Bollard pull has, during the last decade, become a globally understood and accepted measure of the performance of all different kinds of tugs. However, due to differing requirements, from e.g. classification societies, neither universally accepted rules nor universal definitions have yet been set. This paper attempts to clarify terms widely used, but seldom completely understood, with regard to bollard pull and bollard pull trials. Many institutions, companies and classification societies have their own requirements on how to measure bollard pull, but unfortunately a wide and confusing range of methods and requirements makes it almost impossible to objectively compare one measured result to another. The paper attempts to give an insight into which elements have an influence on the bollard pull result and should be considered when testing. Guidelines on how bollard pull trials should be performed and a 'fault finding' process, if for some reason the required or expected bollard pull values cannot be obtained during trials, are also presented. It is also an effort to stir a discussion regarding bollard pull, with a widely recognised 'international bollard pull code' as the ultimate target.
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