A Study of the Utilization of Tractor Tugs to Aid Shiphandling in Charleston Harbor,

The use of tractor tugs throughout the United States for shiphandling and escort work has been a growing factor over the past several years. The West Coast has been on the leading edge in the use of these boats for tanker escort and ship assist work since the early l980s. Across the country the construction rate is now approaching ten new buildings a year and there are few signs of slowing. On the East Coast, however, tug companies have generally failed to follow in the same direction as Pacific Coast tug owners, such as Foss Maritime, Crowley Marine, and SeaSpan. Many East Coast towing companies believe that the equipment currently in use is satisfactory for the work required. It is also a general consensus that the cost of purchasing a new advanced tug is unwarranted by current demand. The Port of Charleston, South Carolina shares this same common problem with other East Coast ports such as Norfolk, Savannah, and New York. The intent of this study is to determine a possible solution for the Port of Charleston of how best to handle ships of increasing size safely, in a manner which is least expensive for the operation of the port as a whole. Currently, larger container vessels calling on the ports North Charleston Terminal are restricted in their transit times to the periods of flood tide only. Additionally, an increased number of private terminals will be increasing overall vessel calls. A suggestion will be made for the best action to take considering the proper application of tractor tugs and their specialized operating modes. This suggestion will be based on increasing the safety and efficiency of vessel transits in Charleston Harbor.