Towing On Water: Basic Parts of a Tugboat

If you are aiming for a career that has to do with sea navigation, you may find working on a tugboat fulfilling. A tugboat is a vessel used in towing other water craft that may have been marooned or that cannot be cast ashore because of engine failure or sea traffic. Knowing the basic parts of a tugboat can just give you a head start on your dream job.

The engine room is where instruments and machinery that make a tugboat run are located. A chief engineer usually mans this part of the tug. In larger tugboats that navigate international waters, the chief engineer should be licensed and aided by assistants who help ensure a smooth-sailing, trouble-free ride.

The wheelhouse is the part of the tugboat where the captain, his mates and deckhands are stationed. All decisions regarding water towing are made by the captain; the mates are next in command. The deckhands are in charge of everyday chores that a tugboat operation requires. 

The other tugboat rooms to remember are the galley and the forepeak. The galley is where the crew usually gathers to cook and eat their meals. The forepeak, on the other hand, is the most anterior part of the inside of a ship. This is where memorabilia like photographs and literature are kept if the tug has had a long history on the water.  

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The Amazing World of Hardworking Tugboats

If you're in the library, you don't judge a book by its cover. The same thing is true when you're in a shipyard or in the sea, you don't judge a ship by its size; especially not when you're looking at a tugboat. From films to literature, tugboats have become iconic vessels because of their versatility and distinct design. They don't just sail with the wind and go with the waves. Tugboats play an important role in the marine industry.

Tugboats primarily perform three critical tasks: “tug assists”, towing, and transporting. A tugboat does a tug assist when it helps a larger ship with limited side to side mobility to maneuver and dock in the harbor. Oftentimes, when the force of a single tugboat isn't enough, a second tugboat can be brought in to assist the first. Powerful tugboats can also efficiently tow and transfer “dead ships” or barges to another location. In construction projects, tugboats move barges carrying materials and equipment, and give construction workers a ride from port to port.

Other than their practical uses, tugboats could likewise be used for recreation. There are yearly tugboat races such as the ones held on Elliot Bay in Seattle and even tugboat ballets during festivals where these boats execute choreographed movements with waltz and dance music accompaniment. Indeed, there are more to tugboats than meets the eye.

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How to Start a Tugboat Business

Tugboats make it possible to maneuver larger vessels in and out of ports, as well as bring home disabled vessels from larger bodies of water. Without tugboats, it would be impossible for large vessels to navigate shallow waters closer to shore. Tugboats therefore play an important role in the cruise ship as well as import and export industries.

If you're thinking of starting your own tugboat business, then you might want to consider buying an established business. This way, you'll have a tried and tested business model that has all the essential best practices and client base laid out for you. Before you enter such a business venture, however, see to it that you're dealing with a reputable company; after all, you wouldn't want to inherit angry clients and a dubious reputation now, would you?

After purchasing the necessary equipment and processing all the required documentation, your next task will be to hire skilled personnel. Make sure that your tugboat staff all have the proper licenses to operate a tugboat. Since your staff is also an extension of your business, you'll want to make sure they abide by your company core values and operating principles.

Finally, you can also consult tugboat operators from different areas so you can obtain some much-needed sage advice. Once you've got everything planned out, you can then proceed to acquiring the required capital. Crack a bottle on your maiden voyage for good luck. Bon voyage!

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Tugs: Great Things in Small Packages

You've seen them along coastal areas, piers, and docks everywhere – these sturdy looking boats that look like yachts without the fancy trappings, or small fishing vessels without the nets and pens. Tug boats are, in fact, tough and strong work boats designed to tow or push other boats and ships more than ten times their size. A casual coastal watcher would probably see them as the least glamorous among seafaring vessels, but true nautical enthusiasts appreciate the tug's compact power, strength, and history.

Yes, tugs have a long and colorful history which dates back to the invention of the steam engine. The very first steamship, the Charlotte Dundas, was also officially the first tugboat. While assisting boats through various waterways was not the tug's intended function, its value as a tower grew as maritime companies increasingly needed to move vessels around water systems.

Tugs played a major role during World War I and II, since they helped move battleships as needed in the course of war. Improvements in the design of tugs were actually propelled by military needs during WWII.

The towing power of tugs increased once diesel engines were introduced. Diesel engines were lighter in weight, and needed less people to operate. Hence, tugs got easier and more economical to use. As the maritime industry is now making the effort to go green, however, new tugs that use less diesel and run on eco-friendly fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) may soon become the norm.

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