Chief executives from major tug owning companies will provide their insights on the global towage industry in panel discussions at Riviera Maritime Media’s 27th International Tug & Salvage (ITS) Convention, Exhibition & Awards, being held in Dubai, 21-23 May 2024

During the three-day conference, five panel discussions will feature top managers and executives from global tug owners and regional vessel operators covering the key technical and commercial challenges faced by the market.

On 21 May, the first day of the conference, P&O Maritime Logistics chief executive Martin Helweg and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone chief executive for international ports and harbour services Nicolai Friis will take part in an insightful panel discussion covering global operational challenges and regional markets.

Bracing for impact: the new competitive landscape panel will examine how consolidation among mega-operators is reshaping towage markets globally and the strategies independents can adopt to remain competitive.

Among the challenges tackled will be labour shortages, carbon tax and its impact on business models, upward pricing pressures, market consolidation and underinvestment in infrastructure.

Also on day one, tug owners will consider solutions for tackling climate change and decarbonisation challenges. Boluda Towage Europe chief executive Geert Vandecappelle and Smit Lamnalco global director for LNG business and project development Andrew Brown will provide the inside track on how leading owners are developing zero-emissions tugboats, the challenges faced, and the early lessons learned.

They will debate the key decisions to be made by the industry such as fuel choice, engine options and vessel design, the infrastructure needed to supply these fuels and the training needed to ensure tugs operate safely.

Executives from tug owners discussed sector challenges and solutions during ITS Convention 2022 (source: Riviera Maritime Media)

Mr Brown will also take part in one of three panel discussions on the third day of the ITS Convention 2024. He will be joined by Wilson Sons executive director of tugboats Márcio Castro and the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel general manager and chief operating officer Mark Bell to discuss transition pathways to decarbonisation.

They will debate the environmental, operational and financial perspectives, challenges and benefits from switching to alternative fuels, including toxicity, safety risks, bunkering issues and the impact on harbour towage and port infrastructure.

Another panel – featuring Targe Towing commercial director Alasdair Smith, Multraship Towage & Salvage operations and crewing manager Bianca Pielaat and Kuok Maritime senior general manager for coastal sustainability Bernard Liew – will discuss these challenges in more detail.

They will consider whether ports could produce or import green hydrogen at the scale needed for entire tug fleets; whether hydrogen fuel cells are technically and commercially viable; if relying on biofuels has an impact on food production and supplies; and whether ammonia is a viable green alternative fuel.

A third panel discussing transition pathways to zero emissions will include CPT Towage fleet manager José Antonio Vargas, Seaspan Marine Transportation senior vice president Jordan Pechie and Bureau Veritas chief executive Herman Spilker.

They will debate how fuel flexibility will incur upfront capital expenditure; whether intended alternative fuels will materialise; the potential for green fuels to reduce safety and introduce higher operational risks; and who will be responsible for downstream emissions and higher maintenance.

The 27th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in association with Caterpillar in Dubai, UAE, 21-23 May 2024. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities

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Boluda Towage tugs assist an LNG carrier at a major bunkering and import terminal demonstrating importance of tugboats for safe vessel manoeuvring in ports (source: Boluda Towage)