Topic starter
27/06/2011 7:40 pm
Greetings From New Orleans ,
If I am not mistaken , very seldom if ever does the mention of the lpwly harbor tugs that physically man handle the ships in the river and for that matter in other harbors through out this country as well , has ever come up on this forum ! Affectionately known as , " The Bull Dogs Of The Harbor " , these tug boats have been around in the New Orleans harbor when the ships that once came here were " Square Rigged " and made of wood and canvas !
Since my tenure on the river , I have been fortunate enough to witness the evolution of the sea going ships that visit this harbor but also the evolution of the harbor tugs that assist these same ships with their maneuvers in this close quartered and congested river ! Almost , not a single assignment I go to does not require the assistance of at least one to five tugs depending on the nature of the maneuver , the size , tonnage and draft of the ship that is to be maneuvered ! Furthermore , due to force of the current high river conditions , many harbor tugs are required to assist with holding a ship alongside its berth while it is either loading or discharging its cargo ! There are four different major tug boat companies that work the river between Baton Rouge and the Sea Buoy and they are ; Crescent Salvage & Towing ( formally simply known as Smith Brothers ) E.N. Bisso , Willie Bisso , and now Moran ( formally known as RIVCO )
When I first became a " Ship Pilot " , in 1979 the harbor tugs that we used to maneuver the ships were ALL single right hand screws , maybe at best 1,800 to 2,000 horse power and some were still steam powered with a " Bell and Whistle " communication system between the Wheel House and the Engine Room ! Also , these tugs did not have all the amenities that the modern tugs of today have such as ; air conditioning , modern galley's , satellite television , no life saving or fire fighting equipment or even the basic vhf marine radios to communicate with ! The crew was dramatically over worked and under paid and the food was so poor you would have second thoughts of giving it to your dog ! To put it mildly , life on these old harbor tugs was primitive , spartan and down right dangerous !
Now , thirty-one years latter , WOW and where did all those years come and go , the modern day harbor tug is so much better in so many respects ! These modern day harbor tugs are now fully heated and air conditioned , the food still has something to be desired but it is also my understanding that now at least it is abundant and edible with an open galley 24/7 ! There is now satellite television , some with washing machines and life in general is so much more livable , safer and with a one week on and one week off work schedule !
From my perspective as a Ship Pilot , what has impressed me most during this thirty-one year time frame is not only how much stronger in horse power these tugs are now ( most are now in the 3,000 to 4,000 hp range ) but also how much more maneuverable they presently are ! Try to imagine going from a single , right hand screw maybe 1,800 to 2,000 hp to now a triple , screw 4,000 plus Tractor Tug with a full 360 degrees of ability and maneuverability ! Now , because of this additional horse poser and maneuverability we are able to place the modern Tractor Tug at locations are the ship that we were not able to before ! For example , at some docks and terminals we service , there may be eddies or other issues that make these same docks dangerous to go into or depart from but now we can place a Tractor Tug on the transom of the ship and thus control the stern of the ship by having the Tractor Tug pull the stern of the ship in the desired direction in order to safely arrive at the dock ! In fact , the importance of the harbor tug is so critical , some docks and terminals actually have requirements of the minimum number of tugs that a Pilot must use with his maneuvers at the dock !
I cannot speak for the other Pilots that work between Baton Rouge and the Sea Buoy , but the advent of these new and modern and highly maneuverable tugs has made my job so much safer and efficient and faster than any other single item that has made its presence known in the local marine industry !
In the first picture is a twin screw , Crescent Salvage & Towing tug , in the second picture is a twin screw RIVCO ( now Moran ) tug and in the third picture is a twin screw E.N Bisso tug .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
28/06/2011 11:52 pm
Ted-
Here in Tampa there are occasional "Tug Ballets" performed at maritime events where several of these newer tugs demonstrate their abilities for the public. The enclosed link to a similar event (but not a Tampa event) on You Tube will give you an idea of what goes on. YouTube - Tugboat ballet
-Jim Herron
29/06/2011 12:41 am
Ted: How many crew these tugs? Do they carry more than one crew? Cap'n Walnut
Topic starter
29/06/2011 4:36 pm
These Harbor Tugs Usually Carry A Crew Of...............
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Tom , thanks so much for your inquiry concerning the crewing of these " Bull Dogs " and to answer your question , usually they carry a crew of only three people . A Captain , a Deck Hand and an Engineer ! There is NO designated position of COOK and the duty of preparing the meals is usually a shared responsibility that is divided among the crew ! My brother , served eighteen years on a Smith tug boat ( Crescent Salvage & Towing ) and consequently became a " Cracker Jack " cook simply out of necessity ! Obviously if you don't cook , you don't eat ! Go Figure ! Furthermore , they all work twelve hour shifts and some times the Engineer will substitute for the Deck Hand but will also cover the maintenance and caring for the Engine Room as well . Now , having said that and due to the new Coast Guard , Rules and Regs. , many of these Harbor Tugs now carry an extra man , referred to simply as a Mate , that will operate the tug if the designated Captain has worked his required twelve hours . Each crew works seven days ON and then seven days OFF and usually the crew for any designated tug returns to the same tug after their week OFF .
Although these Harbor Tugs are relative small in size , there is usually a great deal of work that has to be performed on a daily basis with the general cleaning , painting and maintenance of the boat not to mention the time spent going to and from an assignment and the required time to assist a ship with its particular maneuver .
One thing that I failed to mention in my initial thread on this topic is the great amount of skill and training to " Skipper " one of these " Bull Dogs " !
The relative new Tractor Tugs that are now on the scene are unique into themselves and the best way to describe the operation of these boats is to imagine yourself sitting in a fixed " Captain's Chair " with two separate and opposite joy sticks on either side of this chair ! Each joy stick controls the direction of each respective engine and propulsion system . The trick to operating this system is to think of each joy stick as the tiller on an out board motor and to operate them in unison requires training and concentration to say the least ! On the surface , this may sound fairly simple but both engines and propulsion systems are constantly running ! Therefore , the Captain must take into account of what each engine and propulsion system is doing when he is asked to perform his job of maneuvering his tug into the many and diverse positions required to assist a ship when it goes into any one of a number of different and unusual maneuvers ! Long gone is the day of a single right hand screw steam propelled Tug Boat with a conventional " Pilot Wheel " with a bell and whistle communication system ! My hat is off to these modern day Tug Captains that deal with all the maneuvers and requirements that is asked of them on a daily basis !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Wa-4141
Topic starter
30/06/2011 4:28 am
Just A Few More " Bull Dog " Pictures !
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Just a few more " Bull Dog " pictures !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Ted Davisson;26408 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans ,
Tom , thanks so much for your inquiry concerning the crewing of these " Bull Dogs " and to answer your question , usually they carry a crew of only three people . A Captain , a Deck Hand and an Engineer ! There is NO designated position of COOK and the duty of preparing the meals is usually a shared responsibility that is divided among the crew ! My brother , served eighteen years on a Smith tug boat ( Crescent Salvage & Towing ) and consequently became a " Cracker Jack " cook simply out of necessity ! Obviously if you don't cook , you don't eat ! Go Figure ! Furthermore , they all work twelve hour shifts and some times the Engineer will substitute for the Deck Hand but will also cover the maintenance and caring for the Engine Room as well . Now , having said that and due to the new Coast Guard , Rules and Regs. , many of these Harbor Tugs now carry an extra man , referred to simply as a Mate , that will operate the tug if the designated Captain has worked his required twelve hours . Each crew works seven days ON and then seven days OFF and usually the crew for any designated tug returns to the same tug after their week OFF .
Although these Harbor Tugs are relative small in size , there is usually a great deal of work that has to be performed on a daily basis with the general cleaning , painting and maintenance of the boat not to mention the time spent going to and from an assignment and the required time to assist a ship with its particular maneuver .
One thing that I failed to mention in my initial thread on this topic is the great amount of skill and training to " Skipper " one of these " Bull Dogs " !
The relative new Tractor Tugs that are now on the scene are unique into themselves and the best way to describe the operation of these boats is to imagine yourself sitting in a fixed " Captain's Chair " with two separate and opposite joy sticks on either side of this chair ! Each joy stick controls the direction of each respective engine and propulsion system . The trick to operating this system is to think of each joy stick as the tiller on an out board motor and to operate them in unison requires training and concentration to say the least ! On the surface , this may sound fairly simple but both engines and propulsion systems are constantly running ! Therefore , the Captain must take into account of what each engine and propulsion system is doing when he is asked to perform his job of maneuvering his tug into the many and diverse positions required to assist a ship when it goes into any one of a number of different and unusual maneuvers ! Long gone is the day of a single right hand screw steam propelled Tug Boat with a conventional " Pilot Wheel " with a bell and whistle communication system ! My hat is off to these modern day Tug Captains that deal with all the maneuvers and requirements that is asked of them on a daily basis !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Wa-4141
01/07/2011 1:32 pm
Ted: thanks for the update on crewing. Wonder what they would do without worn-out auto tires for bumpers? Cap'n Walnut.
Topic starter
03/07/2011 3:20 am
Thanks , Tom !
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Thanks , Tom , glad to hear that you enjoyed and appreciated the information and pictures concerning " The Bull Dogs Of The Harbot " !
What I like about the newer modern day high tech Tractor Tugs is there agility and maneuverability but what I do not like about these same tugs is the style and grace and sheer of the older tugs ! Why does modern inovation have to loose good taste and good looks ??
All The Best !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Tom Schiffer;26426 wrote: Ted: thanks for the update on crewing. Wonder what they would do without worn-out auto tires for bumpers? Cap'n Walnut.
Topic starter
17/07/2011 11:15 pm
More " Bull Dogs " !
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Just a few shots of some more river type , " Bull Dogs " !
The first picture is simply one of the Capt. Jimmy Moran while underway , the second is of two " Smith " tugs turning the ship I was on , on a " Left Helm " , and last but not least is a shot of a E.N. Bisso tug , on the blocks in the Bollinger dry dock , in Algiers and across the river from down town New Orleans .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
WA-4141
Ted Davisson;26443 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans ,
Thanks , Tom , glad to hear that you enjoyed and appreciated the information and pictures concerning " The Bull Dogs Of The Harbot " !
What I like about the newer modern day high tech Tractor Tugs is there agility and maneuverability but what I do not like about these same tugs is the style and grace and sheer of the older tugs ! Why does modern inovation have to loose good taste and good looks ??
All The Best !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
17/07/2011 11:25 pm
I agree, Ted...but ALABAMA gives more than a nod to her ancestors. Working on MISS BLUE's engine...it is all,or nearly all, ball sealed ball bearings...unusual for a steam engine! Had one fail and tear up the journal...hafta turn it down and machine up a sleeve for it. Cap'n Walnut.
Topic starter
08/08/2011 10:25 pm
Just A Few More " Bull Dogs " !
Greetings From New Orleans & The River Region !
Just a few more " Bull Dogs " !
Hope You Enjoy !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
WA-4141
Ted Davisson;26394 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans ,
If I am not mistaken , very seldom if ever does the mention of the lpwly harbor tugs that physically man handle the ships in the river and for that matter in other harbors through out this country as well , has ever come up on this forum ! Affectionately known as , " The Bull Dogs Of The Harbor " , these tug boats have been around in the New Orleans harbor when the ships that once came here were " Square Rigged " and made of wood and canvas !
Since my tenure on the river , I have been fortunate enough to witness the evolution of the sea going ships that visit this harbor but also the evolution of the harbor tugs that assist these same ships with their maneuvers in this close quartered and congested river ! Almost , not a single assignment I go to does not require the assistance of at least one to five tugs depending on the nature of the maneuver , the size , tonnage and draft of the ship that is to be maneuvered ! Furthermore , due to force of the current high river conditions , many harbor tugs are required to assist with holding a ship alongside its berth while it is either loading or discharging its cargo ! There are four different major tug boat companies that work the river between Baton Rouge and the Sea Buoy and they are ; Crescent Salvage & Towing ( formally simply known as Smith Brothers ) E.N. Bisso , Willie Bisso , and now Moran ( formally known as RIVCO )
When I first became a " Ship Pilot " , in 1979 the harbor tugs that we used to maneuver the ships were ALL single right hand screws , maybe at best 1,800 to 2,000 horse power and some were still steam powered with a " Bell and Whistle " communication system between the Wheel House and the Engine Room ! Also , these tugs did not have all the amenities that the modern tugs of today have such as ; air conditioning , modern galley's , satellite television , no life saving or fire fighting equipment or even the basic vhf marine radios to communicate with ! The crew was dramatically over worked and under paid and the food was so poor you would have second thoughts of giving it to your dog ! To put it mildly , life on these old harbor tugs was primitive , spartan and down right dangerous !
Now , thirty-one years latter , WOW and where did all those years come and go , the modern day harbor tug is so much better in so many respects ! These modern day harbor tugs are now fully heated and air conditioned , the food still has something to be desired but it is also my understanding that now at least it is abundant and edible with an open galley 24/7 ! There is now satellite television , some with washing machines and life in general is so much more livable , safer and with a one week on and one week off work schedule !
From my perspective as a Ship Pilot , what has impressed me most during this thirty-one year time frame is not only how much stronger in horse power these tugs are now ( most are now in the 3,000 to 4,000 hp range ) but also how much more maneuverable they presently are ! Try to imagine going from a single , right hand screw maybe 1,800 to 2,000 hp to now a triple , screw 4,000 plus Tractor Tug with a full 360 degrees of ability and maneuverability ! Now , because of this additional horse poser and maneuverability we are able to place the modern Tractor Tug at locations are the ship that we were not able to before ! For example , at some docks and terminals we service , there may be eddies or other issues that make these same docks dangerous to go into or depart from but now we can place a Tractor Tug on the transom of the ship and thus control the stern of the ship by having the Tractor Tug pull the stern of the ship in the desired direction in order to safely arrive at the dock ! In fact , the importance of the harbor tug is so critical , some docks and terminals actually have requirements of the minimum number of tugs that a Pilot must use with his maneuvers at the dock !
I cannot speak for the other Pilots that work between Baton Rouge and the Sea Buoy , but the advent of these new and modern and highly maneuverable tugs has made my job so much safer and efficient and faster than any other single item that has made its presence known in the local marine industry !
In the first picture is a twin screw , Crescent Salvage & Towing tug , in the second picture is a twin screw RIVCO ( now Moran ) tug and in the third picture is a twin screw E.N Bisso tug .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Topic starter
13/08/2011 12:37 am
Ship Maneuvering And More Bull Dogs !
Greetings From New Orleans !
Just a few more shots of Ship Maneuvering And Bull Dogs !
Hope You Enjoy !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
WA-4141
Ted Davisson;26900 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans & The River Region !
Just a few more " Bull Dogs " !
Hope You Enjoy !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
WA-4141
