Reflection: Seaports are fascinating places.
What I most enjoy watching are the tiny but powerful tug boats as they guide the larger Mother Ships in from and out to the sea.
Tugs are built for action not for show – rarely shiny nor streamlined in shape or finish. But despite their lack of polish, the port would be a mess without them. They’re essential in moments of transition.
Watch them at work and you’ll see they apply pressure in different ways. Some nose in at a right angle to the ship and nudge from the side. Some work in tandem from both sides at once.
Some tugs latch on up front and tow the ship in the desired direction. Some push from the rear – adding power from behind to guide the ship through the water.
Tugs help ships avoid collisions, come safely to mooring, navigate through tricky channels, and head confidently out to the open sea.
Action: As we navigate the murky waters of our everyday lives, we too rely on tugs. They may not be as visible as those in port, but they are present nonetheless. (more…)
