The 40th edition of the International WorkBoat Show opens next week at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. In addition to visiting the hundreds of exhibitors that will be showcasing thousands of products and services, there are several other options for attendees.
Among them are Think Tank sessions and a full conference program that covers all the major workboat sectors. There will also be several boats on display on the show floor. Lake Assault Boats (booth 3877), Metal Shark (booth 3467), North River Boats (booth 3677), Scully’s Aluminum Boats (4077) and Safe Boats (booth 363) will all have boats at the show.
Also, one of two new ship-assist tugs built for Harbor Docking & Towing (HDT), the Ralph, will be on display and available for tours during show hours at the lower Julia Street wharf behind the convention center. The Ralph and its sistership the Capt. Robb, both 93'×38'×15.5', were built at Washburn & Doughty and mark substantial departures from HDT’s other tugboats. The Robb and the Ralph are the first two tugs in the U.S. with a Caterpillar hybrid propulsion system. It consists of a pair of 2,550-hp Tier 4 Caterpillar 3512E main engines plus two ABB electric thruster motors, rated at 800-hp each.
John Buchanan, HDT’s president, will discuss the tugs, his company, and the tug market at the show at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. He is the featured speaker at the Tugs & Coastal Towing Program.
Later that day from 3:15 p.m. until 4 p.m., we are offering a Think Tank presentation previewing the Significant Boat Awards winners. It will involve the owners, builders and designers of this year’s Significant Boats and it is open to everyone at the show. Panel members are reminded to meet at the WorkBoat booth, #256, at 3 p.m. before the Think Tank session.
