First published in 1997 ‘Tug Use in Port’ has been known for over two decades as the ‘tug bible’ – the essential practical guide to port towage and escort operations. Significant developments in port towage have taken place since then – new tug types have come on to the market and escort tugs have been developed further also with regard to the conditions that these tugs have to cope with. An increasing number of LNG carriers and bulk carriers are being escorted, in addition to tankers; remote controlled and autonomous ships are no longer simply the stuff­ of science fiction, and will have an e­ffect on tug operations.

The fourth edition of ‘Tug Use in Port’ has been fully revised and updated and now contains information on decision support systems on board tugs, full electric tugs, tug operations in swell, stopping a ship by tugs, new escort and carrousel tugs and assisting navy ships.

At the centre of all these developments and changes are the people – tug masters and crews, pilots and ships’ captains – who need to be able to handle the newly designed tugs and their equipment in a safe and efficient way. This book is designed to help them achieve that.