How Does a Tugboat Captain Spend a Workday?

Radar and GPS

A tugboat captain spends much of his time scanning these devices, keeping an eye on every single thing that happens for a great distance around him. The radar will tell the captain of things within approximately a mile range, while the GPS unit can tell of his own position in the water, as well as other ships or large objects in the area. It is vital that this equipment be working properly, and the captain is responsible for it.

Training the Crew

It is up to the captain of the tugboat to train his crew. Each tugboat can be run differently. It is up to the discretion of the captain as to how things are done, when, and for how long. He is literally the master of the vessel, and his word goes no matter what. All tugboat captains first started as deckhands, doing all the dirty day-to-day work. Then, if they are successful at that, they may move on to first mate or pilot, which puts them in the control room of the tugboat. The test to become a master tugboat operator is rigorous, and applicants must score 90 percent or better in order to pass.

Designing Software

While this is not usually required to become a tugboat captain, many of them spend hours every day working on their equipment, and designing ways to make it better. These programs help map out routes; identify man-made obstacles in the water; and measure the depth of water, the current or the wind. Other software is in place to remind the captain and crew when supplies must be ordered and oversee other day-to-day requirements which help the tugboat operate at full efficiency.

Ship and Engine Maintenance

The tugboat captain is responsible for knowing everything about his boat, including the engine room. These powerful tugboats average about 3,000 horsepower, and are responsible for yanking around extremely heavy and important loads, so keeping everything in tip-top operating shape is an absolute must. If something goes wrong in the engine room, or the engine needs maintenance, the captain must know how to diagnose and work on these problems.

Knowing the Sea

A tugboat captain must know every single square foot of the area she works in, and be familiar with the tides, the weather, theories of currents and waves, and how all these things will affect how the boat operates. The captain is in charge of a great amount of things, and has a vast amount of responsibility on her shoulders, so the more she knows, the better.