• Up to 56 exhibitors at the International Maritime Fair offer services and products related to ship repairs, equipment, boats, rescue and leisure at sea
• Several firms show certified training programmes for sailing and working in the sector
• The ULPGC, with its extensive academic menu linked to the sea, different public institutions and essential business organisations and the municipalities of San Bartolomé de Tirajana and La Aldea de San Nicolás, are not missing their appointment with the fair either

The International Maritime Fair (FIMAR) is having an intense weekend in the surroundings of the Muelle Santa Catalina on its second day, this Saturday, 17 June. Up to 56 exhibitors, distributed in 81 stands, will exhibit their wide range of capabilities related to the marine, maritime and nautical sectors to the large public attending the event. At FIMAR, it is possible to make direct contact with institutions and companies that promote the blue economy in the city and the island and which offer knowledge, training, services and products related to the coast and the ocean: from naval repairs to sailing, sport, leisure or environmental management.

The International Sea Fair, which takes place from 16 to 18 June, is an event promoted by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council and the Port Authority of Las Palmas and organised by the Department of the City of the Sea of the capital of Gran Canaria and Infecar, Feria de Gran Canaria.

Exhibitors

Exhibitors at this twelfth edition of the International Sea Fair include entities such as Red PROMAR (GESPLAN), the PLOCAN consortium (which manages the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands) and Hoteles Escuela de Canarias (HECANSA), important business organisations such as the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands and the Provincial Federation of Small and Medium-sized Metal and New Technology Companies of Las Palmas (FEMEPA). And the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), with a traditional connection with the sea and a clear vocation for disseminating information to the public and promoting its services and academic capabilities.

The Santa Lucía de Tirajana Town Council and the La Aldea de San Nicolás Town Council are also at this fair edition as municipalities with notable activity related to their coastline and the sea.

FIMAR also features exhibitors from the Spanish Navy, offering public visits to its Maritime Action Vessel (BAM) Relámpago.

Also at the fair are the sports clubs Piragüismo Alcaravaneras, the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria, the Club Maritimo Varadero de Gran Canaria and the Club Deportivo Calypso Atlántico, as well as the Federación de Vela Latina Canaria de Bates and the Asociación Nacional de Patrones Profesionales de Embarcaciones de Recreo (ANPPER), which offers information to the public about its training programmes.

Training is also the focus of the activities of firms such as the Academia Náutica Arcos and the Academia y Gestoría Náutica Blanco. Or the Stier Group, which offers certified training for the jobs required in the offshore sector (on offshore vessels working in deep water).

Maritime insurance companies such as FIATC Seguros and Caser Seguros Grupo Helvetia also attended the big FIMAR event—and accessories firms such as Arteliér 48, Chacho-Chacha and Aloe-aromas Luz & Mar Canarias.

The fair also features a wide range of companies providing services and products related to the marine, maritime and nautical sectors. Among them are equipment, recreational or rescue boats, diving equipment, components, environmental management services, naval and nautical repairs, sanitation and a wide range of capacities within these activities.

This list includes Keep Sailing, EPC Centro de Proyectos, Seabob España, Motonautica Las Palmas, Taliarte Distribuciones Náuticas, Canarias Multináutica, AloNautica, APS Motor Canarias, OneUp, IMEF Rescate, Isa Boats Canarias, Sepcan Marina, Navalia Yachting Canarias, Marine, Nacho Sport, Motoras Nauticas Islas Canarias, Domingo Alonso Powersports, Fifo diving shop, Jet Cars Robert Konstantin, Rolnautic Las Palmas, Náutica Motor, Alisios, Esnautica, Distrimar, Wurth Canarias and Remolques Canarios, as well as the Cofradía de Pescadores de San Cristóbal.

Leisure plan

In addition to professional and informative activities, FIMAR regularly captivates its audience with an extensive plan of leisure activities at sea and on land. An agenda that includes boat and pedal skate excursions, exhibitions and regattas on the water surface in different modalities (including Adapted Sailing), sea baptisms in Lateen Sailing or Sailing and tours on the tourist bus inside the port area (on board the vehicles of the company that provides this service in the capital of Gran Canaria, City Sightseeing).

All the activities are also free on a first-come, first-served basis until total capacity is reached. And they are repeated regularly throughout the fair, which concludes in the middle of the day tomorrow, Sunday, 18 June.

Children’s area

FIMAR 2023 also offers families an extensive plan of activities for the youngest family members, including children under three years of age. Educational workshops, family crafts with recycled materials, skateboards, XL format games and various activities complete this agenda, focused exclusively on children.

Catering area

An area of the fair is also reserved as a food and beverage area for the public. Several food trucks provide this service throughout the fair’s opening day, with different types of food and places reserved for eating.

Informative talks

FIMAR also presents an exciting agenda of informative talks, with the presence of more than twenty experts in different areas linked to the sea and the blue economy. Climate change, sustainable development, marine life, biodiversity, beach activities and even history are some of the topics to be addressed by specialists and teachers. Many are linked to the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The talks are also free to attend in one of the leading marquees of the fair. And they are translated into sign language.

The entire programme’s details can be consulted on the official website of the International Sea Fair.