Gothenburg became the global hub for the tug and salvage industry from May 19 to 21, as an international audience gathered in Sweden’s largest port city for the 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards.

Delegates attended in record numbers to gain real-time insight into pricing signals, fuel availability, investment timing, and emerging port relationships. They also engaged directly with industry leaders across the conference hall, exhibition space, golf course, tug presentation technical tour, social events and gala dinner & ITS awards.

On every front, the event delivered

Senior operators, engineers, and decision-makers addressed the central question of fleet renewal amid real uncertainty with unusual candour at the conference.

Carl Johan van Sydow of Bunker One Sweden described a bunkering crisis which, without exaggeration, he placed above both the 2022 Ukraine shock and the oil crises of the 1970s. Operators who had budgeted at $750 per tonne are now facing $1,200–$1,300, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and around 170 tankers stranded.

Caterpillar Marine’s Will Watson spoke of a "multi-energy future", confirming that the company’s marine battery system will be operational before the end of the year.

Sanmar’s Tamer Geçkin, invoking Nokia and BlackBerry, warned against mistaking caution for strategy. His argument, that transition is already underway regardless of who is watching, landed with particular force when he announced a new Elektra series order live during his session. An audience poll reinforced the message: 41% of delegates identified fuel technology uncertainty as their primary concern, ahead of both regulation and financing.

The technical sessions maintained that clarity. Rolls-Royce Solutions’ Cyrill Halbauer and Andreas Müller-Hirlinger traced three decades of MTU tug engine development to a single conclusion: the future lies not in an engine room but in an energy room, where combustion, batteries and alternative fuels operate as an integrated system. Kotug and Robert Allan demonstrated this in practice with dual-fuel methanol escort tugs delivering 150 tonnes of bollard pull, over 20% CO₂ reduction and a proprietary venting system that removes the need for the standard 10-metre hazardous zone.

Donjon Marine’s Tim Williamson illustrated what operational alignment can achieve, clearing 50,000 tonnes of debris from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and reopening the channel in just 77 days, against initial estimates of nine to twelve months. The counterpoint came from Targe Towing’s Alasdair Smith: marine fires are up 20%, alternative fuels are already present in ports that are not fully prepared for them, and emergency response frameworks are struggling to keep pace with fleet innovation.

Beyond the sessions

The value of ITS extended well beyond the conference hall.

The 8th Damen ITS Pushy Cat Golf Trophy, organised by Damen, served as a key networking event within the ITS 2026 programme, bringing together delegates from across the international tug, towage and salvage industry. Combining competitive golf with informal business engagement, the event provided opportunities to build new connections, strengthen existing relationships and exchange insights with industry peers. The tournament contributed to the collaborative atmosphere of the wider convention and enhanced the overall delegate experience.

The ITS 2026 Opening Reception welcomed delegates, exhibitors, sponsors and industry stakeholders to the World of Volvo. Sponsored by Damen, the reception provided an opportunity to reconnect with industry peers, establish new business contacts and begin discussions ahead of the conference and exhibition. As the first formal networking function of the convention, it set a collaborative tone for the event and encouraged early delegate engagement.

Med Marine set the tone early with a rooftop reception overlooking Gothenburg, followed by an equally well-attended evening hosted by UZMAR. The final afternoon saw the programme move decisively from theory to water.

At the Port of Gothenburg, Svitzer opened its fleet for boarding. Delegates stepped aboard Svitzer Embla, alongside Svitzer Ingrid. After three days of discussion about the future of towage, that future was tangible: present, accessible and operational.

The Awards

The gala dinner saw achievement and direction recognised across the sector.

Svitzer Balder was named Tug of the Year in its home port. Donjon Marine received Salvage Company of the Year, while Multraship Towage and Salvage was named Tug Owner of the Year. The Port of Gothenburg received the Ports and Harbours award. PSA Marine took the Safety Award and Boluda Towage won Innovation of the Year for fleet-wide energy optimisation.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Johannes Østensjø, chairman of Østensjø Rederi. From pioneering dynamic positioning and LNG-fuelled escort tugs in the 1970s to building a diversified operation spanning offshore energy, towage and renewables, his career reflects the evolution of the industry itself.

Riviera’s year-round coverage of the tug and salvage sector continues in print and online. The Tugtechnology ’27 Conference, Exhibition and Awards will return to Rotterdam on 19–20 May 2027. The dates and location for the next ITS Convention, always the subject of industry speculation, will be announced shortly.

For further information on any aspect of Riviera’s tug and salvage coverage, please email indrit.kruja@rivieramm.com.