General Discussion

Stinky The Clown

(67,800 posts) Wed Mar 27, 2024, 09:25 PM Mar 27

Just putting this thought out there regarding tugboats and big ships [View all]

Tugboats most usually get a big ship out away from the pier and on its way out under its own steam.

The tragedy in Baltimore shows how this works well . . . . until it doesn't. Two tugs pulled Dali off her berth, turned her 180, cast off and tooted buhbye. Had they continued on for another 15 or 20 minutes, yesterday might have been a slow news day., with the worst case maybe being a very local story about a big ship run aground

How about we require tugs for ships over some certain size (determined by the individual ports) to get the ship out into open water before they cast off.

Given what we now know about the Key Bridge disaster, it is quite likely had the tugs stayed with the Dali they would have prevented all this.

Given the number of containers on the Dali, this added cost would be pennies per imported TV or car, or any other item of freight. Assuming more or less standard rates, a two tug tow for a ship like the Dali could be $60-70,000. A single tug assist for a much smaller ship might be $4-5,000.
https://www.morantug.com/Customer-Content/www/ports-and-operations/Files/Moran_Baltimore_Schedule_of_Rates_Terms_and_Conditions_07_15_23.pdf

Making greater use of tugs and making them mandatory might be a good was to minimize to some degree the danger of these behemoth ships in ports that were never designed for them.

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Just putting this thought out there regarding tugboats and big ships [View all] Stinky The Clown Mar 27 OP

'about we require tugs for ships over some certain size,' you mean REGULATION??? elleng Mar 27 #1

elleng....... Upthevibe Mar 27 #6

Yes and more than that case, elleng Mar 27 #8

If they don't want government regulation. LiberalFighter Mar 28 #33

That's not a bad idea RainCaster Mar 27 #2

Talking with my bro last night. We can't understand why the tugs don't stay with the ships through a bridge like this, OAITW r.2.0 Mar 27 #3

I'm betting money is the answer Kennah Mar 27 #11

That was... 2naSalit Mar 28 #19

This is NY State canal tug. amerikat Mar 27 #4

Skeptical until more is learned. SnarkSavant Mar 27 #5

8 mph, for one thing. elleng Mar 27 #9

Speed is required in order to navigate Thunderbeast Mar 28 #36

Two tugs plus the ship's power plant means three power plants to rely on. Hassin Bin Sober Mar 28 #16

That's what I heard.... 2naSalit Mar 28 #20

Common for large cargo vessels FBaggins Mar 28 #28

Tugs don't pull from the bow nor push from the stern. They control the direction after the docks. They steer big ships. Marcus IM Mar 28 #35

If only the professionals had consulted you. Ptah Mar 27 #7

Which ones? The bottom line professionals? n/t Marcus IM Mar 27 #12

The people that have sailed under that bridge for forty years. Ptah Mar 27 #13

Modernity. Ships are now guided by computers. cachukis Mar 27 #10

Great post FHRRK Mar 28 #18

The tugs did their job by getting the ship out of port and into the shipping lane, where the pilot Bev54 Mar 27 #14

Nope. Harbor pilots board outbound ships from the dock. Most harbors require tugs all the way to the harbor exit. Marcus IM Mar 28 #34

could station a tug or 2 near the bridge. there if there's a mayday, or if they're needed farther in. mopinko Mar 27 #15

What would that have accomplished? AkFemDem Mar 28 #31

Far from a knowledgeable person on this, and Far is not representitive, it is Far, far, far, far, far, far. With that FHRRK Mar 28 #17

good idea BlueWaveNeverEnd Mar 28 #21

How about protect the foundation of the bridge with concrete bumpers (dolphins)? Hermit-The-Prog Mar 28 #22

it has them, but minimal number. mopinko Mar 28 #38

I think the Sunshine Skyway should have been enough warning... Hermit-The-Prog Mar 28 #39

In the Navy we used tug boats to bring our Emile Mar 28 #23

Our captain hit the pilings in the degassing range in Charleston harbor Stinky The Clown Mar 28 #24

That's strange.. Omnipresent Mar 28 #27

I'm sure it did. But a large ship 530 foot long Emile Mar 28 #32

Do you know what a degassing range is? Stinky The Clown Mar 28 #40

I know nothing about tugboating even though my cousin was a TB Captain in Boston on the Mystic river. Fla Dem Mar 28 #25

I just assumed large ships like this would have tug boats. Omnipresent Mar 28 #26

Every harbor provides tug boats to assist those big-ass container ships FakeNoose Mar 28 #29

Am curious, in this case, what you mean by "open water" eallen Mar 28 #30

Good Point RobinA Mar 28 #37

Outside theKey Bridge is considered open water Stinky The Clown Mar 28 #41

Yet transits another bridge on way to Atlantic eallen Mar 29 #42

while everyone is playing 'Wack-a-Mole'... Conjuay Mar 29 #43

Booyah for Tugboats, But let's still build better bridge fenders Model35mech Mar 29 #44