HAMBURG, Germany, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The world's biggest maritime industry trade fair, SMM, kicked off here Tuesday, focusing this year on digitalization.

Under the banner "trends in SMMart shipping", the 2018 SMM sees exhibitors showing off their latest products and smart ways to improve the industry's efficiency and sustainability.

Sensor-based remote monitoring of ship operations, satellite-supported platforms and control modules interlinking all ships, mobile tracking and booking apps to streamline the logistics chain are expected to showcase this year.

For the first time, SMM will present a special exhibition on 3D printing, which could simplify conventional manufacturing of components. Unmanned shipping is another hot topic, which is likely to be a realistic option for the future in the eyes of more than one-third of market players, according to an industry report by the SMM.

A total of 2,289 exhibitors from 69 countries and regions are participating, including Chinese shipbuilding giants China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation, among others.

This year's SMM will last until Friday.