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The Get Set for Workboat 2050 series returns with a year-round programme of online, live and in-conversation discussions exploring the issues shaping the commercial marine sector.
Bringing together operators, suppliers, policymakers and industry specialists, the series will examine practical responses to the challenges and opportunities facing the workboat community, including electrification, finance, skills, digitalisation, decarbonisation and autonomy.
The programme begins online at 11:00 BST on 30 September 2026 with Batteries & Electrification: Are Our Ports Ready? As battery-electric vessels and shore-power infrastructure become increasingly important to the sector’s transition, the session will ask whether ports, harbours and operators are ready. Discussion will cover lithium-ion battery safety and emergency response, alongside the growing regulatory drivers for berth-level electrification and shore power.
On 17 November, the series heads to Harrogate for Funding the Future Fleet, an audience-led “In Conversation” session examining how workboats are financed, owned and brought to market. The discussion will consider the role of traditional ownership, leasing and emerging finance models, alongside the implications for flexibility, insurance, investment and long-term fleet growth.
Regular panellists Debbie Mason, Fay Reeve, Andy Page and Kerrie Forster will be joined by Peter Curtis of Diverse Marine, with audience questions helping to shape the debate.
The 2027 programme opens with Skills - a Changing Industry & the Workforce of Tomorrow, an “In Conversation” session, focused on how businesses can attract, develop and retain new talent. The conversation will examine apprenticeships, vocational pathways and closer collaboration between employers, educators and policymakers.
In March, the team will be back for another "In Conversation" session: The Smarter Workboat: Can Digital & AI Save You Money? This debate will explore how operators can use digital technology and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and reduce costs, while addressing cyber risk and the responsibilities that come with greater connectivity.
Further sessions in the programme include:
· February 2027: A follow-up Ministry of Defence (MOD) session, with further details to be confirmed.
· April 2027: Get Set for Workboat 2050 Live in Rotterdam, covering port energy transition, future fuels, shore power, and digitalisation.
· May 2027: Get Set for Seawork Online Conference, helping exhibitors and attendees prepare for the annual exhibition.
· 15 June 2027: A live Get Set for Workboat 2050 session at Seawork.
The Get Set for Workboat 2050 series will provide insight, discussion and a practical perspective on workboat operations, helping the sector prepare for the evolving advancement in technology, investment and workforce-skills ahead.
Further information about speakers and registration will be released ahead of each session.
