TOWLINES

Batteries in Maritime	Autonomy at Sea	Alternative Fuels	Tugs, Towing & Salvage

Examining the growing role of batteries in maritime, questioning their green credentials while exploring industry insights, operator experiences and lessons learned from early electric vessel adoption worldwide.	Highlighting the innovators advancing subsea and maritime technology, from autonomous underwater swarms to cloud-connected assets and data-driven predictive models, reshaping how real-time conditions at sea are understood globally today.	Exploring one of the workboat sector’s dilemmas today: which emerging fuels hold the most promise in terms of cost, availability, practicality and performance? Or should we simply clean up the Black Gold?	Looking at how tugs, towing and salvage vessels are adapting to stricter regulations; contemplating new propulsion technologies and alternative fuels; and changing design strategies for one of maritime’s most demanding sectors.
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Seawork 15th - 17th June 2027	Speed@Seawork 14th June 2027	Seawork Conferences

The 28th edition of Europe’s largest commercial marine and workboat exhibition provides businesses the opportunity to showcase their services, equipment, vessels and supplies to an international audience.	Speed@Seawork on 14th June in Cowes offers a sector specific event that showcases fast vessels operating at high speed for security interventions and Search & Rescue.	Taking place at the annual Seawork Exhibition in Southampton, UK from 15–17 June 2027, Seawork Conferences deliver a varied programme of sessions featuring expert speakers addressing the latest topical issues in the commercial marine industry.
Visit the Seawork Website	Speed@Seawork on the Seawork Website	View on Seawork

Svitzer has announced its acquisition of Port Towage Amsterdam, a joint venture between Svitzer and Iskes Towage and Salvage formed in 2014.

Iskes' 'Mercurius' is now part of Svitzer's Southampton fleet operating as 'Svitzer Mercurius' (Peter Barker)

The agreement takes effect this month and sees 39 shore and seagoing personnel along with seven Iskes tugs joining the Svitzer family and another example of the changing make-up of the European towage industry. A few days previously Svitzer announced the purchase of the 82tbp Damen ASD Tug 3212 Mercurius from Iskes Towage, reflagged to the UK and renamed Svitzer Mercurius to complement its fleet at Southampton.

Emergency management and wreck removal company Ardent has announced a refocus of its strategy and a relocation of its headquarters. It is to refocus its strategy away from decommissioning towards it core business of emergency management and wreck removal, sectors it intends to build on further. It will also move its headquarters from Houston, USA to IJmuiden in The Netherlands where new CEO Oliver Timofei and CFO Jans Jaeger are based. Ardent’s response hubs in The Netherlands, USA, Singapore and Australia along with offices in Korea, Brazil, South Africa and the UK will continue to offer customer services.

Following a public vote Orkney Towage has chosen the names Odin of Scapa and Thor of Scapa for its two new tugs due to be delivered this year by Sanmar Shipyards replacing two of the three tugs currently operated by Orkney Islands Council Marine Services. Of 566 votes cast 315 contained the names Odin, Thor and Vale and the name Vale of Scapa will be reserved for if a third tug is ordered. Isobel Thompson from Westray was selected as the winner in a draw and has been invited to take part in the naming ceremony with a family trip on the new tug also on offer.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Svitzer A/S has signed an agreement covering preventative spare parts supply in six countries for 17 tugs powered by MTU Series 4000 engines. The 10-year service agreement named Global Frame Value Care Agreement will see the cost of maintenance services being tied to engine up-time preserving engine availability for Svitzer while contributing to optimal life-cycle costs. The vessels involve operate in Morocco, Brazil, Costa-Rica, Denmark, Great Britain and Germany and include Svitzer Hermod, the first commercial vessel to demonstrate remote operation.