Limited Availability of Tugs for Emergencies on Canada’s Pacific Coast – Marine Executive

Canada is not yet holding up it’s end of the bargain in support of emergency tugs. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

A research report on the Availability of Tugs of Opportunity in Canada’s Pacific Region published by Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping indicates that Canada’s West Coast faces gaps in the availability of commercial tugs to serve as emergency towing vessels for ships in distress. The existing emergency towing system is based on a small number of dedicated high-powered emergency towing vessels or ETVs supported by so-called tugs of opportunity or commercial tugs that are not dedicated to rescue services. Such tugs are occasionally contracted to provide aid in the event of a ship emergency due to loss of engine power, steering or other cause. (Marine Executive)

Limited Availability of Tugs for Emergencies on Canada’s Pacific Coast

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