Setting Sail on a Tugboat Business Venture

Tugboats are like the handymen of the maritime industry. They are capable of performing various tasks such as maneuvering large ships into docks as well as barges. If you are considering a career in the tugboat business, here are some tidbits of information you need to ponder on:

Be informed of all the necessary steps of the business startup as defined by your local legislation. For starters, contact a commercial insurance agent with sufficient experience in the maritime industry who has in-depth knowledge of the risks that a tugboat business entails. It's ideal that you secure a liability insurance with a coverage that encompasses common tugboat accidents.

You will also need to lease an office and docking space. Make your business as convenient as possible and gain more business opportunities by setting up your office near the major ports in your area. Your office should also be easily accessible from your dock's location.

Before purchasing your mighty fleet, you must first determine which jobs your tugs will have to do. This will help you determine what types of tugs to purchase. Moreover, choose captains and crew members with enough experience in maneuvering a tugboat, and who are familiar with the maritime policies in the area where they will be operating in.

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Tough Tuggers: The Various Uses of Tugboats

Tugboats are those small boats helping larger crafts dock in harbors. Their diesel-powered machines are very robust, and can push or tug tons of weight without even a hint of mechanical stress. However, there's more to this unassuming but powerful vehicle than just acting as a valet for docking.

Due to their incredible engine power, tugboats are the perfect craft for salvaging or recovering disabled ships. Such force is also useful for firefighting applications, hence, there are tugboats fitted with deluge guns designed to put out the flames while the craft pushes away other boats to safety. Some have even used tugboats as icebreakers that can pave the way through ice-covered waters for other boats.

With so many applications possible for tugboats, it's nice to hear that they are used for recreational purposes as well. Tugboat racing is quite popular in America, and without a load, the vessels are rather quick to push or pull. Their ability to move in any direction also inspired a peculiar tugboat “ballet” in Hamburg, which features the crafts doing various synchronized maneuvers to music. Whatever they may be used for, people just love and respect their tugboats, which are far more than just for parking other water vessels.

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Huge Vessels Need Work Boats

You can find many kinds of ships sailing in different types of water basins; oceans, for example, have cruise ships, cargo vessels, and war ships. In lakes and rivers, or waters near the shores, you can find smaller boats for leisure and sports. This includes yachts, canoes, and jet boats.

Huge vessels that take on the vast seas usually have huge purposes. Cruise ships, for instance, are for passengers, while cargo vessels are for transporting various commercial products for trade. War ships, on the other hand, are built for the naval forces of different countries. No matter how these boats serve the purpose for which they were built, however, the downside is that they are not always free to move in any type of water basin.

When passing through canals or docking at piers, for example, these vessels need the guidance of smaller work boats known as tugboats. Work boats are small but powerful vessels that assist bigger ships in waterways that the latter may not be able to steer through. Without them, huge vessels may not be able to maneuver safely and this can cause damage to the ship or other properties. With work boats to tug or pull these bigger vessels, they can maneuver better in smaller areas and resume sailing in safety.

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