Tugboat Information (2024)

FAQs

Is tugboat a good career? ›

Job security: Because tugboats are essential for transporting goods, you're often in high demand as an employee. This means that you can often enjoy job security.

How Fast Can Tugboats Move? Although it varies, when tugboats get up to speed, they can typically travel as fast as 15 knots. For a quick comparison, consider the fact that cruise ships typically move at 21-24 knots while high-speed cruise ships can travel at a rather brisk 30 knots or more.

Tugboats are known for their impressive engine capacity, which generates substantial bollard pull—the force required to hold a vessel stationary against external forces such as wind, current, or the resistance of the water.

In most segments of the towing industry, crewmembers stand two six-hour watches daily. Crewmembers on some harbor tugs go home at night and often work a single 12-hour shift. The entry-level position on a towing vessel is called a Deckhand on inland towboats or an Ordinary Seaman on coastal tugboats.

A mate of a tugboat needs to test for a U.S. Coast Guard license that corresponds with the tonnage of their boat, as well as certificates in firefighting and emergency procedures, among other requirements. But, the ultimate goal for many who enter the tugboat field as deckhands is to one day become a captain.

A tugboat crew is smaller, often numbering between three and 10 members at most. The crew usually works close to shore and doesn't travel far out into the water. The crew usually returns to shore by night.

Many tug boats come with living quarters, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. for crew members to use while they're in the middle of towing projects.

Most tugboats can also venture into the ocean, but some do not have that propulsion power, like river tugs. River tugs are towboats designed to help out in rivers and canals. Their varied hull types make it dangerous for them to venture into the open ocean.

OSG's ships have company-provided gym equipment such as elliptical machines, stationary bikes, treadmills and weights. Even the company's tugs have a stationary bike provided for crew use. All of this equipment is designed and installed so it can be safely used on board ship.

How much fuel does a tugboat use per hour? ›

Tugboats have to help vessels far larger than themselves. To get their tremendous pushing power, the tiny, cute boats and their oversized engines create a lot of force and guzzle a lot of fuel — anywhere from 100-200 gallons per hour, or up to 5,000 gallons per day.

Trained deckhands are also well-positioned to climb the professional ladder and become senior captains, engineers and deck officers. Several career paths are open to individuals trained as deckhands, and there are specialized training programs to help you achieve your career goals.

A tugboat crew handles the operations of the tugboat, conducting towing procedures and coordinating with the larger ships they assist. If you want to work in the marine industry, understanding the roles of tugboats and the professional opportunities they provide could help you find a job in the industry.

Working as a tugboat captain provides a sense of freedom and supremacy. According to the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, you spend your time on the open water, where you have complete authority over the boat and its crew, which normally includes an engineer, a mate, a deckhand and a chef.