SMM 2026 will open in Hamburg on September 1 with an Official Opening Conference focusing on maritime security, resilience, autonomy and the technologies shaping the future of shipping.
Held under the theme “Autonomy & Security: Shaping a Resilient and Intelligent Maritime Future”, the opening conference will bring together representatives from governments, international maritime organisations, shipping companies and the wider maritime industry.
The conference will examine how geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, cyber threats and technological change are affecting global shipping and maritime infrastructure.
Hamburg and Norway perspectives
The programme will begin with a welcome from Hamburg Messe und Congress, followed by discussions on security, infrastructure and resilience in Hamburg, one of Europe’s major maritime hubs.
Senator Dr Melanie Leonhard will outline the perspective of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, focusing on the public frameworks supporting maritime security, infrastructure and resilience.
Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, will broaden the discussion to the North Sea and address international cooperation in trade, the energy transition and the sustainable use of marine resources.
Panel to examine maritime security risks
The first panel, titled “Securing the Maritime Domain”, will examine the evolving risks facing shipping and the importance of maritime security to global trade and supply-chain resilience.
The panel will feature:
- Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary, German Federal Ministry of Transport
- Emma Salisbury, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute and Associate Fellow, Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre
- John Denholm, Chairman, International Chamber of Shipping
The discussion comes as shipping operators face an increasingly complex operating environment involving geopolitical disruptions, regional conflicts, cyber risks and threats to critical maritime infrastructure.
India to present its maritime growth and connectivity outlook
India will feature in the opening programme through an address by Shri Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India.
His presentation, “India Perspective: Global Maritime Growth & Connectivity”, will examine India’s expanding role in the global maritime sector against the backdrop of investments in ports and logistics infrastructure.
India’s participation will place its port, shipping and logistics development within the broader discussion on global connectivity and maritime trade.
Autonomous shipping and maritime technology in focus
The second panel, “From Steel to Software – Autonomy as the industrial reality check”, will examine the growing role of software, artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies in maritime operations.
Technologies such as AI-supported route optimisation, predictive maintenance, smart ship systems and autonomous operations are increasingly being developed to improve operational efficiency and support changes in shipping business models.
The panel will feature:
- Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO, Everllence
- Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, DNV Group President and CEO, DNV
- Dr. Gaby Bornheim, President, German Shipowners’ Association
- Anu Ahola, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, Meyer Turku
The conference will conclude with Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, who will officially open SMM 2026.
SMM 2026 opening hours
SMM 2026 will run for four days in Hamburg. The exhibition will be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm from Tuesday to Thursday, followed by opening hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday.
The Official Opening Conference is included in the SMM 2026 visitor ticket.
