Q2 has proved a busy period for CJC’s workboat specialists based on workload, but also on attending two key industry events focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing its offshore support vessel, tug and other service boat clients. CJC Currents sought an update from Helen McCormick, Managing Associate CJC
The mid-point of 2023 arrives after an intense period of market engagement for Helen McCormick, Managing Associate CJC, and Director of CTRL Marine Solutions.
In late May, Helen attended Tugtechnology, the biennial tug industry gathering which this year took place in Rotterdam. Then, in mid-June, Helen travelled to Southampton to join Seaworks, the long-established gathering which attracts a broad cross section of stakeholders from across the workboat industries.
Seaworks is a must-attend event, given the broad scope of services CJC offers to owners/operators on all types of workboat contracts for building, hire and use, as well as sale and purchase. CJC advises on all aspects of tug and tow disputes as well as more traditional ‘dry’ (unpaid towage or hire, withdrawal for non-payment, early/late redelivery) and ‘wet’ (collisions, groundings, limitation of liability, damage to/caused by vessels, etc.) claims. CJC also reviews and advises on a range of workboat contracts (Towcon, Supplytime, Bargehire, etc.) and works closely with insurers and P&I clubs to ensure cover is considered part of any advice on these forms.
This is a challenging time for the workboat sector as a whole, Helen notes. For those with interests in the UK, cumulative legal expertise relating to Brexit also remains highly useful in the workboat space, given a range of unresolved matters. while many keenly await The Crown Estate grants for new windfarms in the Celtic Sea by the end of this year (see related article).
Tugtechnology is a two day event which brings together the global tug owning and operating community, as well as industry associations and regulators for networking, intelligence gathering and deal making – this year in Rotterdam. From a packed conference programme, Helen picked out a safety session homing in on towline failure as of particular interest. A parting in towlines is highly disruptive to the towage operation, but it can also be a source of snap-back injuries and crew personal injury claims, and of indemnity claims by the tug operator and their P&I Club against the tow. A presentation covering an anti-snap back rope raised significant interest.
Other highlights in Rotterdam included a very timely presentation on crew training by Kerrie Forster, CEO, the Workboat Association, Helen reported, adding that talk at Seaworks frequently turned to this topic too, and specifically to difficulties in finding properly qualified workboat crew. CJC offers sector-specific expertise in crew contract requirements in the workboat sector.
Sustainability was also on the Seaworks agenda, with Belfast’s Artemis (a CJC client) making an impression at the show with a model of the all-electric vessel it is currently building for Condor Ferries to operate between Belfast and Bangor, with sea trials due in 2024, presented by John Patterson at a session on decarbonisation and OPEX reduction.
Also making waves was the ‘e-tug’, whose zero emission operation in the port area plus instant full power capability are highly advantageous for manoeuvrability, precision positioning and smooth and quiet running. However, after canvassing tugboat crews, Helen reports some disquiet about ‘range anxiety’ and doubts that batteries can live up the power demands of tugboat operations: a crucial safety concern for those working on tugboats.
If all this was food for thought in two packed agendas, Helen also attended the Workboat Association dinner at Seaworks - co-sponsored by CJC and Shipowners P&I Club. She also found a moment to board the tugboat SMS Yorkshireman alongside in Southampton, and extends thanks to skipper Phil for a tour that included the bridge and engine room of this powerful industry workhorse.