TUGS & SALVAGE

International Tug and Salvage Event Set to Break Records

24 years ago

ITS 2002, the seventeenth International Tug & Salvage Convention and Exhibition, takes place in Bilbao, Spain from 13-17th May – a natural location bearing in mind the current strength of the host countrys tug building market.

This is reflected in the size of the exhibition, the biggest in the event’s 33-year history, with 10 specialist tug building yards and nine engine manufacturers amongst the 60 exhibiting companies from 18 countries worldwide.

Delegate numbers are also expected to break records.

The main strength of ITS, however, is the quality of its papers, which include cover such topics as the training of salvage masters, the use of models in evaluating escort tug performance and behaviour, compact tugs, wreck removal, arbitration, brokers, places of refuge, ATBs and the lifting of the Kursk. Notable among new concepts to be discussed include the ‘carrousel’ tug, dynamic fairleads for escort towing and magnetic plasters ‘to keep the oil in a damaged ship and the water out’. One presentation calls for a standard bollard pull test to be adopted so that true comparisons can be made and offers a ‘Bollard Pull Code of Practice’.

Speakers include Robin Middleton, the UK’s SOSREP, Canadian naval architect, Robert Allan, US lawyer, Jim Shirley, John Reeder QC and the ISU’s Jean Labescat.

Other well-known, architects, lawyers, tug builders, university lecturers, operators and salvors will also be addressing the 300 and more delegates expected to attend – registrations are currently running ahead of the same period last time the event was held, in the Channel Islands.

In all some 32 papers, another record, will be presented, including seven on the Wednesday morning in a parallel session called a ‘technical workshop’. Aimed at giving manufacturers the opportunity of outlining their latest developments, speakers from Caterpillar, Wartsila, John Crane-Lips, Samson Ropes, Schottel, Totem Plus and Kongsberg-Simrad are also taking part.

ANARES, the Spanish Tugowners Association, will be arranging the traditional tug parade and Ron Burchett, famed Canadian tug model maker, is to co-ordinate a display of full working tug models in a huge ornamental lake which is overlooked by the exhibition hall.