Traditionally, towing referred to the process of one or more vessels pulling another vessel on a rope, but nowadays it is commonly used as a general term for many types and methods of assistance from one vessel to another one with the aim to provide additional means of propulsion or manoeuvering

a small powerful boat which pulls large ships, usually when they come into a port

a vessel that is being towed

a person in charge of ensuring safe and optimal towage services, both in port and at sea

to pull a boat along, fastened behind another boat

to pull (another boat or ship) that is attached by a rope or cable

to be assisted by tugs

to use force to make a vessel move away from you or away from its previous position

to be attached to the front of a vessel and cause it to move behind you

to move a vessel in a particular direction, usually by pulling it gently

A fast type tug designed to assist tankers in areas of high environmental risk. They run with tankers at speeds of up to 14 knots to provide an emergency steering and braking.

A boat designed for moving barges or car floats. These vessels are characterized by a square bow, a shallow draft, and typically have knees, which are large plates mounted to the bow for moving barges of various heights. These boats usually operate on rivers and inland water- ways.

A type of vessel specially designed to offer the necessary support during the different maneuvers carried out by other vessels or floating devices within the port.

A tug that supplies manouvering and/or docking pulling for vessels lacking that ability. They have Z-drive (or azimuth thruster) propulsion systems, and they are especially de- signed for tasks such as ship docking and marine con- struction.

A multi-purpose boat used by state authorities to tow dis- abled vessels on high seas in order to prevent dangers to man and environment. The disabled vessel is either towed to a safe haven or kept in place against wind and current until commercial assistance by tugboats has arrived on site or until it has been repaired to the extent of being able to manoeuvre on its own.

the act or process of slowing or stopping a vehicle

the power that moves something, especially a vehicle, in a forward direction

a vessel that does not have use of its main engines or other forms of propulsion

with special design and exceptional towing capabilities, these mighty vessels offer essential support in open wa- ters. From towing disabled ships to salvaging wreckage, they ensure safety and efficient operations in challenging offshore environments.

the standard seagoing tugboat with a model bow that tows its payload on a hawser

to be without

the mass that a tug can move without making use of inertia forces

steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near, the stern of the boat

a short tube to speed up or direct a flow of fluid

a force that opposes motion

the hull that pushes away water allowing the vessel to settle down in the water

able to last long; strong

a disadvantage or the negative part

an early form of ship's propeller in which a screw is used to produce thrust by accelerating a flow of water

a configuration of marine propellers placed in pods that can be rotated to any horizontal angle (azimuth), making a rudder redundant

it combines propulsion and steering in one unit. It is highly maneuverable, being able to change the direc- tion of its thrust almost instantaneously. From a circular plate, rotating around a vertical axis, a circular array of vertical blades (in the shape of hydrofoils) protrude out of the bottom of the ship. Each blade can rotate itself around a vertical axis. The internal gear changes the angle of attack of the blades in sync with the rotation of the plate, so that each blade can provide thrust in any direction, very similar to the collective pitch control and cyclic in a helicopter.

able to move quickly and easily

midway between the bow and stern of a ship

objects which hang against the outside of a boat and protect it from damage when it comes next to a harbour wall or another boat

very near

fit or safe to travel on the sea

the movement of an oil rig, drilling platform, etc., from one position to another

the act of rescuing from somewhere

a device which controls the steel towline connecting the tug to its tow

this winch is made to perform frequent assistance work on any type of vessel, it can be used for multifunctional work on tugboats and other work boats

a device used to secure wires

a metal cable used for towing a vessel

a line used in towing

a device that shoots a rope to a remote position

equipment and methods that help rescue a grounded ship

equipment used to cover holes (plug holes)

a piece of equipment that presses air into a smaller space so that it can be used under high pressure

equipment used by underwater divers to make diving ac- tivities possible, easier, safer and/or more comfortable

equipment for joining two pieces of metal using heat

used on tugs and working boats. They mainly serve to guide towing ropes and anchor chains

light rope used to transfer the end of a larger rope across a gap, for example, from ship to shore

a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to multiply the pulling force of seamen when hauling ropes, cables

a device created primarily to enable a quick connection to a tow, and secondly to reduce the heeling moment on the tug during ship handling. The towing hook is to be fitted as low as possible

vertical posts on a vessel to which towing or mooring lines are secured

a heavy timber on deck for attaching a towline

a rope, cable, or other line used in towing

short lengths of wire rope or synthetic line used to prevent damage to the main towline, where it is made fast on the assisted tanker's stern.

- a bridle with a hook in the center to which a towline is fastened when two boats are towed abreast - a length of wire hawser for passing around part of a ship's structure (as an after turret) to the ends of which the towing hawser may be connected by a set of shackles

a short length, typically 20m, of relatively elastic line. It is built into a towline assembly that includes a low extension wire rope to help absorb the shock loads and thus reduce peak loads in the assembly.

fortified place on a vessel to which a cable is fixed

a block or ring through which a line is led to keep it clear of obstructions, prevent chafing, or maintain it at an angle

rubbing of a line so as it wears away

the strength required to tear a rope during a tension

to put under water

To pull or carry with effort

to make fast a rope by winding it round something

secure a line

the part of a ship where entrance region meets the parallel middle body

a side of a ship aft, between the main midship frames and stern

a line used to tow vessels

to rub a surface with fat, such as shortening, oil, or butter

a small line thrown to an approaching vessel, or a dock as a messenger