fauna and flora is declining. Warming causes significant changes in the environment. What topics will be discussed during this part of EUROMARITIME 2024?
Hugues du Plessis d’Argentré:
Research is the preparation for the future. It is the research centres, the researchers and the engineers who are inventing our future and who must ensure that it is a better one. EUROMARITIME would like to welcome people who are working on future innovations to its SEA Research area and give them the opportunity to exchange ideas with each other and with the maritime community, which will be meeting in Marseille on this occasion.
SEA Research is a great opportunity to compare and advance projects which, for the most part, aim to reduce human pollution and harm to the environment and the oceans, while improving the performance, safety and efficiency of human activities at sea.
Marek Grzybowski: EUROMARITIME takes place in times of war in Europe. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we are witnessing attacks on ports and ships, as well as on critical infrastructure such as bridges and dams. Rockets and drones are used. War uses cyber attacks and satellite systems. Will there also be an opportunity to present the latest defense systems against war at sea and in port during the fair and conference?
Hugues du Plessis d’Argentré:
EUROMARITIME is not really intended to deal with defence issues, which will be at the heart of the EURONAVAL exhibition that we are organising in November 2024 in Paris – Villepinte.
However, to take account of the current climate of insecurity and conflict, this year we wanted to tackle the subject of government action at sea and the coastguard function. So it’s not high-intensity combat that EUROMARITIME will be tackling, but the safety, security and protection of ships, ports and people.
It’s a topical subject that will be attracting numerous delegations from French and foreign administrations responsible for maritime safety in the Mediterranean and Europe.
Marek Grzybowski: Thank you for your answers