It is savings accrued from lower manning costs that are most often quoted as the driving force behind tug replacement programmes. Older tonnage does not lend itself to the kind of extensive modernisation necessary to operate with a small crew. Many of the tugs currently being replaced were designed for crews of between four and six persons.
The costs involved in meeting modern requirements for un-manned engineroom standards alone are prohibitive. Low manning scales, coupled with the inherent advantages of a vessel designed for simpler operation and maintenance, make new construction a much more attractive proposition. Hand-in-hand with the lowmanning concept go higher levels of automation, not only in the engineroom but also on deck.Controls for all main propulsion and auxiliary machinery, winches, fire-fighting equipment and even deck cranes are now positioned in the wheelhouse within easy reach of the tugmaster.