Currently in their 16th year, the awards were presented by the Design Singapore Council, and the Business Effectiveness category was newly created this year to 'reinforce the strategic value of design in business'.

The 'Z-Tech' class of tugs ( Maritime Journal - April 2004) was developed to incorporate the best handling and operational characteristics of both Z-drive tractor tugs and azimuthing stern drive (ASD) tugs. Z-Tech tugs were designed primarily for operation in major ports and marine terminals where maximum crew safety and efficiency of tug operations is critical. The design of the tug emphasises safe and effective ship-handling operations with large ships, particularly those with extreme flares. Z-Tech vessels offer almost uniform omni-directional performance, with speed and bollard pull astern equalling at least 95% of the maximum ahead performance.

The first two Z-Tech 6000 class tugs were built by Cheoy Lee Shipbuilders of Hong Kong, and commissioned early in 2004. The new tugs are now operating at Port Hedlund in NW Australia for Teekay Marine Services. Robert Allan Ltd.

provided Cheoy Lee with complete lofting and steel parts definition, as well as a complete 3-D piping systems definition and spooling. Four further tugs of this series are currently under construction at Cheoy Lee's newbuilding facility in China, and a further order for the design of a larger Z-Tech 7500 Class has recently been received from an undisclosed US Client.