Tug Masters command the powerful boats used to assist ship movements in ports and harbours. While small in size, tugboats are extremely powerful watercrafts and their handling takes much skill. Added to which, the Tug Master must have detailed knowledge of the waters he/she works in to avoid incidents.

Rolf Gromme – Tug Master

The nature of the job means that Tug Masters can expect to work in all weather conditions often in shift patterns, and when Tug Masters are on job the working hours can be long and irregular.

What kind of work can I do?

Tug Masters working in port can be called on to assist with berthing or unberthing of ships, or to guide a ship through perilous or difficult waterways. Working closely with port authorities, Masters and Pilots, the port Tug Master will usually head out to meet the ship at sea to attach a line before skilfully guiding it to its berth.

In the US, pusher tugs can be used to push long trains of barges on rivers and inland waterways, while ocean going tugs can be involved in salvage, rescue, fire-fighting and pollution prevention. Tug Masters can also be involved in providing assistance to ships in distress or to tow oil rigs.

Where can I work?

There are relatively few tugboats operating around the world and the turnover for jobs is low, meaning that career opportunities are limited. However, Tug Masters may use their maritime experience and contacts to work in other areas in the industry such as Pilots, marine inspectors, fleet managers and port operators.

Tug Masters make light work of manoeuvring today’s mega ships into tight channels and berths.

Don Reid, Tug Master

What’s it like working as a Tug Master?

Don Reid has clocked up a few maritime adventures in the 20 years he’s been working on the sea. “I’ve been hunting for gold off the Auckland Islands, diving in Singapore and Angola, and have salvaged oil tankers and fishing ships that have broken down in the ocean.”

Now Don works as a tugboat skipper in a small harbour. On a typical day Don will be helping ships to move in and out of the harbour over a 12 hour period. It’s a long shift, but there are perks. “I’ll help all the ships that come in during that time, and if there are no more jobs that night I can go home early. I’ll still get paid because we are well looked after at this port.”

Other days Don might be driving tugs offshore to deliver supplies to an oil rig, carry a crew of divers out on a diving operation, or to assist a ship that has broken down in the ocean. Some of his jobs require him to be away at sea for six or eight weeks.

“If I go away I could be working with people in confined spaces for long periods, so I have really got to be able to get on with people.

“I also have to be adaptable and prepared. Say if something’s gone wrong with a ship berthing, I have to anticipate what’s going to happen and get the tugboat into the right position to prevent more trouble.”

With the range of tasks tugboats do, it’s the kind of job that requires a lot of experience – and Don says that experience working on the sea is the best way to get into driving tugboats. “The hardest thing about getting into this industry is accruing the sea time. Once you’ve got the sea time it’s best to go and get the next ticket up, and the next.”

Although it’s hard sometimes for Don to drag himself out of bed for an early morning shift, he says it’s worthwhile. “Once I am here it’s really good. Coming to work and enjoying my job really makes up for it. When I wake up in the morning, I think ‘heck this is a great job!’

“I can’t imagine having a job where I have to do the same thing everyday”.

SOURCE: Career Services New Zealand

How big is the sector?

Some ports are introducing new tugboats that are smaller, more powerful and more technically advanced to cope with the trend of bigger ships calling at international ports. These newer tugboats require a smaller crew putting pressure on an already limited career pool.

Tug Masters usually have a seafaring background along with Officer or Master level experience at sea.