TTB 2026: How risk management strengthens tug, towboat & barge profitability

As tug, towboat and barge operators face rising insurance costs, tighter margins and growing exposure across their fleets, risk management has moved from the back office to the balance sheet. At Tugs, Towboats & Barges (TTB) 2026, taking place March 10–11, 2026, in Mobile, Ala., Sabrina Brigance, managing director of marine practice at Hylant, will break down how disciplined risk strategies can directly strengthen financial performance in her presentation, “The Economics of Exposure: How Risk Management Strengthens Tug, Towboat & Barges Profitability.”

Brigance will walk attendees through how leading operators are using exposure analysis, claims-trend tracking and contract discipline to gain control of their total cost of risk. Rather than treating safety and insurance as fixed expenses, she shows how operators can quantify the return on investment of safety programs, identify where losses are eroding margins and use insurance data as a financial decision-making tool.

This session goes beyond compliance to focus on outcomes. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for turning risk management into a driver of operational resilience and sustainable profitability, helping owners and operators make smarter decisions in an environment where every risk carries real economic consequences.

TTB 2026 will bring together tug, towboat and barge operators, suppliers and industry stakeholders to address the most pressing operational and regulatory issues facing the towing industry.

Registration is now open. For questions on sponsorships, please contact David Harkey at [email protected].