Conference Programme: Day 1 | Tuesday 21 May

07.30

Registration opens (all pass holders)
Exhibition access (exhibitor pass holders only)

Registration sponsored by:

Official exhibition opening ceremony

The ribbon is cut and the 27th ITS is officially opened by a mix of local dignitaries, Riviera Maritime Media and Caterpillar Marine

Exhibition open (all pass holders)

09.00

Conference opens: Welcome address from Riviera Maritime Media 

Edwin Lampert, Executive Editor & Head of Business Relations, Riviera Maritime Media

09.05

Welcome address from Platinum Sponsor Caterpillar Marine 

Andres Perez,

Global Segment Manager – Tug & IWW,

Caterpillar Marine

09:10

Swell or stormy seas ahead? Insights and analysis on international tug markets

This paper analyses global and regional tug market trends

• Tug demand hotspots - Middle East, SE Asia, Americas
• Consolidation impact - challenges for independents
• Regional regulatory shakeups - Australia, Europe, Americas
• LNG infrastructure boom - harbour towage needs
• Offshore oil and gas outlooks – Middle East, Africa, southern and SE Asia
• Emerging markets - India, Africa, Arctic, Latin America
• Beyond oil and gas arbitrage - Gulf construction/dredging industries

Alec Laing,

Shipbroker,

ACL Shipbrokers Ltd

and

David Biddulph,

Shipbroker,

ACL Shipbrokers Ltd

View paper here

09:40

Q&A

10:00

PANEL DISCUSSION:

Bracing for impact: The new competitive landscape

This discussion examines how consolidation among mega-operators is reshaping towage markets globally and the strategies smaller independents can adopt to remain competitive.

• Impact of recent M&A deals on regional markets
• Benefits of scale for mega-operators
• Challenges for small-medium independents
• Leveraging specialisation and niche services
• Regional outlooks - upward pricing pressure or discounting expected?
• Perspectives from mega-operators, independents, and ports
• Information access: Using data to pinpoint and resolve bottleneck sources
• Labour shortages: Crew retention and readiness as pressures mount
• Preventative approaches: Addressing root causes like infrastructure underinvestment
• Carbon taxes/carbon impact and the implication for company business models

Martin Helweg,

CEO,

P&O Maritime Logistics

Nicolai Friis,
Chief Executive Officer - International Ports and Harbor Services,
Adani Ports and SEZ 

Ian Chung, 

Partner,

HFW

10:30

Networking coffee break in the VIP Hospitality area and visit the exhibition

Sponsored by:

11.10

The Gulf’s harbour tug puzzle

Harbour towage capacity in the Gulf is under strain as aging tugs are repurposed for offshore roles. This session investigates ongoing efforts to renew fleets and meet regional shipping needs.

• Tug age profiles - where are replacement needs most acute?
• Repurposing trends - cascading older units to new roles
• Fleet renewal challenges - high costs, limited local construction
• Regional demand drivers - new terminals, energy exports, mega projects
• Operator challenges - crew readiness, fleet compatibility, contract structures
• Potential remedies - pooling assets, joint procurement, standardisation

Ferlin Brown,
Director, Commercial & BD,
Safeen Group

View paper here

11:25

Harbouring Decarbonisation - Regional ports as change agents

With frequent vessel calls, ports are ideal locations for piloting low-carbon solutions. This paper highlights regional port initiatives to catalyse the decarbonisation of visiting tugs.

• Biofuel journey: Biofuel in tug operation, achievement and challenges
• Future plan towards sustainable port: Shore power, LNG Bunkering and energy transition projects in SOHAR Port and Freezone

Asaad Al Siyabi, 

Marine Project and Policy System Lead,
SOHAR Industrial Port Company

11:40

Salvage Case Studies from the Gulf

The Middle East sees its fair share of maritime casualties requiring creative salvage solutions. This paper will examine real-world cases anonymised to comply with confidentiality, highlighting responsive coordination and on-site ingenuity.

• Emergency wreck removal  - managing complex approvals
• Reopening blocked shipping channels under time pressure
• Deploying multiple asset types for optimal response efficacy
• Importance of regional salvage capability for timely action
• Balancing owner interests, insurer needs, and coastal state priorities
• Regulatory variances: OFAC, Iran, other regional nuances

Zia Ansari,

Commercial & Sales Manager

Mubarak Marine LLC

11:55

Q&A

12:20

Buffet lunch & networking in the VIP Hospitality area and visit the exhibition

Sponsored by:

14:00

Decarbonisation in Action: Learning from real-world experience

This paper will highlight learnings and practical examples from a towage operator who has tested different biofuels and other decarbonisation initiatives. It will focus on real-world experiences, challenges, and successes.

• Case studies from companies that have trialled biofuels and are exploring other future energy sources
• Technical insights - what worked, what didn’t?
• Operational learnings – sourcing experiences, equipment readiness, infrastructure needs
• Outlook – biofuels’ role in tugs, investments required, industry opportunities

Thomas Bangslund,

Group Head of Technical Innovation - Group Innovation,

Svitzer

14:15

Q&A

14:30

PRESENTATIONS & PANEL DISCUSSION:

The path to zero-emissions towage

The inside track on how leading tug owners are working to develop zero-emissions vessels, the challenges faced, and early lessons learned.

• Overview of vessel projects underway and plans to 2030/2050
• Key decisions - fuel choice, engine options, vessel design
• Infrastructure requirements - fuel supply, bunkering
• Crew training for new systems and fuels
• Early operational learnings from first movers
• Economic and commercial considerations
• Crew training requirements for new fuels
• Bunkering infrastructure limitations
• Engine technology maturity - "methanol-ready" vs. running on methanol
• Safety risks of different fuel options
• Vessel performance from batteries, hydrogen etc.
• Cost premiums and availability

Andrew Brown,

Global Director LNG Business and Project Development,

Smit Lamnalco

and

Geert Vandecappelle,

CEO,

Boluda Towage Europe

15:00

Realised potential and recent experiences with battery-powered tugs

As more and more battery-electric tugs begin operations in ports worldwide, they are providing valuable insights and data on this new means of tug powering. Early indications from extensive trials, in-service operations, and crew feedback are very encouraging and highlight the immense potential of battery-electric tugs in helping move the industry forward to a more sustainable future. This paper will review the collected data and imagery from these trials, tests and in-operation experiences to share an exclusive view into the transformational opportunities that battery-electric tugs can afford.

The paper will address:

• Performance, including power and responsiveness, acceleration and bollard pull metrics
• Significantly improved habitability for crew from reduced on-board noise levels
• Remarkable reductions in underwater radiated noise and implied environmental impact on marine species.  
• Major greenhouse gas reduction potential
• Positive crew feedback on comfort, ease of operation and living standards on these vessels

Todd Barber,

Project Director & Senior Naval Architect,

Robert Allan Ltd

and

Mark Bonar,

Project Manager/ Naval Architect,

Robert Allan Ltd

View paper here

15:20

Pathways to carbon reduction in towage

The towage industry is celebrating 100 years since it transitioned from steam to diesel engines. As the industry looks ahead to further reducing emissions, there are many pathways under consideration.

• 2050 GHG reduction targets: navigating GHG and emissions reduction with long asset lifecycles
• Energy efficiency is 100% efficient: power train concepts to optimise energy utilisation in tugs
• Energy displacement: using batteries, shore power and the multifaceted shore infrastructure to achieve major benefits in energy consumption and machinery OPEX
• Maintaining safety, performance, and profitability while creating a meaningful long-term environmental impact: how adoption of fuels and technologies plays a role 

Marinus Jansen,

Global Marine Technology Steward,

Caterpillar Marine

15:35

Q&A

16.05 - 17:00

Networking coffee break in the VIP Hospitality area and visit the exhibition

Sponsored by:

19:00 - 22:00

Med Marine VIP Party

Organised by: