How to Maneuver With a Tugboat

Maneuvering with a tugboat can take a variety of forms.

Tugboats are specially designed to haul larger ships or barges through the water. While the name tug implies that a tugboat will be pulling a boat behind it, it is also possible for a tugboat to push a larger ship or barge with its nose. These boats are used to rescue vessels that lose power and to maneuver large ships that don't have fine navigation. Maneuvering with a tugboat is fairly straightforward naval process.

Things You'll Need

• Tow lines
• Bumpers/pads

Instructions

1. Hook the tug boat up to the ship to be pulled. Anchor between one and three lines to the rear of the tugboat and to the front of the ship being tugged. Run the line through the cleats on the boat being tugged and tie the knots securely. Leave enough room between the boats so that the boat being towed won't run over the tug boat if it stops. The bigger the ship being towed, the more room you should leave.

2. Push the nose of the tug up to the area of the ship to be pushed. For ships needing to be moved to either port or starboard for docking (left or right, respectively) push a tug boat up against one side of the ship. Use pads or buoys so that the ships don't actually push up against one another. It's imperative the pads you're using are rated for tugboat maneuvering.

3. Start the tugboat's engine. Once the tugboat is in place and you're ready to maneuver the other ship, take up the slack by slowly and steadily increasing power to the tugboat's engine. Once the ship begins to move, make sure you only move as much as is necessary before you stop. When towing a ship try to stay in a straight line. When pushing a ship, make sure you post watchers to tell you when to stop.

References

• Trip Atlas: Tugboat
• NW Boat: Basic Boat Maneuvering