Safety when handling tugs

摘要

The assisting tugs in this East African port utilize vessel-provided lines when docking and undocking. The docking pilots routinely ask for the best line and then wait while the tugs make fast. Communication with the tugs - when making fast, letting go or working the vessel - is generally conducted in Swahili. While making fast, particularly on departure, the tugs take a heavy strain on the line as it is paid out to them, and there is much screaming from the tug for "Slack, slack!" The vessel will be instructed to make fast the line while the tug is still moving away from the vessel, and there is still a heavy strain on the line. This type of evolution puts crew members involved at risk of serious injury.