HUNDREDS of the world's leading marine and maritime firms will flock to Southampton today (Tues, June 16) for the start of Seawork International 2015.

The showcase returns to the city's port for the 18th consecutive year for the next three days, and will feature 184 organisations from the South Coast alone.

More than 7,500 visitors from across the world are expected at the event, which will feature 600 exhibitors from 53 countries who will be showing off their products, technologies and services.

The companies exhibiting their wares range from ship design and electronics to legal advice and brokering and it is expected that more than 40 new products and services will make their global debuts today alone.

The event, which takes place in three halls, the quayside and a marina at the Port of Southampton, will be an opportunity for people in the marine and maritime sectors to learn about new opportunities and discuss potential deals.

The suppliers for the event have been drawn businesses based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Fareham's Walcon Marina have provided the pontoons for the purpose-built marina that allows attendees to look at 62 vessels ranging from dive scooters to tugs.

Isle of Wight-based South Boats will be bringing their new wind farm service vessel that has been bought by fellow island firm Seacat Services.

Burgess Marine from Portchester is set to sign a contract to take delivery of the new wind farm service vessel MO2 from Mainprize Offshore at Seawork.

In addition to the exhibitors there will be a number of events, talks and demonstrations taking place over the next three days.

Today, new exhibitor Smart Surfaces Ltd will be making a joint announcement with Blyth Workcats Ltd about the first UK use of a silicone antifouling product, and will give details about a new vessel that will take advantage of the hull treatment technology.

And at 4pm the Carbon Trust will host an open reception allowing people to talk to the "innovators" working on its offshore wind accelerator programme.

Drumgrange Ltd will be demonstrating its new acoustic hailing device at 11am while at 1pm BCB Marine will demonstrate self-inflating body armour.

Tomorrow (Weds, June 17), exhibitors can tuck into the harbour masters' lunch, sponsored by Tideland Signal, while a new vessel will be named by CTruk on one of the berths outside the exhibition halls.

Icom UK Ltd will introduce its new free IP advanced radio system at 11am before GPLink shows of its new vessel monitoring system at 1pm.

And on Thursday (June 18) there will be interactive demonstrations at Landau UK's stand, including the MLS fuel purification system, Argus thermal imaging cameras and the ROTINOR dive propulsion vehicle.

Entrance is free and the exhibition will take place today, tomorrow (Weds, June 17) and Thursday (June 18).

To find out more visit www.seawork.com