Little Tugboat Heading Out

About this drawing

A tugboat by the lighthouse looks small next to the ships it helps, but it is incredibly strong. Its job is to push and pull huge vessels, like container ships and oil tankers, that cannot steer well on their own in tight spaces.

Big ships are built for the open ocean. When they enter a harbor they have to go very slowly, and at that speed their rudder barely turns them. That is when tugboats step in, nudging them from the sides or towing them with thick lines until they rest against the dock.

The tires hanging off the hull are fenders. They protect both the tug and the big ship when they bump, like a cushion. Many modern tugs use thick rubber pads on the bow for pushing instead of tires.

Even though they are short, tugs have very powerful engines and special propellers that can turn in any direction. That lets them move forward, backward or sideways with great precision. Tugs also head out to sea to help when a ship breaks down and needs a tow back to port.

• tugboat
• boats
• harbor
• ocean
• lighthouse