tugboat

For the journal of digital typography, see TUGboat.

For alternative meanings of tug, see Tug (disambiguation).
A tugboat shown turning a large RORO cargo ship.
A tugboat, or tug, is a boat used to maneuver, primarily by towing or
pushing, other vessels (see shipping) in harbours, over the open sea or
through rivers and canals. They are also used to tow barges, disabled
ships, or other equipment like towboats.
Tugboat design
Tugboats are quite strong for their size. arly tugboats had steam
engines! today diesel engines are used. Tugboat engines typically
produce "#$ to %$$$ horsepower (#$$ to &$$$ k'), but larger boats
(used in deep waters) can have power ratings up to &# $$$ hp (&$ $$$
k'). The engines are often the same as those used in railroad engines,
but typically drive the propeller mechanically instead of converting the
engine output to power electric motors, as is common for railroad
engines. (or safety, tugboats) engines feature two of each critical part
for redundancy.
Tugboats are highly maneuverable and various propulsion systems
have been developed to increase maneuverability and increase safety.
The earliest tugs were *tted with paddle wheels but these were soon
replaced by propeller+driven tugs. ,ort nozzles have been added to
increase thrust per k' - hp. This was followed by the nozzle+rudder
which omitted the need for a conventional rudder. The cycloidal
propeller was developed prior to 'orld 'ar .. but was only occasionally
used in tugs because of its manoeuvrability. After 'orld 'ar .. it was
also linked to safety due to the development of the /oith 'ater Tractor!
a tugboat con*guration which could not be pulled over by its tow. .n
the late 01#$s the 2+drive or (azimuth thruster) were developed.
Although sometimes referred to as the 3chottel system many brands
e4ist5 3chottel, 2+6eller, 7uckpeller, Thrustmaster, 8lstein, '9rtsil9 etc.
The propulsion system are used on tugboats designed for tasks such as
ship docking and marine construction. :onventional propeller-rudder
con*gurations are more e;cient for port+to+port towing.
A tugboat)s power is typically stated by its engine)s <orsepower and its
overall =ollard pull.
The ,ort nozzle is a sturdy cylindrical structure around a special
propeller having minimum clearance between the propeller blades and
the inner wall of the ,ort nozzle. The thrust5 power ratio is enhanced
because the water approaches the propeller in a linear con*guration
and e4its the nozzle the same way. The ,ort nozzle is named after its
inventor, but many brands e4ist.
A new type of tugboat has been invented in the >etherlands. The so+
called carousel tug consists of a design wherein the ?e4ibility and
e@ectiveness of the tugboat)s maneuvers is determined not by the
propulsion system, but by a steel construction on deck, consisting of
two steel rings. The inner ring is *4ed to the ship, and the second ring
rotates freely and carries a hook or winch. The ship can therefore
maneuver freely and independently of the towed ship, and since the
towing point rotates towards the point nearest to the towed ship, the
tug can capsize only with di;culty. Ane prototype e4ists presently, but
the *rst new tugs are e4pected to sail in spring &$$".
Types of tugboats
There are two groups of tugboats, either .nland or Aceangoing.
Inland tugboats come in two categories5
Harbor tugs are the most typical of the tugboats that people
recognize. They are used worldwide to move ships in and out of berth
and to move industrial barges around waterfront business comple4es.
Their Bob has remained the same but their design and engineering has
changed much over the the decades. <arbor tugs have evolved from
paddle wheelers, to the conventional tug known by all, and now to the
3hip 7ocking Coduals and tractor tugs in the modern industry.
River tugs are also referred to as towboats or pushboats. They are
designed as large squared o@ vessels with ?at bows for connecting
with the rectangular stern of the barges. They are large and powerful,
most commonly seen on the big rivers of the world. They are capable
of pushing huge ?eets of barges that are lashed together into DtowsD.
3ome tows can be up to 0$$$ feet long and &$$ feet wide. 3maller
push boats are often seen handling only a few barges on inland waters.
7espite their size, they are designed to push their tow rather than tow
from the stern.
Oceangoing tugboats come in four categories5
The conventional tug is the standard seagoing tugboat with a model
bow that tows its payload on a hawser. A hawser is the nautical term
for a long steel cable or large synthetic *ber rope. .t operates
independently and is used to tow various loads, e.g., cargo barges,
ships, oil rigs, and etc. This is the most versatile method of towing
since the conventional tugboat is able to move its load three ways5
6ushing from behind, secured to the side of the towed vessel, or by
towing astern, all achieved by the use of various lines and cables in
various con*gurations. They are importantly recognized as the design
of choice for salvage and assistance of wrecked ships and in the rescue
and safe return of disabled ships from the high seas.
The notch tug is a conventional tug which is assigned to tow and push
a speci*c barge, usually built to the shape and speci*cations of that
tugboat. A notch tug has a large towing winch on its stern but it gets
its name from the deep notch built into the stern of the barge. This
notch is built in the e4act shape of the tug)s forward hull and can be
quite deep, up to 1$ feet, sometimes more. The tugboat *ts snugly into
the notch of the barge and with the use of various lines can be secured
*rmly enough to push the barge at much higher speeds than it would if
it were towing. The towing hawser remains rigged during pushing. .n
the event that the seas get too rough to push safely, the tug merely
releases any securing lines and backs out of the notch while e4tending
its towing hawser. Ance in calmer waters, the tug can maneuver back
into the notch and resume pushing.
The articulated tug and barge, or ATB, is a specially designed
vessel, comprised of a tugboat and a barge which are coupled using
specially designed machinery. The tug is connected to the barge inside
a notch, similar to the notch boat, using a system of heavy pins,
clamps, and-or side pads. AT=)s remain coupled all the time! the tug
pushes its barge in all but the roughest seas.
The advantages of this system are speed, safety, and cost e;ciency.
As a unit, the AT= can push much faster than a tug can tow from astern
and the use of a coupling system eliminates many of the hazards
associated with towing winches and cables. The unit is considered by
authorities to be coupled in a Dsemi+rigidD manner and, thus, regulated
by laws governing tugs and barges, rather than ships. This makes the
AT= a less e4pensive vessel to operate. To be considered articulated,
the two vessels may roll simultaneously but must pitch independently.
There are three popular systems to achieve this, each having a method
to lock the tug onto the barge and secure it)s side to side movement,
while allowing the tug to pitch freely.
>ote5 'hile AT=)s can be considered integrated, the designation of .T=
is not widely used nowadays, due to industry changes in design and
practice.
The "Bludworth System" utilizes a large hyrdaulic clamp
on the very bow of the tug that *ts onto a large steel bar in
the deepest end of the barge)s notch. The clamp uses
massive hydraulic pressure to squeeze two metal discs
onto either side of the bar, like a disc brake caliper on a
car. The tug is also equipped with two sets of large pads on
each side near the stern. Ane side of these pads is also
*tted with hydraulic presses, and e4tend outward to secure
the tug from side to side. The large te?on pads are *rmly in
contact with each side of the notch, so they are frequently
lubricated to reduce friction during underway movement.
The clamp grips the bar tightly preventing the tug from
?oating up and down or fore and aft in the notch. The side
pads press out with equal pressure, holding the tug evenly
in the notch, securing it from shifting side to side. The tug
is allowed to pitch inside the notch as the pads are allowed
to slide up and down while the clamps buttons pivot inside
the clamp housing like a4les.
The "Intercontinental (Intercon) System" uses two
pins on the tug that can *t into specially designed grooves
built vertically into the walls of the notch on the barge. The
grooves are built with a row of zig+zag DteethD on each
edge, forward and rear. Two pins on each side of the tug)s
bow are equipped with the same shaped teeth on their
forward and rear that, when e4tended into the grooves, will
mesh with those on the grooves. The pins then press in
tightly using great mechanical pressure. The meshed teeth
prevent the tug from ?oating up and down or fore and aft
in the notch, and the pins hold the tug evenly between
both sides of the notch, securing it from shifting side to
side. The tug is allowed to pitch inside the notch as it
pivots on the pins) giant shafts as on a4les.
The JAK System is now being used. .t is similar in
operation to the .ntercon 3ystem but uses di@erent means
of coupling. .nstead of a vertical groove with teeth, it uses
a vertical row of evenly spaced holes (sockets) along each
side of the notch. Aboard the tug, round, solid pins without
teeth are mounted in the sides of the bow. The tug pulls
into the notch and e4tends the pins, which *t into the
sockets. Ereat pneumatic pressure is used to press them
*rmly into place, holding the tug in the notch. The pins
cannot move around in the tight *tting sockets and prevent
the tug from ?oating up and down or fore and aft in the
notch. The pins hold the tug evenly between both sides of
the notch, securing it from shifting side to side. The tug is
allowed to pitch inside the notch as it pivots on the pins as
on a4les.
There may be other AT= coupling systems in use but these
three are the most widely used.
The integrated tug and barge, or ITB, is a rigidly connected tug and
barge. This means that it *ts so tight into the stern of its barge that it
will roll and pitch in the same manner with the barge. The systems
used to couple the two vessels are varied, but they are similar in that
the connection point is virtually seamless and for all practical purpose,
they appear to be a ship. These units stay coupled under any sea
conditions and the tugs usually have poor designs for sea keeping and
navigation without their barges attached. /essels in this category
cannot pitch independently from the barge and so are legally
considered to be ships rather than tugboats and barges. As a result of
this classi*cation, they are regulated by authorities as ships.
Tugboats in fction
To date there have been two children)s shows revolving around
anthropomorphic (living) tugboats. .n the 01F$s 0% episodes were
made of T8E3. Ane of the creators of that series went on to make
Theodore Tugboat. An Tugs the models were able to move their heads
and eyes and didn)t have motors. An Theodore Tugboat, the models
have motors and moving eyes. Tugboats have also been featured on
Thomas and (riends however they have been reused from Tugs and
have no face nor a hat.