European tug owners consider the next normal
The European Tugowners Association’s (ETA) annual meeting has reflected on the industry’s ability to adapt to sudden changes and how to adapt to the next normal.
ETA’s 58th annual meeting held in Turku was hosted by local member and tug owner Alfons Håkans. The occasion saw a change of chairmanship whereby Kimmo Lehto (Alfons Håkans AS) handed over to Vicente Boluda Ceballos (Corporacіón Maritima SL) for the next two years.
Mr Lehto reflected on the challenge of Covid-19 and how the industry adapted to the sudden changes in a resilient manner maintaining a reliable part of the maritime industry’s logistics chain. ETA’s members also continued work towards a greener more sustainable future, Mr Ceballos outlining how the association continues its dialogue with various elements of the shipping sector including new ways of communicating during the pandemic.
The meeting’s focus was on the next normal and how it is being shaped by unprecedented events such as Covid-19, EU Green Deal legislation, competition within the maritime and tug sector and innovation. A range of speakers from outside the industry analysed the upcoming challenges and disruptive changes societies and industry will face in the next few years, focusing on the future of work, adoption of IT-based technologies and EU shipping and climate policies between 2030 and 2050. The speakers were followed by a panel representing the industry from Redwise Maritime Services, ACL Shipbrokers, Damen Shipyards, CAT Marine and The Shipowners Club who discussed the topic of the new normal.
Incoming chairman Vicente Boluda Ceballos thanked members for their support stated: “Our industry is going through hard and challenging times due to the pandemic, but the sector also needs to adapt to all the new international and European regulations that are being discussed and adopted at the moment. And we as ETA must have a strong voice in Brussels so the positions of our industry are taken into account by policy makers and stakeholders.”
ETA has 85 full members in 25 countries operating over 900 tugs in European ports and its work during the next year will continue to follow the strategy set out in 2020 of strengthening the knowledge base of the association, enhancing awareness of the sector at a European and international level and augmenting the service it gives its members.
