Antwerp hosts Tugnology ‘11 next month

Organised by the ABR Company Ltd as a ‘no frills’ conference devoted exclusively to the towage industry, this third conference has all the hallmarks of another highly successful event. All indications are that the number of delegates attending will exceed the figure of 274 representatives from 29 countries that attended Tugnology ‘09 in Amsterdam.

Tugnology was first introduced in 2007 as an interim event to fill the gap between the popular biennial ITS (International Tug and Salvage) Conventions. The aim of the conference is to discuss a wide range of issues that affect tug owners, designers and equipment suppliers and get to be very heart of subjects that make the towage industry tick.

The conference will be officially opened by a representative from the Port of Antwerp and the inaugural paper will be presented by a representative from the European Tugowners Association.

Seventeen papers will be presented over the two day event, chaired by Mike Allen, the regular ITS chairman, and Dawn Gorman, editor of International Tug & Salvage magazine. The carefully chosen agenda addresses several subjects that are currently taxing the minds of those involved in operating, designing, constructing or supplying high tech equipment for the modern tug fleet.

Major preoccupations for tug owners at present are the matters of emission control and fuel consumption. A paper entitled ‘The Business Case for Going Green’ will be presented by Susan Hayman of Foss and another, ‘Saving Fuel in Tug Operations: Monitoring Consumption to determine Best Practice’ by Robin Shaw and Richard Young, will both address that subject. Other papers include a description of Germany’s new and innovative Emergency Towing Vessel, a paper on hydrodynamic forces in ship-tug interaction, and another on piracy and counter-measures, giving an indication of the diverse range of subjects included.

An area will be set aside for a ‘table-top’ exhibition where manufacturers, designers and tug builders can display their wares and which provides a congenial meeting place for delegates during breaks in the proceedings. Space in that exhibition area is already sold out.

A dinner sponsored by Samson Ropes will be held on the evening of 17 May, with pre-dinner cocktails sponsored by Damen. The organisers have also organised a harbour tour and lunch, sponsored by the Port of Antwerp and giving a unique opportunity to see the work of the port and the world’s largest locks. The organisers must have bookings for the latter in advance. For further information, see the Tugnology section of www.tugandsalvage.com

By Jack Gaston