ETA members debate safety and business issues

With 88 full members in 25 countries owning or operating a combined fleet of over 900 tugs in European ports, ETA is a powerful voice for the towage industry at a European level with safety issues and what the future prospects are for their business naturally key areas for the meeting to debate.

The occasion was chosen to present a new video on efficient and safe harbour towage operations produced in close cooperation with the European Maritime Pilots Association, a reminder of the importance of a close and understanding relationship between tug masters and ship’s pilots who choreograph the attending tugs’ movements during ship-handling operations.

On the business front, delegates specifically addressed the impact that shipping developments and EU policies have on the industry including the Consortia Block Exemption Regulations and its possible repeal (see MJ June 2019). Speakers ranging from government representatives to port authorities presented different perspectives on the main threats and opportunities impacting the shipping sector.

The increasing impact of megaships both on ports and the towage sector was debated highlighting the relevance of skills acquisition and the adoption of digital solutions to maintain the EU lead in the sector.

The meeting approved the change in chairmanship of the association and after two productive years, Leendert Muller (Multraship Towage & Salvage) handed over to Kimmo Lehto (Alfons Håkans AS) who takes over as chairman for the next two years. His previous position as deputy chairman will be taken by Vicente Boluda Ceballos (Boluda Corporacion Maritima SL).

Outgoing chairman Mr Muller said: “It has been a privilege to have served as chairman of this great organisation for the past two years. I like to think in that time that we have highlighted some of the major issues facing our specialist industry sector, not least the threat to our continued profitability and efficiency caused by ongoing consolidation and a relentless focus on cost at the expense of other, more important considerations. By bringing these issues out into the open, I believe we have helped raise awareness of the challenges facing European tug owners and have promoted a dialogue on how best to meet them.”

By Peter Barker