SMM 2024 – The Roundup!

Last month, we enjoyed SMM 2024 in Hamburg, the biennial event for the commercial maritime industry. We wanted to attend to ensure that the industry sees us as an ever-present player despite our normally being rather understated!

This exhibition event is our favourite, as it’s attended by all the right people, ensuring good networking opportunities with customers, suppliers, and service partners.

We also enjoyed exhibiting our primary products, some of which included the X2 VDR, our Mini Data Recorders (X-VHFR and X-MDR), and our best-selling engineer tool, the NMEA 0183 tester, otherwise known as the X300. We also introduced two new products, the SMIDS Pro Satellite Speed Log (which includes Panama Canal non-portable piloting aid functionality) and the portable security alarm system DKGRD (previously iteration was known as Deckguard).

“Often we deal with many people online, via email or over the phone, but to meet personally, there’s no substitute. SMM was a fantastic opportunity to meet long-time friends, build new relationships and spend time getting to know each other better.” – Martin Cox, Company Director.

X300

Our products, especially the X300, received significant attention from event visitors. This compact, cost-effective unit for engineers has consistently been a preferred choice, selling in bulk over the years. Its popularity and proven performance over the years has offered consistent assurance to users, that this clever little device remains as the go-to engineering tool for all engineers.

The X2 VDR & S-VDR

The X2 VDR is rapidly gaining popularity, even surpassing other well-established brands that have long dominated the market. This growth is evident in AMI Marine’s increased market share for the VDR, a success that was prominently showcased at SMM 2024. Ship owners and service engineers were eager to learn more about the X2, drawn to its user-friendly design, quality, and our company’s solidified reputation for excellent after-sales customer service.

“Customers were particularly impressed with the X2 VDR, largely due to its user-friendly design and high-quality construction. The positive feedback about the X2’s quality, in conjunction with reliable after-sales service, is also supported by the fact that our customers have direct access to AMI Marine decision-makers. The X2’s quality, user-friendly operation and reliable after-sales service were all key points of discussion at the 2024 SMM event.” – Martin Cox.

Mini Recorder Range

At SMM this year, our Mini Recorder range was a hot topic of discussion. The focus was on how vessels under 3000 GRT can benefit from operating this equipment. Crew safety and efficient operations monitoring can be upheld effectively with an operational mini-data recorder, which can help ensure that customer cargo is being safely transported to its intended destination.

Insurance companies are also starting to see the benefit of these mini “black box recorders”, which can help towards more cost-effective insurance premiums for smaller ships that don’t require a VDR. These mini data recorders can also be used with CCTV and fixed or float-free capsules, holding protected voyage data for playback in the event of the vessel being submerged in a sinking incident. Mini data recorders can also be used for vessel monitoring on land, in ports, and in harbour offices, recording real-time data that can be used for vessel movement tracking and communications.

These discussions also raised the question of whether now is the time for the IMO to introduce new regulations for smaller vessels.

The affordability of the AMI Marine Mini Data Recorders, the X-MDR and X-VHFR, compared to the standard VDR, makes them a viable option for smaller vessel operators.

SMIDS Pro

Our team at SMM 2024 also presented our brand new SMIDS Pro; although still not having officially gone to market, it carries a lineage edge over the last 28-plus years from our SMIDS MKII legacy system. The NEW SMIDS Pro SDME Docking System, which is designed for multiple applications, including the Panama Canal’s new mandated criteria on Non-Portable Piloting Aids, was brilliantly received by various international brands looking at how they could best market the system to their already established customer base. Ship owners and operators were also keen to monitor the SMIDS Pro approval process. We will endeavour to keep our customers updated as the process develops. If you would like an update on the process of the SMIDS Pro and its approval status, please email Martin Cox, our Company Director, directly at martin.cox@amimarine.com.

Our team also enjoyed the show, visiting other stands and getting to know representatives from familiar and unknown brands. The event also afforded some downtime in the evenings to host suppliers and customers for drinks.

To summarise.

“It’s a brilliant opportunity to meet people from all corners of the earth. It’s something that attracts everyone in the commercial maritime industry. Overall, I think it was an excellent experience.

We look forward to seeing better sales growth, the development of new products, and new relationships that will lead to fascinating opportunities in due course, whether it be single shipowners, fleet managers, shipyards, or, mainly, I think, with the Mini Data Recorder trend.” – Martin Cox.

For more information on SMM 2024 – The Roundup! talk to AMI Marine (UK) Ltd