AN event backed by the US Office of Naval Research is one of two major international marine conferences coming to region next year.
The events are worth an estimated £500,000 to the North-East economy.
The International Conference on Advances in Marine Structures will take place from May 17 to 21, at Newcastle Civic Centre.
The conference is the first of its kind.
The region was selected after a bid by Professor Robert Dow, of the school of marine science and technology, at Newcastle University, along with Dr Jonathan Downes.
The 15th International Congress on Marine Corrosion and Fouling will take place at the Sage music centre, Gateshead, in July, next year. The region was chosen after a bid by Tony Clare, marine science professor at Newcastle University.
Work to bring the conferences to the region was supported by the NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau.
Conference development manager Gill Pilkington said: “We have a long and proud maritime history and holding major international marine sector conferences shows the North-East’s strengths in this industry.”
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