Hello friends! Happy new year! We have arrived in 2025. With the new year comes new opportunities, some of which float on water. Lately I have had tugboats on the brain, which I will explain in more detail below. The tugboat industry is largely invisible to the general public, so I will give you all a brief overview of what they do, along with the roles they play in the maritime industry. Ready to learn more? Let’s go towing!
What is a Tugboat?
A tugboat is essentially any vessel designed for towing and/or pushing other vessels, such as barges or large ships. The roles they play include assisting large vessels such as container ships in and out of port, towing or pushing barges, and supporting marine construction efforts.
Tugs range in size from small craft of a less than fifty tons, all the way up to large ocean-going vessels of a couple hundred tons. Many pleasure boaters are familiar with the small vessels that aid boaters when their craft break down. Some of my classmates at Massachusetts Maritime Academy went on to work aboard ocean-going tugs, which cover long distances across open water.
The jobs that tugs do varies just as much as the color of their hulls and superstructures. Ever thrown something away in New York City? Tugs haul barges filled with refuse out of the city every day. Need a barge loaded with salt for de-icing a road in winter? Tugs can help with that! Got a big ship to dock in port? Once again, call a tugboat! They are extremely versatile vessels.
Life Aboard a Tug
Disclaimer: the author has no firsthand experience with living or working aboard a tugboat.
When living aboard a tugboat, you are sharing what amounts to an apartment with up to seven other people. It is vital that you are able to get along with one another. This allows for a cohesive crew and makes the job more enjoyable.
Your typical tugboat crew consists of a captain, a mate, an engineer, and at least two deckhands. The deckhands handle lines, clean and maintain the tug, work anchoring machinery, and cook meals for the whole crew. The engineer is responsible for maintaining all of the tug’s systems. The mate navigates the vessel (usually sharing this responsibility with the captain), while the captain is in charge.
Perks of Tugboat Life
Tugboats typically have shorter rotations (time aboard, time ashore) than large ships. Your typical tugboat rotation is two weeks on, two weeks off, or three weeks on, three weeks off. A large ship rotation is more akin to three months aboard, three months ashore.
When you are on board, you are tied to the tug. You live and work aboard, as you might expect. When you are ashore, you are completely off work. There’s no being called in during your time off, with rare exceptions. This is significantly different from a typical shoreside job.
Perhaps the biggest perk is that despite only working half the year, you are paid a salary for the full year. This is a huge advantage over a shoreside job, where you work the vast majority of the year.
Let’s Talk Numbers
So, we’ve covered the perks, now how much does a tugboat crewmember make?
Well, the entry level Ordinary Seaman makes between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, which is modest but is in line with industry standard. The next level up, an Able Seaman, makes between $50,000 to $60,000.
The Engineers, Mates, and Captains make the big bucks, up to $125,000 a year for a Captain. Imagine all the model trains one could buy with that money! Which brings me to…
My Interest in Tugboats
On a personal note, I am seriously considering taking a job on a tugboat, starting off as an Ordinary Seaman. Why? Well, primarily to increase my license level, and for the pay. My current credential allows me to work as an OS or as a Master of a vessel under 200 tons. As a tugboat Master or Mate, my license would need to increase to 200 Tons or above, plus a Towing Endorsement.
The only way to get a Towing Endorsement is by working aboard towing vessels. Similarly, to raise my license from 100 tons to 200 tons, I need to work on larger vessels, such as ocean-going tugs.
Then there’s the pay. As a crew member aboard a tugboat, I would make substantially more than I do now, especially as a mate or captain. Yes, my ultimate goal is to become a tugboat captain, with all the responsibilities and benefits that come with it. The extra income would improve my quality of life, plus allow me to save more money than I can now.
Why Go Back to Sea?
Why haven’t I gone for it yet? Well, it’s a big decision. I need to talk it over with my parents, make sure that they are comfortable with their son going back to sea. And why now? With my new Merchant Mariner Credential in my hand, along with Timber being in heaven, there is little to stop me from going back to sea.
The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat will still be there during my time on shore. I’ll be able to moonlight there, particularly during the summer, autumn, and Christmas seasons. As I have written before, I love the North Pole Express and won’t give it up unless I have no other choice.
I admit that when I last went to sea, back in 2014, I had a bad experience. I was bullied by my shipmates for my inexperience. I did not respond properly to that and ended up having to leave the ship early. But now, with my experience and maturity, I have a better mindset towards maritime work.
Yes, I will start out as an Ordinary Seaman on tugs, but everyone must start on deck aboard tugboats when entering the industry. Once I have put my time in on deck, then I can further my training and work my way into the wheelhouse.
As always, thanks for reading!