The maritime industry is gathering in New Orleans this September for Helm Conference 2025, and the stakes are higher than ever. With record-breaking attendance, sponsorship, and speaker participation, this year’s event isn’t just a conference—it’s a barometer of the sector’s priorities and a proving ground for the technologies and ideas that will shape its future.
Helm Operations CEO Nolan Barclay puts it bluntly: “We’re not just solving today’s challenges—we’re shaping the future of maritime operations.” That’s a bold claim, but the numbers back it up. Over 200 maritime professionals, 12 industry-leading sponsors, and more than 20 external speakers are converging to tackle the big issues: safety, AI, sustainability, and workforce transformation. This isn’t a gathering of bystanders; it’s a convening of the industry’s most active players.
What’s driving this surge in participation? For one, the maritime sector is under pressure to modernize—fast. The push for decarbonization, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency isn’t slowing down, and neither is the demand for practical solutions. Helm Conference 2025 is positioning itself as the place to find those solutions, with hands-on training, certification workshops, and peer-to-peer networking at an unprecedented scale.
But here’s the real test: Will this year’s record turnout translate into tangible progress? The agenda suggests it might. With sessions on AI-driven fleet management, real-world sustainability strategies, and workforce development, the conference is tackling the gaps between theory and execution. The presence of major sponsors—representing maritime tech, services, and operations—signals that this isn’t just talk. These are the companies investing in the tools and training that will move the needle.
The maritime industry has long been cautious about change, but Helm Conference 2025 feels different. It’s not just about adapting to disruption—it’s about leading it. If the energy Barclay describes is real, this could be the year the sector shifts from reactive to proactive, from following trends to setting them. The question now is whether the momentum will carry beyond the conference halls and into the fleets, terminals, and operations where real change happens.