S. Korean boat show draws keen foreign interests

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Companies showcasing their marine tech products at the
Korea International Boat Show 2010 are grabbing the attention of overseas
contractors, organizers said Friday.
The five-day boat exhibition, now open in the city of Hwaseong, about 45
kilometers southwest of Seoul, features 449 local and overseas manufacturers of
boats and yachts showcasing a range of boats and yachts, as well as boat gear and
manufacturing components, according to the Gyeonggi provincial government.
The government office said that Ilshin Emtech Co., a local firm participating in
the fair, held business talks with 20 contractors from different countries like
Malaysia and New Zealand to sell its boat designed particularly for the purpose
of cleaning the sea.
The firm's so-called sea cleaner boat is meant to remove sea wastes, including
heavy oil slicks and thin oil film on the water's surface, the office said.
The cleaning ship has drawn particularly keen interest as the recent oil spill in
the Gulf of Mexico has underscored the need for such technology, it said.
Samyung ENC Co., a maker of global positioning systems for marine vehicles, has
also been a big draw, with overseas buyers seeking business with the firm that
controls 90 percent of the boat equipment market.
Hyundai Seasall, a spin-off of Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, also added to the
boat show's profile, according to the office. Hyundai Seasall produces
automobile-type diesel engines for small vessels.
"Hyundai Seasall's third annual participation in the show helped a lot in
expanding sales channel," a company official said.
The boat fair runs through Sunday.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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