On any major salvage under Lloyd’s Open Form with SCOPIC invoked, one role is consistently misunderstood, sometimes resented, and always consequential: the SCR By Edwin Lampert Nick Haslam (Brookes Bell): “The SCR isn’t the contractor’s enemy” (source: Brookes Bell) Appointed by the shipowner, the Special Casualty Representative (SCR) attends site, Read more
Sanmar Shipyards used its platform at this year’s BTA Annual Conference in Liverpool to deliver something more valuable than a simple 50-year milestone narrative By Edwin Lampert Sanmar Shipyards provided valuable insight into its decades of success (source: Sanmar Shipyards) Delegates at this year’s BTA Annual Conference in Liverpool received Read more
The British Tugowners Association’s Annual Conference in Liverpool offered a rare window into how salvage works in practice. What emerged was of direct relevance to anyone with a vessel, cargo or insurance exposure at risk By Edwin Lampert James Severn (Penningtons Manches Cooper): Emphasised severe peril and the Convention’s encouragement Read more
Britain’s push towards net zero by 2050 is driving a new frontier in renewable energy: floating offshore windfarms, but concerns about attachment risks persist By Edwin Lampert Lisa Tuckwell (SOSREP): “Consider these new risks and develop appropriate response plans” (source: SOSREP) At this year’s British Tugowners Annual Conference in Liverpool, Read more
BTA launches Second Edition of Rope Selection, Procurement & Usage Guide The British Tugowners Association (BTA) has published the Second Edition of Rope Selection, Procurement & Usage, providing updated guidance to support tug owners, operators, masters and technical personnel in the safe and effective management of towlines throughout their lifecycle. Read more
One year on from the allision between the MV Solong and Stena Immaculate in the Humber, Robert Merrylees, Policy Director and Secretary of the British Tugowners Association (BTA) explores calls for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and UK Government to review and strengthen the UK’s emergency response capability. On Read more
We are pleased to announce that as a change of activity, the British Tugowners Association will be holding its inaugural Clay Pigeon Shooting Tuition and Competition on 6 May as the networking activity for this year’s Annual General Meeting, Conference & Dinner. The Clay Day, generously supported by UZMAR Shipyards, is an afternoon Read more
Insight, Leadership and Collaboration Across the Towage Industry. The BTA invites its members, and all those with an interest in towage, to a two‑day gathering that brings the towage community together to connect, share expertise and engage with leaders shaping the future of UK towage. The programme opens with an Read more
The 2025 BTA Annual Safety Seminar was held on Thursday 6 November, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Southampton, kindly sponsored by Sanmar, Boluda Towage and Damen. The event welcomed over 90 attendees including tug masters, pilots, marine superintendents, P&I clubs, members of the MCA MAIB, lawyers, workboat crew, harbour Read more
Maritime and Coastguard Agency chief executive Virginia McVea has characterised tug operators as “critical national capability” while announcing the reinstatement of the specialist Eleven 02 survey service for larger tugs during her address at the British Tugowners Association Annual Conference in Belfast “The much-loved Eleven 02 survey service will be Read more