The four day event commenced on 19 May and was attended by 422 delegates from 48 countries representing just about every aspect of the business. Singapore is the busiest port in the world and the hub of so many shipping and marine activities, popular and easily accessible to many important players in the Far East.

As a venue, the massive Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre proved ideal and gave the ABR Company, led by Allan Brunton-Reed and his staff, all the facilities needed for this increasingly successful convention.

An aspect of this latest event that took many by surprise was the enormous increase in the size and scope of the exhibition.108 exhibitors and their staff from 26 countries took part. Stands were manned by representatives from tug operators, salvage companies, shipbuilders, naval architects, equipment manufacturers and many other allied activities. As always the exhibition, with its now familiar pool and tug models, provided a convenient meeting point for breaks in the conference proceedings, evening events and receptions. The exhibition was open to non-delegates and was attended by an unprecedented 1500 visitors.

Twenty six papers were presented under the chairmanship of consultant Mike Allen. With his background in marine, legal and engineering matters Mike has for many years proved to be an ideal and respected chairman. Proceedings were formally opened with a speech by Captain M Segar, director and Port Master of MPA Singapore. In welcoming ITS 2008 and its delegates to Singapore he outlined the features that make the port the busiest in the world and stressed the important part played by tugs in the smooth running of port operations.

The papers were carefully selected to include a wide and varied programme covering many particularly relevant and diverse subjects, with something of interest to delegates from every sector.

Among the towage related papers was a very comprehensive overview by designer Robert G Allan of the omni-directional ‘Z-Tech’ tug, designed and developed in conjunction with PSA Marine and the Cheoy Lee Shipyard. The first vessel entered service in 2004 and a total of 21 vessels are in service, with a further 19 under construction or on order by the end of 2007. Robert Allan's paper discussed the vessel's evolution, refinements that have been introduced and model tests that have been undertaken to enhance and verify overall performance. He is a familiar figure at ITS conferences and always in great demand.

Local speaker Peter Lee Kon Meng of POSH Semco Pte of Singapore also presented a towage related paper relating to the development and lessons learned from the company’s latest generation of long range deepsea tugs. Other highly specialised subjects along the same lines included papers on Emergency Response tugs for Sweden, towing gear, propeller design and diesel-electric propulsion.

As always the mix of subjects included several papers related to salvage. A paper entitled ‘100 years of Lloyds Open Form – a Vehicle for Change’ was presented by John C Reeder QC, of Stone Chambers, currently a Lloyds Appeal Arbitrator. A well-respected and popular speaker, he outlined the history, evolution, and prospects for the future of LOF and included some interesting thoughts on ‘Arbitration’ decisions. This was subject dear to the hearts of many salvors and was particularly well received.

A new and timely feature introduced at ITS 2008 was ‘Green Wednesday’. All eight papers on the day had an environmental theme, encompassing matters concerned with salvage, tug operation and proposals for ‘hybrid’ tug designs.

Robin Middleton the UK’s former Secretary of State's Representative (SOSREP) for salvage and intervention teamed up with Douglas Martin of Smit Salvage Americas Inc. to give a clear and fascinating account of the entire 'MSC Napoli' salvage operation to date. The paper highlighted the complexities of dealing with large numbers of containers, differing widely in their contents and condition, in a port ill equipped for large scale cargo operation and lessons for the future.

From this exceptionally adept presentation it was clear that enormous attention to detail throughout the salvage operation was a major factor in achieving the rapid discharge of MSC Napoli’s cargo and minimising pollution. Other contributions included dealing with container ship casualties, environmental salvage, and the public perception of salvage.

Three papers addressed different approaches to ‘hybrid’ tug design, leaving delegates in no doubt as to the complexity and challenges involved in producing a new generation of low emission, environmentally friendly, shiphandling tugs. Gary Faber and Jason Aspin presented ‘The Foss Hybrid Tug – From Innovation to Implementation’. This was a comprehensive description of the project by Foss Maritime to develop and introduce a hybrid version of their established ‘Dolphin’ class tugs.

The prototype vessel is under construction and will embody a combined diesel-electric/battery-electric powerplant that will enable the tug to operate seamlessly throughout the entire operational envelope. In this system the main diesel engines will be much smaller than in the ‘all diesel’ version of the ‘Dolphin class but with battery power + auxiliary power generation + main engines, the same 60 tons bollard pull will still be available when necessary. Other concepts discussed included a low emission LNG powered tug for Crowley Maritime, in a paper by Daniel Cavalier of Crowley and Sean Caughlan of Glosten Associates. Also presented was a ‘Hydrogen Hybrid Harbour Tug’ concept from Michael Wijsmuller of WorldWise Marine.

Bound copies of the whole proceedings will eventually be available from The ABR Company Ltd at Tel: +44 (0)1225 868821 or Fax: +44 (0)1225 868831.

Unfortunately the opportunity to organise the usual ‘Tug Parade’, or even the usual visiting tugs for inspection by delegates, was not possible in the busy port of Singapore. Alan Brunton-Reed did however offer a very worthwhile and relaxing alternative. A lengthy harbour tour was organised, taking delegates and their partners, around the port and through Singapore’s legendary anchorages to a nearby island for lunch. For part of the journey the two chartered excursion boats were escorted by a tug from local operator Keppel-Smit and one from the Port of Singapore Authority. The latter gave delegates an excellent close-up view and demonstration as one of several Z-Tech tugs employed in the local shiphandling fleet.

The organisers have not only succeeded in constantly improving and refining the ITS Convention but have also kept this important event well and truly alive during each intervening period, be means of the International Tug & Salvage magazine, the ITS Club and, more recently, the two day ‘no frills’ Tugnology series of events. ‘Tugnology 09’ will be held in at the Hilton Amsterdam Hotel in Amsterdam on 19 and 20 May 2009.

By Jack Gaston