WorkBoat.com Website Launches Today, Providing the Most Comprehensive Online Resource for Commercial Maritime Industry; Maritime Professionals can Register Now for FREE Charter Membership

    NEW ORLEANS, LA, November 19, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The commercial maritime industry didn't have a comprehensive and interactive online resource for the latest news, hottest products, events calendar, jobs, and business resources. Until today - thanks to the launch of the www.WorkBoat.com website. Maritime professionals can register today for a FREE Charter Membership and immediately begin taking advantage of the website's benefits.

"Workboat.com provides maritime professionals with a single source to access all of the resources that will help improve business and keep leaders on top of the latest news and information," said Mike Lodato, vice president, Diversified Business Communications, which developed and manages the new website. "Workboat.com is designed to be an online community format, available for free 24/7."

Diversified has long been a leader in the maritime industry, producing North America's largest maritime trades shows, the International WorkBoat Show and Pacific Maritime Expo, and publishing leading industry magazines, WorkBoat and National Fisherman.

Lodato said the addition of the dynamic WorkBoat.com site also allows Diversified to offer maritime businesses one source for harnessing the power of the three legs of the marketing stool - face-to-face, print and on-line resources.

"In today's economy and for long term business growth, it is important that the maritime industry has the tools to take advantage of multiple platforms to reach their customers," he noted. "WorkBoat.com adds to the mix, by providing the portal to the workboat industry."

Benefits of Membership
Lodato said a WorkBoat.com membership gives maritime industry professionals access to exclusive content including: commercial marine news and information; peer-to-peer discussion and interaction; ability to rate and comment on articles and blogs; Buyer's Guide searchable by product, company and keyword; and, a free weekly subscription to WorkBoat eNews.

Commercial maritime professionals can register today for a FREE Charter Membership by visiting www.WorkBoat.com and immediately begin taking advantage of the website's benefits:

Commercial Marine News and Information from 500 Industry Sources
WorkBoat.com has a powerful search tool that combs hundreds of sites to deliver search results relevant to jobs and businesses, saving time and increasing efficiency.

Peer-to-Peer Discussion and Interaction
Professionals working on the inland and coastal waters have issues and challenges uniquely their own--from safety to operations, environmental matters to legislation, communications to insurance, and more. As a member of WorkBoat.com, members can tap the expertise of others in the community by posing a question in the discussion forum. Members can also share their own opinions and experience.

Buyer's Guide
The Buyer's Guide has information on 700+ International WorkBoat Show exhibitors and other commercial marine suppliers that build, service, and operate commercial marine vessels. This robust directory is searchable by product and company, and with most of the entries accompanied by detailed descriptions and photos, members will be able to find just what they are looking for.

Free Weekly newsletter
WorkBoat eNews keeps professionals updated on happenings in the WorkBoat.com community with links to the latest news, commentary, discussion topics, and media. A subscription to WorkBoat eNews comes with the free membership to WorkBoat.com.

WorkBoat Magazine Current Issue and Archives
The current issue and archives from North America's authoritative commercial marine publication are at a member's fingertips. The archives are also searchable. This allows members to quick get WorkBoat's experienced editors' take on products and issues, such as boats, gear, safety, environmental and legislative issues and more.

Industry Financial Data
The WorkBoat Indices (consisting of the Composite Index, WorkBoat Suppliers Index, WorkBoat Operators Index and WorkBoat Shipyard Index), Tonnage Indicators, OSV Day Rates, Fleet Utilization, Island River Tonnage, and OSV Date Rates are conveniently located in one place, giving easy access to data that's critical for decision-making.

Video Library and Photo Gallery
Check out videos and photos submitted by members of WorkBoat.com. Members can post their own photos and videos in categories including: Launchings & Christenings; Construction & Repair; Vessels; Underway Crew / At Work; Search & Rescue; Accidents; Onboard Equipment; Industry Events & Meetings; and, Just for Fun.

Classifieds and Jobs
Thousands of commercial marine professionals will visit WorkBoat.com each month, looking not only for news and information, but also for products, services and employment opportunities.

Free Classified Ad
Have a job to fill? Equipment to sell? WorkBoat.com members can run a classified ad for free for one month.

Construction Survey
This annual survey of construction activity at workboat-building yards provides a detailed picture of the state of the industry, including vessels under construction and under contract. WorkBoat magazine editors put the statistics into context, giving insight into the workboat industry's state and its potential impact on individual businesses.

Diesel Directory
This directory contains the marine diesel manufacturers' models that are marketed to the workboat industry and an editorial overview of this critical segment of the commercial marine industry.

To secure a free Charter Membership in WorkBoat.com, visit www.WorkBoat.com.

WorkBoat.com - An Interactive Portal to the Maritime Industry
"We have designed WorkBoat.com to respond to the needs of the industry," Lodato commented. "The home page provides maritime professional with news, information and resources in a very robust, interactive format."

Members can also check out the latest industry news and articles in categories including: Inland Waterways; Harbor and Port; Security; Vessel Construction; Legislation and Regulatory; Offshore Vessel Operations; Passenger Vessel Operations; and, Accidents/Disasters.

The Industry Events Calendar allows members to find upcoming commercial marine-related meetings, conferences, trade shows and other events. Members can also post their events to help promote attendance.

The Businesses Resources section helps businesses find everything from OSV Day Rates to the hottest products and services.

The Media section includes WorkBoat magazine articles, photo gallery, video gallery, podcasts and audio.

The Blogs and Discussion section includes WorkBoat Bloggers, editor's blog and discussion forum.

Advertiser Benefits
"You can access thousands of active, engaged commercial marine buyers every single day as a WorkBoat.com advertiser or sponsor," Lodato said.

Lodato noted that for more than 65 years, the WorkBoat brand has been the leading information source for North America's commercial marine industry. "Professionals working on the inland and coastal waters rely on the award-winning print publication WorkBoat magazine for news, product information, insights, and trends," Lodato commented. "WorkBoat.com, a new member of the WorkBoat family, delivers the same high-quality, authoritative information maritime professionals have come to expect -- in an online community format, available for free 24/7."

WorkBoat.com is design to be an essential component to any marketing campaign, whether the goal is to promote a brand, generate leads, boost market share or drive traffic to a company's website. A presence on WorkBoat.com will also increase the likelihood a company will be found on search engines including Google, Bing and Yahoo.

Advertising and sponsorship opportunities include: Site Display Advertising; WorkBoat eNews Advertising; Keystone Sponsorship; Search Sponsorship; Newsfeed Sponsorship; and, Buyer's Guide.

"WorkBoat.com allows advertisers to track the ROI on their marketing dollars by measuring the performance of their ads," Lodato said.

For further information on advertising and sponsorship, contact Dennis Gears, at (207) 842-5619 or at [email protected].

"Overall, we are thrilled with to launch the new WorkBoat.com website," Lodato said. "However, we are even more excited to see how this interactive site evolves to best serve the needs and interests of commercial maritime industry professionals."

For further information, visit www.WorkBoat.com.

About Diversified Business Communications

Diversified Business Communications, based in Portland, Maine, provides information and market access through trade events, magazine publishing, and online resources on four continents. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, commercial marine, and business management. Diversified operates divisions in Australia, Hong Kong, the UK and Canada. For more information, visit: www.divbusiness.com

# # #