2023-10-30

ThuishavenPort operationsMaritime & Nautical

In tow with Captain Tim

Port of Antwerp-Bruges has about 20 tugs in its fleet. They assist seagoing vessels in docking or mooring or in complex manoeuvers. The crew generally consists of three people: a tug captain, a marine engineer and a sailor. To perform a towing task safely and smoothly, they must work well together. Tug captain Tim Daghelet explains how this works.

A tugboat does not tow

"At the start of our shift, I receive the first towing assignment from the Supervisor Fleet and head out to tug 51 together with marine engineer Wim and sailor Gérard. We have been working together as a regular team for years and are therefore well matched. After Wim starts the engines in the engine room and Gérard unties the ropes, we sail to the Boudewijn lock. There, a seagoing vessel awaits us to assist it to her berth in the port. 'Assist', because a tug rarely 'tows'. We only really tow ships that can no longer sail independently. To perform this towing task safely, we are present with two tugs. Our team assists the ship at the front and another tug assists at the rear." 

Together with marine engineer Wim and sailor Gérard, tug captain Tim Daghelet assists vessels to their berth in the port.

Rope work and team work

"Once I arrive at the lock, I contact the dock pilot aboard the seagoing vessel and navigate the tug as close to the ship as possible. The ship’s sailors throw down a throwing line and Gérard ties it to the runner, a thin rope that is attached to our tow rope. The sailors pull up the runner and put it on a hoisting winch. This is how they mechanically hoist the much heavier tow rope upwards. During every step of this process, I am in close contact with both my crew and the dock pilot aboard the ship."

The crew of a seagoing vessel throws down a throwing rope, which the sailor ties to the runner.

Navigating in reverse

“When the ships are safely tied together, we stretch the tow rope. I gently reverse, while Wim sets the tow rope to the right length. When we are in the right position, the boatmen on shore release the ship from the quay and the towing assignment begins. Navigating to the berth takes about half an hour. Since we are the lead tug today, we do it completely in reverse. Upon arrival, boatmen secure the ship to the quay and we gently push it along into the right position. Is the ship positioned correctly? Then the pilot gives the instruction to untie the tow rope. The sailors from both ships do the necessary for this. I report the task completed to the Supervisor Fleet and we are ready to leave for the next assignment." 

How to do a towing task?

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