WorkBoat Annual Conference – Dive Deeper

Each year The International WorkBoat Show presents the WorkBoat Annual Conference curated by the Editors of WorkBoat.com, WorkBoat Magazine, and the WorkBoat Content Team This year’s Conference will be custom designed to provide high level education and networking opportunities in a comprehensive format. Focusing on five critical segments; Maintenance & Repair, Tugs & Coastal Towing, Offshore, Shipyard, Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel, and led by industry leaders, these programs will bring problem solving solutions to the forefront.

Maintenance & Repair Program

Focused on all things maintenance and repair, this portion of the WorkBoat Annual Conference will deliver extensive programming that supports and identifies the key challenges and opportunities for M& R professionals. Discover new means of reliability and asset management, discover emerging technologies and future trends, understand the importance of everyday maintenance (whether predicted/scheduled or emergency), and engage in thoughtful conversations with peers to further your business.

Offshore Program

In recent years, the offshore industry has had its challenges. However, government energy officials and oil companies remain optimistic that offshore reserves will be needed in the future. With emerging technology trends and the growth of offshore renewable energy sources, more opportunity lies ahead. This program will identify the key components to sustaining the offshore sector now and into the future.

Tugs & Coastal Towing Program

Modernization of tug, tow, and coastal barge fleets will be examined. This program is designed to deliver a comprehensive overview of fleet, design and market trends. From new Z-drives on the Mississippi River to Tier 4 diesels and hybrid propulsion, tug and towboat designers and builders are putting out innovative solutions for the industry.

Shipyard Program

Shipyards are an integral part of the commercial marine industry. Shipyards are continually seeking innovative techniques to increase efficiency, safety and profitability. From design and construction trends to technological advancements and regulatory compliance, the importance of relevant, up-to-date information is crucial in today’s competitive environment — one characterized by more shipyards chasing fewer contracts. Hear what’s working and what’s not. This program will provide an in-depth look at the significance and importance of the shipyard industry.

Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel Program

A strong economy and the booming ferry and inland overnight cruise markets have helped boost passenger vessel industry growth and stability. This sector is seeing new designs, green technologies including hybrid and electric, improved fleet management and other technologies.

In the inland waterways sector, increased freight opportunities from U.S. chemical manufacturers and the improving economy should bring additional opportunities for barge companies while continuing to reduce the oversupply of equipment. Infrastructure improvements are needed as commercial and recreational transportation crowd the rivers. This program will address the strategic concepts in maintaining what is working and reversing what is not along the inland waterways and discuss what’s on the horizon.

2019 WorkBoat Annual Conference Pricing

Program	Includes	Price before Oct. 31, 2019	Price Oct. 31 – December 6, 2019	Schedule
Maintenance & Repair *Half Day Program 9:00am – 1:00pm Wednesday, Nov. 28	Maintenance & Repair Program Welcome Breakfast Morning Coffee Break Networking Luncheon	$275	$400	View Full Schedule>>
Tugs & Coastal Towing *Half Day Program 10:00am – 2:00pm Wednesday, Nov. 28	Tugs & Coastal Towing Program Morning Coffee Break Networking Luncheon	$275	$400	View Full Schedule>>
Offshore *Half Day Program 10:00am – 2:00pm Thursday, Nov. 29	Offshore Program Morning Coffee Break Networking Luncheon	$275	$400	View Full Schedule>>
Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel *Half Day Program 10:00am – 2:00pm Thursday, Nov. 29	Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel Program Morning Coffee Break Networking Luncheon	$275	$400	View Full Schedule>>
Shipyard *Half Day Program 1:00pm – 5:00pm Thursday, Nov. 29	Shipyard Program Afternoon Coffee Break Networking Happy Hour	$275	$400	View Full Schedule>>

Maintenance & Repair Program

Program Sponsored by:

Wednesday

28 Nov 2018

8:00 am - 8:30 am

Jeff Sherman

Featured Speaker – Jeff Sherman

Track Name: Maintenance & Repair Day Session Date: Nov 28 2018 8:00 am – 8:30 am

Jeff Sherman

8:30 am - 10:00 am

Port Room

David Shannon

Eric Schreiber

Stuart Gray

Software Intelligence to Increase Predictive Maintenance Strategies

Improved efficiency and accountability are common threads owners seek for their fleets. New technology techniques are being implemented by companies via software tools to enhance managed maintenance plans from historical...

David Shannon

Eric Schreiber

Stuart Gray

10:15 am - 11:10 am

Port Room

Tom Moriarty

Optimizing Fleet Management

Managing a vessel fleet involves planning, design, construction and commissioning, operation, maintenance, mid-life upgrades and decommissioning. Decision making for all aspects of the fleet’s life-cycle takes critical and strategic thinking...

Tom Moriarty

11:10 am - 12:15 pm

Port Room

Networking Lunch – Maintenance & Repair

All Maintenance & Repair Pavilion Exhibitors will join this lunch hour. Take this time to network with them and your conference peers.

12:15 pm - 1:15 pm

Port Room

JR Hand

Claude Tomlinson

Where Does Oil Analysis Fit into The Business Plan?

Oil analysis technology has improved greatly over the past several years. With the tools available on the market today, most information from traditional laboratory services is available in a portable,...

JR Hand

Claude Tomlinson

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

Port Room

Rich Merhige

Alignment Methods & New Technologies to Keep the Power Going

Proper alignment is crucial in shipbuilding and marine maintenance. Boats and marine craft are subject to twisting forces because of their environment and load. You may have alignment on your...

Rich Merhige

Tugs & Coastal Towing Program

Program Sponsored by:

Wednesday

28 Nov 2018

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Starboard Room

Benjamin “Bos” Smith

Featured Speaker – Bos Smith

Track Name: Tugs & Coastal Towing Program Session Date: Nov 28 2018 10:00 am – 10:30 am

10:30 am - 11:10 am

Starboard Room

Mike Vitt

Jonathan Davis

Usage and Expansion of Z-Drives

While Z-Drive propulsion is not new in the industry, it has recently become more widely used. Z-Drives are recognized for increased thrust and maneuverability using the same horsepower as traditional...

Mike Vitt

Jonathan Davis

11:10 am - 11:50 am

Starboard Room

Robert Hill

The Future of ATBS

The benefits articulated tug-barges include cost savings in both crewing needs and fuel costs. These fully functioning vessels not only provide inland and coastal tug and tow operations but have...

Robert Hill

11:50 am - 12:30 pm

Starboard Room

Networking Lunch – Tugs & Coastal Towing Program

Take this time to enjoy a complimentary lunch and network with peers.

12:30 pm - 1:10 pm

Starboard Room

Eric Johansson

Gregg Trunnel

Scott Craig

Utilizing Simulation to Ensure Competence

We expect Knowledge, Understanding and Proficiency for todays Maritime Officers to keep our vessels safe. We hire licensed officers with the expectation that they are qualified and competent to do...

Eric Johansson

Gregg Trunnel

Scott Craig

1:10 pm - 2:00 pm

Starboard Room

Jonathan Parrott

Bruce Washburn

Challenges & Opportunities of Bigger Tugs

Architects and engineers are working to meet the challenges of designing larger tugs with higher horsepower. With requests from operators for more horsepower and more bollard pull, tug designs need...

Jonathan Parrott

Bruce Washburn

Offshore Program

Thursday

29 Nov 2018

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Port Room

Matthew Rigdon

Featured Speaker – Matthew Rigdon

Track Name: Offshore Program Session Date: Nov 29 2018 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Matthew Rigdon

10:30 am - 11:10 am

Port Room

Mike Celata

Richard Sanchez

OSV Update for Gulf of Mexico & Global Markets

With nearly four years in a historic downturn for Offshore Oil Field Services, major companies have been forced into bankruptcy and more bankruptcies are likely in 2018. What does the...

Mike Celata

Richard Sanchez

11:10 am - 11:50 am

Port Room

John Pace

G. Allen Brooks

Oil & Gas Companies: Continuing to Adapt

The future of the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico and when it will rebound has been a guessing game. Over the summer, optimism was boosted, driven...

John Pace

G. Allen Brooks

11:50 am - 12:30 pm

Port Room

Networking Lunch – Offshore Program

Take this time to enjoy a complimentary lunch and network with peers.

12:30 pm - 1:10 pm

Port Room

Wei Huang

Vessel Reactivation and Class Renewal

Many vessels have been laid up over the past few years in various locations and in various conditions. Effective planning and preparation improves reactivation efforts to provide operational safety, efficiency...

Wei Huang

1:10 pm - 2:00 pm

Port Room

Ross Tyler

Offshore Wind Energy

Offshore wind energy has become a major source of renewable energy across the globe over the last decade and will continue to expand in years to come. In the United...

Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel Program

Program Sponsored by:

Thursday

29 Nov 2018

10:05 am - 10:30 am

Starboard Room

Michael Toohey

Featured Speaker – Michael Toohey

Track Name: Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel Program Session Date: Nov 29 2018 10:05 am – 10:30 am

Michael Toohey

10:30 am - 11:10 am

Starboard Room

Grant Pecoraro

Peter Duclos

Today’s Design Trends

Vessels are being designed to provide luxury crew comfort, operate at high frequencies, expand engine room space, enhance safety features and reduce fuel emissions. Experienced architects will deliver today’s innovative...

Grant Pecoraro

Peter Duclos

11:10 am - 11:50 am

Starboard Room

How to Effectively Manage a Coast Guard Inspection

The U.S.-flagged passenger vessel fleet has been inspected by the Coast Guard since 1958. In this session, passenger vessel operators will describe the process of preparing for and managing a...

Dave Whanger

Eric Christensen

Gus Gaspardo

Dave Anderson

11:50 am - 12:30 pm

Starboard Room

Networking Lunch – Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel Program

Take this time to enjoy a complimentary lunch and network with peers.

12:30 pm - 1:10 pm

Starboard Room

Stephen Barnes

Federal Policy Outlook for Major Infrastructure Investments

In 2017, the president’s infrastructure plan was highly anticipated across the inland waterway industry with the hope it would lead to improved plans and financing for the aging inland infrastructure....

Stephen Barnes

1:10 pm - 2:00 pm

Starboard Room

Today’s Technologies for Tomorrow’s Future

Green technologies are becoming ever more popular, but questions remain unanswered as to how these innovative technologies are more beneficial than current and older models. This session is geared toward...

Joe Burgard

Joe Hudspeth

Joseph Pratt

Aziz Bamik

Shipyard Program

Program Sponsored by:

Thursday

29 Nov 2018

1:05 pm - 1:30 pm

Rivergate Room

Todd Thayse

Featured Speaker – Todd Thayse

Thayse will address the numerous regulatory, infrastructure, resource and market-driven challenges facing the shipbuilding industry.

Todd Thayse

1:30 pm - 2:10 pm

Rivergate Room

Matt Mullett

The Building Blocks of New Construction

Despite the ups and downs in specific sectors, new vessels and new designs continue to be built. Shipyards seek targeted opportunities within diverse businesses to encourage long-term relationships with operators...

Matt Mullett

2:10 pm - 2:50 pm

Rivergate Room

Ryan Lee

Richard Schwarz

Challenges and Opportunities for Shipyard Workers

Building vessels is a multifaceted engineering process. Shipyard workers include supervisors, fabricators, welders, fitters, electricians, and more. Depending on where in the U.S. a shipyard operates and the industry sectors...

Ryan Lee

Richard Schwarz

3:00 pm - 3:40 pm

Chris Allard

Richard McCreary

Outlook for Commercial and Government Sectors

Diversification is more important today than ever before in shipyard industry history. The days of building only one type of vessel for only one niche market in the industry are...

Chris Allard

Richard McCreary

3:40 pm - 4:20 pm

Rivergate Room

Corning Townsend

Prasad Prabhakar Sawant

Current Design Trends & Future Innovations

Cutting edge technology leads the way in design trends for new vessels and existing vessels. Architects and engineers face challenges of providing more crew comforts, power and capacity. Autonomous concepts,...

Corning Townsend

Prasad Prabhakar Sawant

4:20 pm - 5:20 pm

Rivergate Room

Networking Happy Hour

Enjoy this time to network with peers over complimentary beverages and snacks.

Conference Program

WorkBoat Annual Conference – Dive Deeper

Maintenance & Repair Program

Offshore Program

Tugs & Coastal Towing Program

Shipyard Program

Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel Program

2019 WorkBoat Annual Conference Pricing

Maintenance & Repair Program

Tugs & Coastal Towing Program

Offshore Program

Inland Waterways & Passenger Vessel Program

Shipyard Program