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Dec 2-4, 2026  •  Morial Convention Center  •  New Orleans, LA
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Conference Program

The Conference Program Built for Industry Professionals​

The International WorkBoat Show Conference Program delivers timely, practical education for professionals across the global maritime industry. Focused on the most pressing issues in the workboat and commercial marine sectors, the program is designed to inform, inspire, and provide actionable insights.

Curated by the WorkBoat and National Fisherman editorial teams, sessions feature industry leaders and technical experts sharing real-world perspectives on emerging trends, operational challenges, regulatory updates, innovation, and business strategy.

With sessions held across various locations, the Conference Program offers diverse formats and specialized content for every corner of the maritime industry.

Speaker Lineup Coming Summer 2026

Our program is curated by the WorkBoat and National Fisherman editorial teams. Want to share your expertise on stage?

Submit a Speaker Proposal

Call for Speakers is open through April 30th, 2026.

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What You'll Learn

Sessions cover a diverse range of topics on the most pressing issues in the commercial marine industry today. Below is a sample of what you can expect. 

New Marine Technology

Hybrid propulsion, alternative fuels, emissions compliance, and the business case for going green. Hear from operators who've made the transition.

Workforce Development

Tackling the crew shortage head-on: Recruitment pipelines, retention strategies, credentialing pathways, training innovation, and building the next generation of maritime professionals.

Marine Surveying

Best practices in hull and machinery surveys, condition assessments, classification requirements, and the evolving role of technology in modern marine surveying.

Regulations

Navigate Coast Guard requirements, Subchapter M compliance, environmental mandates, and international standards with guidance from regulators and legal experts.

Shipbuilding & Shipyards

New construction trends, yard capacity challenges, material innovations, and the evolving economics of building workboats in today's market.

Engineering Insights

Practical engineering knowledge for the working fleet, covering hull design, structural analysis, systems integration, and lessons learned from the field and the drafting table.

Propulsion

Diesel, LNG, hydrogen, battery-electric, and everything in between. Deep dives into propulsion system selection, performance optimization, and next-generation powertrains.

Green Technology

Alternative fuels, hybrid-electric systems, emissions reduction strategies, and the business case for sustainability. Hear from operators leading the industry's green transition.

Autonomous Vessels

From remote-operated tugs to fully autonomous survey boats, explore the technology, regulatory landscape, and real-world deployments pushing unmanned operations forward.

Where It Happens

Our conference program takes place across four different platforms. 

Main Stage

Keynotes & Industry Panels

Electric Hybrid Stage

Alternative technology & hybrid focused programming

Classrooms

Deep-dive technical sessions

Underwater Intervention

Subsea and underwater operations focused