Caterpillar Marine - Marine Engines Caterpillar

Lively disucssions
19th International Tug & Salvage
Convention and Exhibition
All the major market players met to
swap ideas at the 19th ITS conference
from April 24th-28th 2006 in the
conference rooms of the Beurs-World
Trade Center in the heart of Rotterdam,
only a few minutes on foot from
the Harbour Museum and ten minutes
by car from Europe’s largest container
port. You meet the traditional
and modern face of shipping at every
turn in Rotterdam: shipping is present
everywhere – in small port areas or in
the canal system or on the Nieuwe
Maas – and simply belongs to the city
and its people. Witness the many historic
and often lovingly restored ships,
such as tugs, inland waterway vessels,
“tjalks” (single-masted, fl at-bottomed
coastal units) and water craft generally
– or just stroll along the Nieuwe
Maas or, better still, gaze at all the
activity on the water from the impressive
Erasmus Bridge spanning the
Nieuwe Maas. But more on this later.
A Commitment for Cat The ITS conference
is an event that puts a certain
responsibility on Caterpillar Marine
Power Systems because of its market
leadership in this market segment –
hence its broadly based commitment
in the form of a prestigious exhibition
stand, contribution for the conference
and sponsoring activity.
The position of the stand in Beurs-
World Trade Center is strategically
oriented directly behind the main
entrance and an attraction of the
event, the presentation basin for
model tugs of the Dutch model tug
builders club. These models show
impressive attention to detail and are
just as manoeuvrable as the originals.
The demonstration of the tiny tugs
was both an attraction and a playground
for many visitors and exhibitors.
On the second day of the conference,
Kevin Bruch, Assistant Director
Engine Research, Technical Services
Division of Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, out-
lined in a technical workshop Caterpillar’s
eff orts and achievements
in the area of emission reduction to
comply with the emission regulations
that can be expected in the future. In
the afternoon, the conference took a
break to take part in the meanwhile
traditional tug parade with as highlight
the tug ballet, which was performed
for the fi rst time in 1978,
when the conference took place in
Hamburg, and since then has been
a permanent part of the event. Tugs
and off shore ships, some over a century
old, were presented immediately
in front of Rotterdam Cruise Terminal
with Erasmus Bridge in the background,
keenly watched by thousands
of onlookers on the banks and on the
bridge. It was a fi ne demonstration of
the great tradition as well as forwardlooking
orientation of this special
area of shipping. Then four tugs gave
an impressive display of their capabilities
in the tug ballet.
A Grand Finale The Thursday
was another normal working day
for the conference participants and
stand crews. The grand fi nale was
In the spotlight
then held in Rotterdam Cruise Terminal
in the evening. About 600 persons
attended the Caterpillar Gala Dinner. All
the guests were welcomed by an artist
group, the magical White Wings, in the
fi nest weather and individually greeted
by employees of Caterpillar EAME, the
sales organisation for Europe, Africa
and the Middle East, as well as representatives
of the Dutch sales organisation
Pon Power. An interesting
evening began with a cocktail reception
and lively discussions, followed by
a 5-course dinner. Artists entertained
the guests with acrobatics, conjuring,
magic and singing, and fi nally there
was a dance. The dance area was well
frequented up to the early morning
hours. The charming Anouschka Wink,
a former Miss Holland, compered the
programme.
“Great location, great weather, great
business and great fun” was how one
guest summed up the event before
disappearing in a taxi. See you at the
20th ITS conference in Hong Kong in
2008 everybody, and many thanks to
Alan Brunton Reed and his crew.
Part of impressive „tug ballet“
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