Cruise Talk: Are tugs needed?

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»	Cruise Talk » Technically Speaking » Are tugs needed?

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Topic: Are tugs needed?

Andy
First Class Passenger
Member # 3856

posted 12-10-2003 03:10 AM

Are tugs a must when ships berth and unberth? It seems to be compulsory here in HK but I heard that some ships do not need tugs to assist when they berth or unberth (as having thrusters).

Also, are there any regulations over the number of tugs used? Most cruise ships berthing or unberthing here need just one tug, but other ships like the SuperStar Capricorn (one of the Royal Viking Sisters) needed two tugs and QE2 used many more. Are there any regulations? Do older ships need more tugs?

Posts: 581 | From: Hong Kong | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

phil_a
First Class Passenger
Member # 3679

posted 12-10-2003 06:28 AM

im curious to find out the answer also! here in fremantle the tugs are almost always used- but nowdays with ships getting high-tec are they still needed?

i noticed earlier in the year with Superstar Virgo based here they rarely used the tugs, only on a real windy day.

I guess it depends on the size of the port/harbour and maybe the captains confidence in the weather at the time?!

Posts: 850 | From: W. Australia | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

SydneyBoy
First Class Passenger
Member # 2543

posted 12-10-2003 07:08 AM

Just to let you know, Star Princess has not used tugs during any of our berthings. I saw her sail from Sydney and she left unassisted, when we sailed from Auckland we did so unassisted, arriving and departing from Wellington was unassisted. Only a pilot was used, so i think it depends on each ships capapbility's. As Star Princess can manouvre herself well with bow/stern thrusters and propellers, she doesnt have the need for tugs.

Posts: 180 | From: Sydney Australia | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Andy
First Class Passenger
Member # 3856

posted 12-10-2003 10:10 PM

Thanks for sharing. I have seen once when I was onboard the SuperStar Gemini, although a tug has arrived when she is going to berth, the tug didn't have any "connection" with the ship and just stayed close to us.

Yes, did the SuperStar Leo use tug(s) when she berth/unberth the terminal of Sydney?

Posts: 581 | From: Hong Kong | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 12-10-2003 10:25 PM

In some ports there can be a requirement for a tug/tugs to be 'available' to assist in case it's necessary. That might just be a bit of a push against the wind, whatever.
It's also a way for the tug owners, often the port itself, to make enough to maintain the tugs for when they are needed.

....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

queen mary 2
First Class Passenger
Member # 4125

posted 12-11-2003 08:50 AM

hi to all,
the use of tugs "in" and "out" all dpends on a number of factors.
1. how capable the ship is of manuvering itself. Like here in Barbados, hi-tech ships like the gts Serenade of the Seas and gts Constellation and m/s Crystal Serenity etc manuvure themselves quite easily in and out the harbor but they still use one tug(t/b Barbados 2 or t/b Pellican 2) although no connection is made. But in the case of a ship like m/v Topaz that uses both of our tugs "in" and "out"..... it has to be pulled away from the berth and towed outside the harbor...so depending on the capabilities of the ship is a factor that influences the use of tugs or not.
2. Local harbor rules and regulations....In some ports its compulsory that Tugs are used even if no connection is made.
3. Pilots' and Captains' wishes as well ,as sumone said b4...if he feels he is more comfortable with tugs then so may be the case.
4. Weather conditions is another factor.......tidal changes......rough water.......... strong broad side winds...etc.
5. Where the ship may be berthed...might be berthed in a tight space or corners etc.
those are some of the more popular reasons why tugs are used...
thanx,
Queen Mary 2

Posts: 78 | From: barbados | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

6263866
First Class Passenger
Member # 5115

posted 10-24-2004 10:54 PM

When I cruised aboard the Mercury, there was a Q&A with the ship's officers, even though sometimes the ship can arrive at the pier unassisted, the port authority might require a tug.

And also depending on the captain's knowledge of the port, when the Mercury's maiden ariival in San Francisco 4 tugs were needed now not even one is needed.

Posts: 580 | From: San Francisco | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 10-25-2004 12:28 PM

A few years ago during a very windy departure from a pier in Alaska, our ship 'Sea Princess' could not push away from the dock. Even with bow thrusters pushing, we were hard against the pier. The tugs came to assist and with one at the stern and one at the bow they were finally able to pull us into the channel.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

elad
First Class Passenger
Member # 5150

posted 10-25-2004 04:46 PM

According to the Introducing brochure of the Queen Mry 2 , she doesn't need any tug to manoverate in ports

Posts: 747 | From: israel | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 10-25-2004 06:49 PM

QM2, with Commodore Ron Warwick in command, did not use tugs on her first visit to Quebec City in September. She sailed past the pier, did a 180 turn "on the spot", and sidled up to the pier more easily than most people parallel park their cars at the curb. The natives and tv crews were mightily impressed. I assume she did likewise on her second visit two weeks later.

QE2 has docked in New York without the use of tugs on at least one occasion (July 1979 with Captain Doug Ridley in command) as documented by the National Geographic special "The Superliners: Twilight of an Era" which was first broadcast in 1980. Of course QE2 did not accomplish this feat with the seemingly effortlessness that QM2 did in Quebec City.

Brian

[ 10-25-2004: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

cruiseshipluver
First Class Passenger
Member # 5104

posted 10-25-2004 11:01 PM

tugs are used in New York even with QM2. Approaching the berths looks hard enough, those ships have to turn on nearly a half of a dime to get into the berth at NYC.......its pretty tight in there
cruiseshipluver

Posts: 1797 | From: Barbados--cruiseship capital of the Southern Caribbean | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 10-26-2004 12:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Brian_O:
QM2, with Commodore Ron Warwick in command, did not use tugs on her first visit to Quebec City in September. She sailed past the pier, did a 180 turn "on the spot", and sidled up to the pier more easily than most people parallel park their cars at the curb. The natives and tv crews were mightily impressed. I assume she did likewise on her second visit two weeks later.

I thought QE2 called for the first visit to Quebec City on Jul 20, 1981.

[ 10-26-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 10-26-2004 12:51 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ocean Liners:
I thought QE2 visited for the first visit to Quebec City on Jul 20, 1981.
]

My post refers to QM2 in Quebec City in 2004 and QE2 in New York City in 1979.

By the way, QM2's first call at Quebec City was her first call ever at a Canadian port. Her scheduled stops at Sydney, Nova Scotia and Cornerbrook, Newfoundland on that cruise were cancelled due to extremely bad weather and QM2 headed directly to Quebec City instead.

Brian

[ 10-26-2004: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 10-26-2004 10:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Brian_O:
QM2, with Commodore Ron Warwick in command, did not use tugs on her first visit to Quebec City in September. She sailed past the pier, did a 180 turn "on the spot", and sidled up to the pier more easily than most people parallel park their cars at the curb. The natives and tv crews were mightily impressed.
[ 10-25-2004: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

Have you taken photos?

[ 10-26-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 10-27-2004 12:50 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ocean Liners:
Have you taken photos?
[ 10-26-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

No. I wasn't there. To actually have been there for her arrival, I would have had to go to Quebec City the day before and stay overnight. I only saw local TV news coverage which showed video of her turning and docking. Even though she arrived a day earlier than originally scheduled there were huge crowds on hand because the cancellations of the calls at Sydney and Cornerbrook had also been given a lot of publicity on both the local and national TV news.

Brian

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 10-27-2004 01:22 AM

If you were there, You had a chance to take photo(s) from boat to seen QM2 and the Chateau Frontenac in the background.

[ 10-27-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

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