Tugboats
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
If lifeboats are the heroes of the maritime world, tugs are the work horses. Without them, large vessels cannot traverse narrow waterways or dock safely.
I’ve always thought of tugboats as working with bulky container ships, pushing and pulling, manoeuvring them round acute angles into ports and nudging them onto moorings.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Otherwise, I’ve seen them accompanying those moving blocks of flats called cruise ships, or hauling barges carrying heavy loads along busy rivers.
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I didn’t realise until recently that they are also used to assist submarines entering port, though of course it makes sense. Submarines on the surface are not easy to manoeuvre and cannot reverse without risking damage. Tugs help them to rotate and also act as brakes.
Interesting... I'd never given much thought to tugboats (outside the occasional children's book or toy) until I went on a cruise many years ago and saw these tiny little boats down below us guiding us to see. I was fascinated and only then realized what workhorses they truly are.
ReplyDeleteWorking vessels fascinate me, but tugs truly are powerhouses.
DeleteThings we don’t think about.
ReplyDeleteThings we take for granted . . .
DeleteSometime things need to be called to our attention.
ReplyDeleteSome things are easily overlooked.
DeleteWe see them sometimes on the Great Lakes pulling boats. So small, but so mighty!
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I do like seeing those container ships. They are massive! Felixstowe, near where I'm from is a really busy port. There are boats that you can take that take you really close to those container ships and it's amazing to see how big they are!
We watch them on the Solent. They dwarf even the largest cruise ships.
DeleteWhenever I think of tugboats, I think of the Golden Book with the story of Scuffy the Tugboat.
ReplyDeleteGolden Books were wonderful, weren't they? (Probably still are!)
DeleteThose are pretty tugboats! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI'm very fond of tugboats . . .
DeleteI have never seen Norwegian ocean-going tugs used for towing oil rigs, but I would have guessed they were very functional and quite ugly. Your tugs look very attractive and well coordinated with the rest of the team.
ReplyDeleteBusy, bustling little boats.
DeleteFascinating, thanks, Janice. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joy. 😃
DeleteThere are always a couple of big sea-going tugs sitting at anchor in Falmouth, waiting for a call. I've seen the tugs at work on the RNLI TV programme 'Saving lives at sea' when huge container ships are in danger in storms.
ReplyDeleteSmall but mighty!
DeleteI have a soft spot for tugboats . My husband made one for his gran over 70 years ago , using little off cuts of wood . It’s quite wonky & the paint has faded but it still has pride of place on our kitchen dresser .
ReplyDeleteWendy in York
That sounds wonderful. What a treasure.
DeleteI have a soft spot for tugboats . My husband made one for his gran over 70 years ago , using little off cuts of wood . It’s quite wonky & the paint has faded but it still has pride of place on our kitchen dresser .
ReplyDeleteWendy in York
That sounds wonderful. What a treasure.
ReplyDeleteTug boats are critical to maritime transportation, especially in these days of vessels as big as small towns!
ReplyDeleteWithout the tugs, the big ships would have to moor at sea - not much good for the petrochemical containers!
DeleteTugboats are the ideal heroes of children's stories. Small they bravely escort the large ships into harbour.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised there are not more children's stories about tugs. I thought there were many more, until I checked.
DeleteI have never thought about tug boats in relation to oil rigs, but it makes sense. Those Norwegian ones are the largest tugs I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteThe Norwegian oil rig hauling tugs look hefty and no-nonsense.
DeleteWhen I was growing up and we live close to a large river. I would see small tugboats pulling large barges of coal up or down the river. Fascinating. I would love to see the ocean going ones.
ReplyDeleteI like watching working vessels of any sort, but tugs are particularly fascinating.
DeleteIf lifeboats are the heroes of the maritime world and tugs are the work horses, what are inflatable unicorns?
ReplyDeleteA nuisance!
DeleteWhen I lived in Newcastle I worked with a girl whose father was a foyboatman on the Tyne. This was a tug boat man who escorted ships up the Tyne. I was fascinated by this and I would go down to the Tyne in my lunch break and watch the boats from the Tyne Bridge.
ReplyDeleteThey are fascinating to watch and not enough publicity is given to tugboat crew and their skill.
DeleteInteresting. I would never have thought of a tugboat assisting a submarine.
ReplyDeleteNeither would I, but it makes sense when you think about it. Submarines are sleek under water, but rather clumsy on the surface. 😃
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Although I’ve never been a sailor and can’t even swim very well, I’m fascinated by boat stuff. I remember seeing a Pilot boarding a cruise ship we were on, the sea was rough and the ladder swinging but all was achieved safely and calmly - it was great to watch.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
It's heart-stopping watching pilots board ships - or lighthouses - in appalling weather. What a privilege to see it at close quarters.
DeleteIt is kind of funny seeing those tiny tugboats pushing and pulling those behemoths!
ReplyDeleteIt beggars belief.
DeletePlenty of tug action happens here, plus pilot boats. Our bay entrance is hard.
ReplyDeleteTugs and pilot boats perform an essential service.
DeleteIt's amazing watching a tiny tug manoeuvring huge ships. I love watching them. When I can
ReplyDeleteSo do I!
ReplyDeleteI had a toy tugboat when I was a kid. I think it was named Tuggy. Imaginative, right?
ReplyDelete😂🤣
DeleteI didn't realize the importance of tugs, especially to subs.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
They're easily taken for granted.
DeleteTugboats are cute, too
ReplyDeleteThey are!
DeleteNot something I've ever really thought about. Probably because I never see them! ;)
ReplyDeleteThat could be it! 🤣
DeleteThere is something about tugs and the ships they haul that fascinates me. I love these photos.
ReplyDeleteThey are fascinating - little ships doing big jobs.
DeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteIf you get the chance to watch them it's quite fascinating.
Enjoyable children's books about tug boats too e.g. Tuggy and Scuffy
All the best Jan
Those books passed me by, I don't know why.
DeleteLove the photos!
ReplyDelete😃
DeleteI like this post. Anything transport-ish fascinates me, from the very biggest to the tiny. I would love to see one of those monsters in dock.
ReplyDeleteThey are enormous and dwarf smaller craft.
DeleteI grew up in New York City, which is a port, although I lived in the one borough that is landlocked. Still, I was able to visit the waterfront several times. Back then tugboats were a lot smaller. These are huge!
ReplyDeleteThey do vary a lot, according to the jobs they have to do.
DeleteNever knew they assisted submarines either but yes, that makes sense and yay for the tugboats.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!
ReplyDelete