This conference will explore recent and future material technologies used in the marine and offshore industry, looking at not only their application in piping and secondary structures (grating, handrails, cable trays, etc) but also increasingly for large scale primary structure. These developments brings new challenges in terms of large scale production issues, structural integrity, fatigue resistance, load transfer to metal structures, fire safety, etc. Lightweight structures have always been at the forefront of research. There have been recent advances in the marine use of aluminium and titanium as well as continuing rapid progress in the available range of composites. Steel structures have also been addressed with continuing research into high strength varieties, not to mention steel composite and sandwich materials.