Tugboat Almost Capsizes - Indirect Towing Goes Wrong

Indirect towing almost capsizes this tugboat. Luckily they used the emergency release to escape disaster.
Video was made with an old VHS camera back in 1993. Hence the lower quality.
Video credits :
FB page : Marine Towing Maritime Training Center.
Thanks for the permission to upload this video!

[@TheDecguy]

I remember reading in a book on towing, the advice on getting tripped, especially on the older tow boats was to “make peace with your maker”

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Why not make peace with your maker as early in life as possible?

[@capnvicplate]

This is the final test of many that day with the tug attempting to control a disable tanker. This tug is equipped with two Aquamaster Z-drives under the bow and a small skeg under the H staple aft. The trials were run in San Francisco Bay. The 810 ft. Tanker was running at 10 to 11 knots and the tug was ordered to “Power’s Indirect to Starboard” to assist the tanker with a turn to port. The tug was broadside to the prop wash of the tanker which caused deckedge immersion. My understanding is that the wire and synthetic rope parted allowing the tug to right itself. I never heard any mention of the quick release being activated. There were many observers on board the tanker and tug. Fortunately no one was injured.

[@Neash2]

Recklessness beyond belief to perform this trial with the watertight doors clipped open.

[@Bigweave74]

Quite a size difference compared to the modern boats that do SF Bay assist/escort. It's common to see little Dolphin Class boats running assist with AmNav and Foss. There are more chunky boats around as well, but they were only very recently built.

[@michaelboggs1860]

He’s very clearly outside that ships wash

[@capnvicplate]

@@michaelboggs1860You are correct. This 42 second clip doesn’t show the very beginning of the exercise when the tug went indirect inline.

[@Nic7320]

I almost did the same thing -- pulling up a stuck anchor. The anchor pulled the stern down to the waterline and nearly swamped the cockpit. Lesson learned-- when pulling up a stuck anchor, leave it on a bow cleat.

[@WhiteGangster400]

WELCOME BACK MAN

[@peterjames2004]

HEY mr shipping and harbors nice to have you back after so long

[@leehaelters6182]

In memory of my uncle Dick, Chief Engineer on the Saratoga. Tossed into the East River, NYC one frigid winter night when the tow sank and stood his tug on its beam ends. The helmsman took a hard knock to head that dazed him. Incredibly, the tow line parted or was released, the vessel righted itself, and steamed on leaving my uncle behind in the drink. Lucky for us all, the helmsman cut through the fog and throttled down and Dick was rescued. Later, he told me how he and some of the crew had gone ashore earlier for dinner that night, and that was why he couldn’t kick off his shoes, which he normally left unlaced while aboard.

[@graham2631]

It's good to know how and when to release a tow line.

[@remkojerphanion4686]

Sure is! Just like a bad girlfriend - know when to let her go!

[@JetDom767]

Oh shit! Keep the videos coming ma dude!

[@Container_World]

SH is back😁👍

[@cthivanka]

After long time 😊

[@dconel]

I've seen the original video, can't find it right now. In this vid the "quick release" of the towing hook is being tested. But this video keeps popping up with sensational titles like this..

[@danceswithstone]

That is some serious confidence in your system, to run a test like that, with so many people on board, and such a nice boat at risk! Jeez, huge balls right there!!

[@dconel]

@@danceswithstone it's a rotortug, these kind of tugs are designed for manoeuvres like this. There are some nice explaining video's on youtube about this kind of tugboats. This also explains why there are so many people on board. As you can see they are no regular crew.

[@danceswithstone]

@@dconel Still though, I'd wanna be wearing adult diapers . . . you know, in case of emergency ; )

[@Triiiop]

Not sensationalized. Being pulled sideways with deck edge going underwater is what capsizes tugboats and is exactly what is happening in the video. The quick release is the emergency escape for such a situation.

[@dconel]

@@Triiiop You have a lot of control with tugs like this. That is the idea behind ASD and tractor tugs etc.

[@alainmiclette7634]

This is not an indirect tow tug, neither is it a test, the master pounded the emergency release in time, otherwise they were mere seconds from being pulled under. Emergency releases are tested under load in controlled condition, not like this, this was real stuff.

[@kenbtheman]

Wow, a lot of armchair tugboat captains here. Almost comical.

[@remkojerphanion4686]

Not me! I'm a couch potato captain 😊

[@rubusroo68]

I'm a military brain surgeon/part time astronaut/..

[@krushpak996]

Hey you are back. All the best to you gal

[@jamiehall7574]

She wasn't anywhere near close to tipping over. It's called indirect bullying and the tractor tugs are designed to do that if things get start getting too sticky then as you saw he has a break in the Wheelhouse he can release and let the line freeze wheel. Very common for these tugboats though.

[@graham2631]

Good to see towing is the same, hours of boredom with moments of sheer terror. Had to add this......

[@cmoney360CS]

Holy crap that’s right underneath the bay bridge in San Francisco.

[@markcardwell]

I was going to say I thought he was trying something and when it got to a point still within safety margins he let it go but to me it seemed like a perfectlly executed move. He's a Captain

[@6Alpha-yankie_novemberdy2n]

Almost took her under

[@aevans1305]

looks like brake slipped as it should.

[@seawol3]

More videos about voith please

[@capnvicplate]

Tug name is Delta Billie.

[@peterjames2004]

hey mr shipping and harbors how a bout a Christmas video mate

[@robertswift8708]

If the tow line was connected to the rear of the tug insteat of where it is wouldn't it spin the tug instead of trying to capsize it. I think connecting mid tug helps the props bind up better

[@jacobhemmen8357]

Where have you been SH

[@larrysgarage1682]

The tug has an abort button. Releases the tow. No worries here if the captain is knowledgeable.

[@sixty6chevy]

The title is all wrong. Tug never almost capsizes. 'Tug working and takes some h2o over the rail ' would be an honest title

[@gravertje1]

Ja dat was op het nippertje ja met de nieuwe multratug 32 of 33 heb je dat niet meer zeggen ze ,ik ben weer wat van je te horen

[@TugboatTony]

Its called indirect towing. Your helping a big ship make a tight turn at speed. That tug is designed for moves likes that. Its not fun... I have done it twice. And that tug was far from going over. They are made for that. Search for indirect towing and watch.

[@hughsmith4008]

Who do you work for?

[@Addmoreboost]

Nailed it

[@Addmoreboost]

@Erik allan don't know shit

[@dconel]

I've seen the original video, can't find it right now. In this vid the "quick release" of the towing hook is being tested. But this video keeps popping up with sensational titles like this..

[@Addmoreboost]

@Erik allan look closely at the bow, you see a tow winch up there? Those boats were designed to work stern first like that because the z drives were located under the bow. This was an exercise designed to test the emergency maneuvering characteristics of both the ship and tug.

[@edmondmcdowell9690]

Don't let a heavy tow get sideways yo.

[@robertallen6710]

New title: Live...tugboat captain shits pants....

[@richardbaker7557]

port=port=port=port

[@howarethingsindenver]

How many people are working on that tug???

[@mhansl]

Stuntman Mike the title is misleading. This was a test of the rig. Several engineers aboard to witness the test.

[@ElCeeKaa]

Dude, maak meer videos !!!

[@BIBIWCICC]

What do you expect from a country that doesn’t know the difference between a tractor used on a farm and a tug used at sea? The Jones act has made some of the poorest trained skipper

[@ItDontComeEasy]

That's what I would have done.

[@cfiore12]

How to trip the tug

[@suffolktrainsplanesandbuses]

tugs are designed with this in mind so it was quite safe

[@JK-cn5fy]

Design yes but it’s never “quite safe”. The quick release on tow rope is manual so fail to respond in time and you capsize.

[@suffolktrainsplanesandbuses]

@@JK-cn5fy yeah i do agree

[@jasoncary7957]

fools

[@Secretariat1950]

So I counted six dudes on a tug How much help do you amateurs need?

[@andrewknight6853]

tugboat didn't almost capsize, that's what they do to slow a tanker down, the tow line just snapped!..i have since been informed that it was a safety release test on a tug slowing down a tanker!

[@aikimechanic]

false

[@andrewknight6853]

@Dave Pawson i stand corrected!

[@andrewknight6853]

@@whodatnation6707 yes this has been explained to me in the previous comments

[@brecsoks]

I believe ShippingHarbors knows one or two things about tugs and indirect tug maneuvers. His title is correct, even if this might be a test.

[@andrewknight6853]

@@brecsoks correct it was a safety release test i have since been informed!

[@woodwrecker6221]

I in my humble opinion like it when the winch is on the bow and the legs on the stern. It looks like legs and winch on the stern.

[@bengimanbig6881]

ive worked on a tug that did the same thing i was 17 years old had go change me pants !!

[@laika3848]

😥😨😰😱😵‍💫

[@Gans55555]

Какого хрена не показывают ,что к этому привело

[@phillipjames2775]

Bunch of shitty underwear after that!!!

[@simonandreas6194]

Perhaps this could be a workable solution? kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6LVkqtrga9kmck&ab_channel=WebtoolAllspeeds

[@musicgroopie1]

Are we not drug testing tug boat captains anymore?