T&T: Cruise ship docking

[ryan.healy at healyautogroup.com]

Keep in mind that there is a lot more at play when discussing cruise ship docking versus small boat handling.  Most modern cruise ships are equipped with a type of Azipod propulsion which changes the entire dynamic of large vessel close quarter maneuvering.  Combined with multiple bow and stern thrusters, the maneuvering of an ocean liner is vastly different from most of our comparatively small pleasurecraft.  Also, commercial vessels board a harbor pilot at most ports who becomes directly responsible for the safe arrival and departure of of the ship.  The harbor pilot places the order for multiple tugs if he deems them necessary.  Neither the experience level of a ships Master or the financial situation of a cruise line has any bearing on whether tugs are used or not.  The harbor pilot orders them if he wants them.  

Incidently, due to advanced propulsion technology, cruise ships rarely employ the use of tugs any more.  These new ships are exceptionally maneuverable and can get in and out of some astonishingly tight quarters quite well on their own.  

With respect to thrusters on pleasurecraft, if your level of experience or the way your boat handles makes you more comfortable having them, then by all means, have the grinders installed and use them all you want.  There is nothing "unmanly" about having and using grinders.  In fact, the mark of a professional skipper is one who uses all of his available resources to precisely operate his vessel.  The salty dogs have learned this lesson a long time ago.  Those who haven't are still struggling to master the technique of swallowing their pride.

-Ryan 


--- lrzeitlin at aol.com wrote:

From: Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin at aol.com>
To: trawlers-and-trawlering at lists.samurai.com
Cc: Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin at aol.com>
Subject: Re: T&T: Cruise ship docking
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 11:06:42 -0500

On Dec 13, 2008, at 12:00 AM, trawlers-and-trawlering- 
request at lists.samurai.com wrote:

> Actually, a prime motivation for the captain's using the thrusters  
> is to
> avoid the cost of using tugs. With the new rules promulgated by  
> Homeland
> Security/USCG, he probably has to have at least one escort tug. The
> thrusters avoid two other tugs for maneuvering. Cost is everything  
> to the
> cruise lines and probably other marine enterprises.
>
> Ron Rogers
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Krogenguy
>
> Won't be the last comment but just in case some of you folks are
> having "Manly" issues with all this stuff, have you ever watched a
> cruise ship dock?  That crusty old guy w/ 40 years of salt water
> experence doesn't have a lick of pride!  He'll use those bow and
> stern thrusters when ever it makes his job a whole lot easier.
> Thrust On.


The 600 ft. long Norwegian Coastal Ferries dock in tiny, crowded  
harbors with the ease of a Boston Whaler. No need and no space for  
tugs. Of course they have twin controllable pitch props and a 500 hp  
bow thruster. A bit overkill for my trawler.

Larry Z
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