One of my qualifications is "Master of a Foreign Going Tug" - this enables me to command a tug of any tonnage, or horsepower, to and from, anywhere in the world. As a result I have commanded some of the most powerful tugs in the world, and been Towmaster (in overall charge of a tow involving more than one tug) on many occasions.

Here are some examples of  'real towing'. This is state of the art stuff, and very far removed from Harbour or Estuarial Towing. Some tugs now have Displacement tonnage similar to large Cross channel ferries, but with enormous pulling power.

Left:  Picture shews the t.s.m.v. "Seaforth Jarl" commencing a tow-out, from Peterhead, Scotland

The picture (right) is the "Brent Bravo" Production Platform, commencing her tow-out from a Norwegian Fjord.

The Structure, named  'Condeep', weighed 348,000 tons. It is 420 feet above the water with a further 260 feet below the water, making it 680 feet high.

For this tow-out, the power cables across the Fjord had to be lowered to the seabed to allow her to pass. It was probably the highest floating structure anywhere.

The combined power of the tugs was 70,000 hp. Some of the largest tugs in the World were involved. This is something which will, probably, never be seen again, as new technology precludes the need for such big tows.

Very great care is necessary when coming into a narrow entrance such as this, because the vast bulk of the tow is very much affected by any wind. So extra tugs are placed astern to 'steer' whilst the forward tugs do the pulling.

We are at the start of the tow and still using a short tow which we will  lengthen dramatically once properly underway.