Working with tugs

Description

Videotel production, London, 2008. 51 p.In port, you are often working in a restricted space with limited room for manoeuvre, whilst long-distance offshore tows have their own special problems. The loads and forces involved in towing are also high. Add to this the unpredictability of weather, tide and sea conditions and it is clear that towing can be a very dangerous operation. It is essential, therefore, to minimise risks by ensuring good operational procedures by everybody involved - by Masters, bridge team officers and deck crew, as well as Pilots and the Masters and crew of tugs. This guide is designed to help you work with tugs in the safest way possible. It is not a comprehensive guide as to how to work with tugs, but deals primarily with the safety issues involved.Introduction Carrying out safe towing operations Problems encountered in today’s towing operations Planning for safety Assessing the risk Best practiceCarrying out a safe harbour towing operation The main challenges of towing into/out of harbours Carrying out a safe harbour towing operation Communication, communication, communication Most commonly used hand signalsOffshore towing operations The main challenges of offshore towing Offshore additional risks Best practice offshoreEmergency towing arrangements Summary – putting it all together Test yourself questions Further sources of information and referenceAppendices Risk assessment form Ship handling with tugs – safety dos and don’ts Working with tugs – a quick guide for the crewTest yourself answers