Mr Hennig’s paper will address the critical role ports, tug operators, government officials and other stakeholders in the shipping industry play in determining which organisations to collaborate with during emergencies.

The presentation will draw on a report from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, which revealed a significant decrease in the number of large ships lost worldwide due to maritime accidents in 2022. The report highlighted the British Isles as a hotspot for shipping incidents and underscored the emerging fire risks associated with transporting electric vehicles and battery-powered goods.

Responding to the report’s findings, Mr Hennig will highlight the positive impact of focusing on safety measures over the past decade, such as regulation, improved ship design and technology, and risk management advances. He will call upon those involved in shipping and maritime response to take heart from this progress, while acknowledging ongoing efforts are essential to improving maritime safety.

Stephan Hennig’s presentation Boosting emergency preparedness: Insights for tug operators and salvors, will be presented on 22 May at the International Tug & Salvage (ITS) Convention, Exhibition & Awards 2024 in Dubai.