Tugnology ’09: The Papers

There’s no easy way to categorize them, so I’m not going to try. These are the technical papers that were presented at the conference in Amsterdam, attended by your delegates Capt.’s Jordan May and Mike Link, by some very smart and forward-thinking people who put a lot of effort into advancing the science and practice of what we do. A few of you may think that some of the ideas are far-fetched/pie-in-the-sky and will never see widespread practical acceptance and use. In some cases yes, in others no. It’s not easy to predict what humans will, for better or for worse, eventually adopt as a common practice. But know this: these people are in the game and every single idea that has ever led to a major advancement in virtually any human endeavor you can think of was ridiculed at one time or another by people who weren’t bright enough, or simply refused to see, that the world isn’t static. The only real constant in life is change and, in beautiful symmetry, its always been that way. Many of the ideas that we now take for granted as “normal” were considered to be heresy when they were first introduced. Today we would consider anyone who didn’t grasp the obvious superiority of, for instance, spectra line to be something of an idiot. Such is the human condition….. Much of what you’ll read here is history in the making and it’s all here for your professional edification and reading pleasure. Get on with it…..

1. Improving Marine Workplace Safety and Chances of Survival in MOB Incidents

2. E3 Tug Development: Economically viable, Environmentally friendly, Efficient in operation

3. The Hybrid Tug Reality- The Business Case for Green Technology in the Tugboat Industry

4. Latest Developments in Low-emission Diesel Engines and Exhaust After-treatment for Tugs & Workboats

5. Equipment and Operational Issues for Terminal and Escort Work in Ice Conditions

6. Escort Tug – Tow Winch Load Control

7. High Performance Winches for High Performance Tugs – Winch & HMPE Rope Limitations

8. When Should a Towline be Retired? Chafe protection and twist and how to recognise their impact

9. Fitting Fibre Rope to the Towing Winch – a Guideline

10. Training, Competency Checking and Professional Development of Masters for Omni-directional Tug Boats

11. Latest Developments in the Use of Tug Simulators and Tug Simulation Technology

12. Training Methods using Scale Tugboats

13. RAptures: Resolving the Tugboat Energy Equation

14. Integration of the Rudder Propeller into the Ship’s Structure

15. Voith Water Tractor – Improved Manoeuvrability and Seakeeping Behaviour

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