Towmasters: the Master of Towing Vessels Assoc. Forum

Articles, Books, Manuals & Technical Papers

• Taking Advantage of Synthetic Rope Technology Includes Hardware Maintenance – Pacific Maritime Magazine, July 2009
• Abrasion & Twist Effects on High-Performance Synthetic Ropes for Towing Applications – Tug & Salvage Technology Symposium in Arlington, VA – January 2009
• Some Recent Developments of Rope Technologies – Further Enhancements of High-Performance Ropes – Oceans 2008 Conference in Quebec City, Canada
• New Rope Technologies in Marine Applications – International Salvage & Rescue Conference in Dalian, China – September 2008
• Abrasion & Fiber Fatigue in High-Performance Synthetic Ropes for Ship Escort & Berthing – ITS Tugnology 2008 Conference in Singapore
• Latest Developments In Deck Machinery – Work Boat World, November 2007
• How To Design A Big New Winch: Design Methodology Of Winches For Use In Dynamic Seas – Pacific Maritime Magazine, July 2007
• SafeWinch tackles slack lines and peak loads – For practical use in harbour towage & escorting – ITS Tugnology 2007 Conference in Southampton, UK
• High Performance Winches – Pacific Maritime Magazine, July 2006
• Electrify: Electric Winches Continue To Make Inroads – Workboat Magazine, April 2006
• Deck Machinery: Evolving For Soft Line – Pacific Maritime Magazine, July 2005
• Tractor Tug Training – presented at Marine Log’s Tug & Barge Conference & Expo at Stamford, CT in May 2005
• Abrasion & Residual Strength of Fiber Tuglines – ITS Conference in Miami, FL in April 2004
• Deck Machinery: Mooring Issues – Pacific Maritime Magazine, July 2003 ***Very Important Safety Article – Please Read***
• Hydralift Barge Skeg Article
• Suggested Tractor Command Language – by Capt. Greg Brooks & Capt. Victor Schisler ***New Article – October 2009***
• Escort Planning – by Capt. Greg Brooks
  
• Escorting Ships With Tractor Tugs -by Capt. Greg Brooks & Capt. S. Wallace Slough
• The Utilization Of Escort Tugs In Restricted Waters – by Capt. Greg Brooks & Capt. S. Wallace Slough
• Team Towing: Using relatively small tractors on heavy ships – by Capt. Vic Schisler & Capt. Greg Brooks
• Tractor Training With Atlantic Towing, Ltd. – by Capt. Greg Brooks & Christopher Hall
  
• Squat Interaction Maneuvering – The Nautical Institute, September 1995
• TractorPlus Performance Results – prepared by Foss Maritime, The Glosten Associates and Kooren Shipbuilding & Trading
• U.S. Navy Towing Manual - 2002 Edition
• Naval Ships’ Technical Manual – Chapter #582: Mooring & Towing – December 1, 2001
• Handbook of Fibre Rope Technology – 2004 Edition

ITS Tugnology 2009 Conference Papers

• Improving Marine Workplace Safety and Chances of Survival in MOB Incidents
• E3 Tug Development: Economically viable, Environmentally friendly, Efficient in operation
• The Hybrid Tug Reality – The Business Case for Green Technology in the Tugboat Industry
• Latest Developments in Low-emission Diesel Engines and Exhaust After-treatment for Tugs & Workboats
• Equipment and Operational Issues for Terminal and Escort Work in Ice Conditions
• Escort Tug – Tow Winch Load Control
• High Performance Winches for High Performance Tugs – Winch & HMPE Rope Limitations
• When Should a Towline be Retired? Chafe protection and twist and how to recognise their impact
• Fitting Fibre Rope to the Towing Winch – a Guideline
• Training, Competency Checking and Professional Development of Masters for Omni-directional Tug Boats
• Latest Developments in the Use of Tug Simulators and Tug Simulation Technology
• Training Methods using Scale Tugboats
• RAptures: Resolving the Tugboat Energy Equation
• Integration of the Rudder Propeller into the Ship’s Structure
• Voith Water Tractor – Improved Manoeuvrability and Seakeeping Behaviour

Wire Rope, Chain, Cordage and Towing & Deck Hardware Technical Info

• U.S. Navy Towing Manual - 2002 Edition
• Naval Ships’ Technical Manual – Chapter #582: Mooring & Towing – December 1, 2001
• Handbook of Fibre Rope Technology – 2004 Edition
• Cordage Institute International Guideline CI 2001-04: Fiber Rope Inspection & Retirement Criteria – 2004
• Cordage Institute International Guideline CI 1401-06: Safer Use of Fiber Rope – May 2006
• Standards for Strength & Usage (Samson Rope)
• Type Approvals (Samson Rope)
• Fiber Characteristics & Rope Construction (Samson Rope)
• HMPE Ropes – Design vs. Performance (Samson Rope)
• AmSteel-Blue FAQ (Samson Rope)
• HMPE Ropes & Chocks: Closed vs. Roller (Samson Rope)
• Surface Preparation (Samson Rope)
• Innovative Chafe Protection Materials for High Performance Ropes (Samson Rope)
• Rope Inspection & Retirement (Samson Rope)
• Rope Handling (Samson Rope)
• Proper Handling Techniques for Samson 8-Strand High Performance Ropes on H-Bitts (Samson Rope)
• Line Splicing Instructions from Samson Rope
• 12-Strand Eye Splice – Class I (Olefin, Polyester & Nylon)
• 12-Strand End-for-End Splice – Class I (Olefin, Polyester & Nylon)
• 12-Strand Eye Splice – Class II (Dyneema, Vectran, Technora & Zylon) ***AmSteel Blue/Spectra is made of Dyneema fiber***
• 12-Strand End-for-End Splice – Class II (Dyneema, Vectran, Technora & Zylon) ***AmSteel Blue/Spectra is made of Dyneema fiber***
• Lock Stitch & Whipping Procedures (Samson Rope)

Wire Rope, Chain, Cordage and Towing & Deck Hardware Manufacturers

• The Cordage Institute – Wayne, PA
• The Committee of Domestic Steel Wire Rope & Specialty Cable Manufacturers – Washington, DC
• Wire Rope Technical Board – Arlington, VA
• Atlantic Cordage – Avenel, NJ
• Baldt Anchor & Chain – Chester, PA
• Bishop Lifting Products, Inc. – Houston, TX
• Blue Ocean Tackle – Hesperia, CA
• Cortland Cable Co. – Cortland, NY
• The Crosby Group, Inc. – Tulsa, OK
• Sheaves, Inc. – Groton, CT
• NABRICO Marine – Gallatin, TN
• New England Ropes – Fall River, MA
• Performance Fibers – Richmond, VA
• Samson Rope – Ferndale, WA
• Skookum Blocks & Rigging – Hubbard, OR
• Web-Tec Line Protection Systems – Hillside, NJ
• Wire Rope Industries – Pointe-Claire, QC

Capstan, Winch, Hydraulic Towing Pin & Shark Jaw Manufacturers

• Burrard Iron Works Ltd. – Vancouver, BC
• Coastal Marine Equipment – Gulfport, MS
  
• Intercontinental Engineering-Manufacturing Corp. (INTERCON) – Kansas City, MO
• FlowSafe AS – Ulsteinvik, Norway
• Hawboldt Industries – Chester, NS
• J.K. Fabrication, Inc. Hydraulic Marine Equipment – Seattle, WA
• JonRie Intertech LLC – Manahawkin, NJ
• Karmøy Winch – Kopervik, Norway
• Kraaijeveld Machine – Sliedrecht, The Netherlands
• Markey Machinery Co. – Seattle, WA
• NABRICO Marine – Gallatin, TN
• Rapp Hydema AS – Bodø, Norway
• Smith Berger Marine, Inc. – Seattle, WA
• Western Machine Works – N. Vancouver, BC

Suppliers & Resources

• Mariner’s Annual
• Rasmussen Equipment Co. – Seattle, WA & Belle Chasse, LA

Towing Hook Systems

• Dynamic Oval Towing System – Mampaey Offshore Industries, Holland

Articulated Tug & Barge Systems

• ARTICOUPLE & TRIOFIX ATB-Coupling Systems
• Bludworth – Cook Marine ATB Systems
• Hydraconn ATB Connector System
• INTERCON Articulated Tug-Barge Coupler System
• JAK ATB Coupling System
• The Available Connection Systems – an explanation by Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering

Hull Fendering Systems

• Schuyler Rubber Co. – Woodinville, WA
• Viking Fender – Perth Amboy, NJ

Tug / Barge Designers & Builders

• Allied Shipbuilders Ltd. – North Vancouver, BC
• Atlantic Marine – Jacksonville, FL & Mobile, AL
• Bay Shipbuilding Co. – Sturgeon Bay, WI
• Blount Boats – Warren, RI
• Bollinger Shipyards – LA & TX
• Bristol Harbor Group – Bristol, RI
• Chesapeake Shipbuilding – Salisbury, MD
• Conrad Industries – Morgan City, LA
• CT Marine Naval Architects & Marine Engineering – Edgecomb, ME
• Dakota Creek Industries – Anacortes, WA
• Damen Shipyard Group – Gorinchem, the Netherlands
• Davie Yards – Levis, QC
  
• Derecktor Shipyard – Bridgeport, CT
• Eastern Shipbuilding – Panama City, FL
• Entech & Associates – Houma, LA
• Hope Services, Inc. – Dulac, LA
• Irving Shipbuilding, Inc. – Halifax, NS
• Jensen Maritime Consultants, Inc. – Seattle, WA
• Jeffboat / ACL Manufacturing – Jeffersonville, IN
• J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. – Tacoma, WA
• Macduff Ship Design – Macduff, Scotland, UK
• Main Iron Works – Houma, LA
• Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering – U.S.A.
• Robert Allan Ltd. Naval Architects & Marine Engineers – Vancouver, BC
• Rozema Boat Works – Mt. Vernon, WA
  
• Senesco Marine – North Kingstown, RI
• Steiner Shipyard – Bayou La Batre, AL
• Trinity Industries, Inc. – Dallas, TX
• Upper Lakes Marine & Industrial – St. Catharines, OT
• Vancouver Shipyards Co. – North Vancouver, BC
• Victoria Shipyards Co. – Victoria, BC
• VT Halter Marine – Pascagoula, MS
• Washburn & Doughty Associates – East Boothbay, ME

Propulsion Technology & Systems

• Nautican Integrated Propulsion Systems
• Nautican Hydralift Barge Skegs
• Rolls Royce Azimuthing Thrusters
• Schottel – Spay/Rhine, Germany
• Steerprop Ltd. – Rauma, Finland
• Thrustmaster of Texas – Houston, TX
• Voith Schneider Propulsion System
• Wärtsilä – Helsinki, Finland

Main Engines, Transmissions & Auxiliary Power

• Caterpillar Marine Power Systems – Peoria, IL
• Cummins Marine – Charleston, SC
• EMD – LaGrange, IL
• John Deere Marine Power Systems – Moline, IL
• Karl Senner, Inc. – Kenner, LA
• Kohler Marine Power – Kohler, WI
• Lugger Marine Diesel – Seattle, WA
• MTU – Friedrichshafen, Germany
• Northern Lights Marine Generators – Seattle, WA
• Reintjes Marine Gear – Hameln, Germany
• Scania USA – San Antonio, TX
• Twin Disc Marine Transmissions – Racine, WI