At our Tugnology ’09 event in Amsterdam, the atmosphere was so buoyant and the attitude to the market so positive, you would hardly know there was a recession at all. Numbers were up by 67 per cent on 2007, with 274 registrations from 29 countries.

The conference papers were extremely well received – how many conference organisers can say, hand on heart, that virtually every delegate attended virtually every paper? We can! The conference was opened by Capt Jaap Lems, chief harbour master, Port of Rotterdam, who was made an honorary member of the ITS Club by way of thanks.

Audience participation was enthusiastic and thought provoking, reflecting our sense that we had chosen the papers well, and the panel discussion on training at the end of the first day was so successful, we are certain to repeat the format at future conventions. Training, in fact, was the subject on everyone’s lips at the show, reminding us that all corners of the industry must attend to this issue NOW, to safeguard future operations.

As always, there was a huge amount of networking during the event, with ideas being exchanged and, who knows, the beginnings of new working partnerships perhaps being established. We heard almost immediately from the Nautic Arm team that some interesting discussions are to take place regarding their innovative new invention (see page 56 in the March/April issue of International Tug & Salvage) as a result of their presence at the conference, and there are no doubt many other success stories to be told over the coming months.

Drinks receptions sponsored by Sanmar and Samson and a superb dinner courtesy of Damen completed a perfect two days.

During the event, Lamnalco and Damen announced their agreement to construct and deliver a series of four escort terminal tugs of Damen’s ASD 3213 type plus an option to build five line handlers of Damen’s Pushy Cat 1204 type, and one Damen Stan Tug 1606 (see announcement photo, below). The ASD tugs will be built at the Song Cam yard in Vietnam for delivery late 2010 through to mid-2011. The line handling boats and tug will be built at Damen’s partners Albwardy Marine Engineering in Dubai for delivery by mid 2010.

“Very wide range of great papers presented by excellent speakers generating interesting and useful discussions.” Thiago Lemgruber of Orca Representagao e Consultoria.

“It was good seeing you again at Tugnology. It was a very good conference and I think you guys did a terrific job with it. I really enjoy attending conferences that are professionally run-it makes a big difference.” Susan Hayman of Foss maritime Company.