Why do some tugs primarily travel astern?

[Cody Williams]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone know why do some tugs primarily travel astern when going from point A to point B? Any information would be brilliant!

Kind Regards
Cody

[Fergal Clohessy]

this ones for you Tomas!  8-)

[StewartM]

On Tractor Tugs, where you have two Voith or Azimuth props about one third of the way back from the bow and a stability skeg at the stern, it has been found that when free running they are more stable and easier to control when running skeg first, ie astern.

Stewart.

[Bob Scott]

The tugs that are often seen going

[ChasB46]

You can try your hand at steering the tug here. http://www.voithturbo.com/545950.htm  . See if you can master the joystick !! The wheel makes it too easy.Chas

[Michael Brinkmann]

Yepp! I have driven the Hamburg based "Bugsier 2" some years ago. It runs quite better astern than ahead. Top speed is almost 1 knot faster and it is easier to steer, surprisingly. I thought before, that the aft located skeg will make it more difficult to control, but it wasn't. The higher speed is a result of the smoother hull shape at the stern instead of the bow.

Michael