Thirty-one local marine businesses from across Suffolk and Essex are at the London Boat Show which starts today (Friday, January 8).

The 62nd annual show, which runs until January 17 at ExCeL London, features more than 300 marine brands and will be showcasing thousands of products, services and boats from leading British and international companies.

Exhibitors range from world-class boat builders to fashion, travel operators and watersports companies.

British Marine recently published figures which indicate that the leisure marine industry in the East contributes up to £291million to the UK Industry’s £2.905billion total turnover, with more than 3,804 people from the region employed in the sector.

Among these are 11 companies from Suffolk exhibiting at the London Boat Show, including A.S.A.P. Supplies of Beccles, Abersoch Offaxis of Dennington, near Framlingham, Bury St Edmunds-based Allspeed UK, East Anglian Sea School at Levington, International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC) at Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Intramore, Lowestoft, James Reinman Marine at Bury St Edmunds, Marine Teak of Oulton Broad, Suffolk Yacht Harbour at Levington, Wade Marine of Bury St Edmunds, and Webbs Maritime of Ipswich.

Anglia Yacht Brokerage will be showcasing its traditional-styled trailers, while Intramore is showing a collection from PortaBote, described as the world’s most portable folding boat.

Twenty marine businesses from Essex are at the show, including Boats Ltd, Premium Liferaft Services of Burnham-on-Crouch and Wilks Rubber Plastics of Maldon. Braintree-based Timage will be showcasing a new range of marine audio systems. The Massey Shaw & Marine Vessels Preservation Society is featuring a slice of our maritime past with the arrival of the iconic London fire boat, Massey Shaw, at the dockside.

As well as the latest trends, technologies and innovations, new features for this year’s event include a 60s Revival attraction which will transport visitors back to the swinging 60s, a Mediterranean Bay, a purpose built pool featuring watersports demonstrations and opportunities to get out on the water, and The London Boat Show Theatre, which will feature some of the world’s boating experts talking on topics ranging from technology and innovations, to engine maintenance and around the world expeditions.

Murray Ellis, managing director of British Marine Boat Shows, said: “At the heart of Europe’s most pioneering city, we are celebrating the rich heritage of British boating at this iconic event.

“Visitors will be taken on a journey of discovery, from reliving the great moments of our time to technologies of the future which will revolutionise the way we get out on the water.”