Tug gets the squeeze from container ship

Mar 15, 2010 0 Comments by

This came to us via Towmasters.  We have a video that shows an assist tug getting squeezed or pinched against a pier by a CMA CGM container ship during what appears to be a mooring evolution gone horribly wrong.  It took place in the Port of Constanta, Romania and appears to have happened sometime in March 2010.  The crew members on board this tug are extremely lucky, and from the looks of it, the container ship is also extremely lucky to have gotten out of a very bad docking run.

The video starts off a little slow…fast forward to around 4:00 if you want to get straight to the action.

Video not available

Check out the post over at Towmasters for more on the importance of maintaining watertight integrity; likely a saving grace for this tug or any tug caught in a similar situation.

Photos and Video

About the author

Nathan Menefee is an active duty Lieutenant serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed in the San Francisco Bay area. He also holds an Unlimited Third Mate's License, and possesses a QMED and Tankerman PIC endorsement. He is a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
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