06
May 26

British Tugowners Association | 2026 Annual General Meeting, Conference & Dinner

In person safety culture conference
Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th May 2026
In person safety culture conference
12:00 - 23:00
Member ticket prices:
Conference only: £90 (Plus VAT)
Conference & Dinner: £155 (Plus VAT)
Non-member ticket prices:
Conference only: £165 (Plus VAT)
Conference & Dinner: £325 (Plus VAT)
Graphic promoting the British Tugowners Association 2026 AGM, Conference and Dinner in Liverpool on 6–7 May, featuring a tugboat at sea and sponsor logos for UZMAR, Sanmar Shipyards and Damen.
Address:
Liverpool: Hope St Hotel (AGM & Conference) Malmaison Liverpool (Dinner)

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 afternoon networking activity and Welcome Dinner, offering delegates the chance to meet, strengthen relationships and build connections ahead of the formal business of the AGM and the afternoon Conference on Day Two.

Wednesday 6 May 2026

This year's afternoon networking activity will be the inaugural Clay Pigeon Shooting Tuition and Competition hosted at Shotwick Clay Shoot.

Afternoon (networking activity, the inaugural Clay Pigeon Shooting Tuition and Competition)

Located at Shotwick Clay Shoot, Brimstage Lane, Birkenhead, Wirral CH63 6HY

1300 arrival with lunch & refreshments will be provided

Evening (welcome dinner and social at - MV Daffodil (more details to follow))

Located at Liverpool ONE (Address: Canning Dock, Liverpool L3 4AN)

Thursday 7 May 2026

Day (Hope Street Hotel - 40 Hope St, Liverpool L1 9DA)

1045 – AGM (Members Only)

1145 – Annual Conference Part 1

1300 – Lunch

1400 – Annual Conference Part 2

1700 - Close

Evening (Malmaison Liverpool - 7 William Jessop Way, Liverpool L3 1QZ)

1900 – Drinks Reception

2000 – Seated for Dinner

2330 – Carriages

Clay Day & Welcome Dinner Sponsor

UZMAR

UZMAR

UZMAR was founded in 1972 by Senior Harbour Pilot Captain Altay Altug, as “The First Private Pilotage & Towage Company of Turkey”, serving various private ports and harbors in Turkey. Since the very first day of its establishment, UZMAR has followed and preserved the traditions and the values of maritime heritage.

Today UZMAR serves pilotage, towage, salvage, and emergency response duties to public safety at Nemrut Port, Izmir, Akcansa Port, Canakkale, Ambarlı Port, Istanbul, and Iskenderun Port, Hatay. UZMAR serves with more than 350 employees, 29 vessels, 30 captain pilots, and annually conducts 30.000+ ship maneuvers at 4 different locations.

From being the first private pilotage & towage operator in Turkey, UZMAR has grown into a world-class shipbuilder and has proudly built more than 200 vessels for 25 countries on 6 continents.

Conference Sponsor

Sanmar Shipyards | 50 Years

Sanmar Shipyards

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, Sanmar Shipyards continues to define the standard for excellence in tugboat construction. Drawing on half a century of expertise, Sanmar specializes in building of innovative and environmentally conscious vessels, developed in close collaboration with world-renowned Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd.

While Sanmar’s reputation is anchored in its world-leading tugboat construction, its diverse portfolio focuses on a sustainable future. Through its partnership with Robert Allan Ltd., Sanmar delivers cutting-edge vessels including zero-emission fully electric tugs as well as tugboats powered by alternative fuels like LNG and methanol.

Founded in Istanbul, Türkiye in 1976, Sanmar is driving a sustainable future through technological innovation and industry firsts. The company builds custom-designed tugboats at its modern shipyards in Tuzla and Altınova and delivers solutions to customers across six continents with strong customer partnerships, technical expertise and a reputation for excellent after-sales support.

Sanmar is also one of Türkiye’s leading towage operators, with a young and advanced fleet operating in ports nationwide.

For more information, visit: www.sanmar.com.tr

Gala Dinner and Drinks Reception Sponsor

Damen logo

Damen Shipyards

Damen is a family owned business that stands for fellowship, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship and stewardship. We believe that our oceans, seas, lakes and rivers offer humanity a growing range of possibilities in terms of trade, food, energy and recreation. We provide maritime solutions to meet these opportunities, through design, shipbuilding, ship repair and related services.

In the previous century, we revolutionised shipbuilding with standardisation and serial production. More than ninety years and 6,000 ships later, those pillars are unchanged. Their importance is only growing with the need for increased sustainability and digitalisation. It is our aim to combine our proven standardisation with the innovations of digitalisation to become the world’s most sustainable shipbuilder.

Conference Hotel - Hope Street Hotel Liverpool, L1 9DA

Special rate subject to availability rate of £159 bed and breakfast. The special conference code to book is GA006452. Please call the hotel to book on 0151 709 3000 to book. Or email:reservations@hopestreethotel.co.uk

Hotelmap

Please click on the HotelMap for British Tugowners Association 91st Annual General Meeting, Conference & Dinner can be found at: https://hotelmap.com/M8B4J

Attendees are able to view accommodation with live rates & availability.

Conference Dinner 

We will be hosting the conference Dinner at Mal Maison Liverpool Hotel, 7 William Jessop Way, Liverpool L3 1QZ.