It just keeps on growing and this year's, seawork2003, the international marine exhibition and conference staged annually in Southampton docks, is going to be the biggest yet.

In excess of 4,500 visitors are expected to flock to the city's Western Docks later this month for the waterfront showcase now the largest and most important of its kind in Europe.

The event's strong reputation is reflected in the fact that exhibitor figures for seawork2003 have risen by 33 per cent to more than 320 and that the specially constructed pontoon has been extended to accommodate over 40 vessels.

It was in 1998 that the first seawork was held in Southampton with about 100 exhibitors and since then the exhibition has grown each year.

One of the major marina attractions will be the chance to see Ocean Dynamics' 11 metre open rigid inflatable boat in which skipper Bear Grylls and his crew will attempt the high latitude transatlantic crossing later this summer.

The unique, purpose built craft will be leaving for Nova Scotia, Canada from Southampton docks immediately after seawork2003 closes.

This is one of the most advanced, high specification RIBs ever developed which will head for the north of Scotland via Labrador, Greenland and Iceland.

In the exhibition's Small Business Enterprise Zone more than 65 companies will be showing off some of the latest products and services while the number of overseas stands has a reached a new high.

Companies will be coming from as far as the USA, Scandinavia and the whole of Western Europe to be represented at the show being held in the Canary Islands Fruit Terminal, which will be transformed into an exhibition hall and conference centre, between Tuesday, June 17 and Thursday, June 19.

Aimed specifically at the commercial sector and port operators, the event has the backing of all of the major marine trade organisations and professional associations, many of which hold their annual meetings and seminars at the event.