Incheon Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries

Tug Information

All vessels shall use a tugboat according to the standards for tugboat use for the purpose of protecting port facilities and ship safety when they are to be unberthed, berthed, or moored at the pier or the mooring facilities.

Standards for tugboat use

(Unit: 1000 horsepower × unit)

Standards for tugboat use
classification	10,000 ton GATE
	entry		departure
	Total hp	Total No.	Total hp	Total No.
1~2kt	1,300	1	1,300	1
2~3kt	1,500	1	1,500	1
3~5kt	2,600	2	2,600	2
5~7kt	2,800	2	2,800	2
7~10kt	4,800	2	3,000	2
10~15kt
15~20kt
20~30kt
30~50kt
50~70kt
70~100kt
100kt~

Standards for tugboat use
classification	50,000 ton GATE
	entry		departure
	Total hp	Total No.	Total hp	Total No.
1~2kt	1,300	1	1,300	1
2~3kt	1,300	1	1,300	1
3~5kt	2,600	2	2,600	2
5~7kt	2,800	2	2,800	2
7~10kt	4,800	2	3,000	2
10~15kt	6,000	3	5,000	3
15~20kt	7,000	3	5,500	3
20~30kt	8,000	3	7,000	3
30~50kt	9,000	3	7,500	3
50~70kt	9,900	3	8,400	3
70~100kt
100kt~

Standards for tugboat use
classification	Berth/Unberth at the inner port		Berth/Unberth at the outer port
classification	Total hp	Total No.	Total hp	Total No.
1~2kt	1,300	1	1,300	1
2~3kt	1,300	1	1,300	1
3~5kt	2,600	2	2,600	2
5~7kt	2,800	2	2,800	2
7~10kt	3,000	2	3,000	2
10~15kt	3,500	2	3,500	2
15~20kt	4,500	2	5,000	2
20~30kt	5,500	2	5,500	2
30~50kt	5,500	2	6,500	2
50~70kt	6,000	2	10,000~ 13,000	3
70~100kt			16,000~ 20,000	4
100kt~135kt			20,000~ 24,000	4/5
135kt~			22,000~ 25,000	5

Factors of the decreased use of tugboats (sub-standards or unused)

With respect to a vessel equipped with assistive devices for unberthing and berthing, the competent captain has determined the use of tugboats in consultation with a pilot, referring to the standards of tugboat use.
Where a captain of a vessel who brings the same vessel into and out of the same port on at least 4 occasions within 12 months or on at least 9 occasions within 36 months (in the case of carrying dangerous cargo or oil carrying vessels, at least 6 occasions within 12 months or on at least 15 occasions within 36 months) admits that there is no problem with the safety of unberthing and berthing, the tugboat falling short of the standards may be used or not. (Note that with respect to a vessel subject to pilotage, a pilot shall decide whether to use the tugboat in consultation with the captain of the vessel.)

Factors of the increased use of tugboats

Where the maximum instantaneous wind speed reaches 13m/sec or more
Where under-keel clearance is less than 30cm
In case of pure car carriers, special structure vessels, or dangerous cargo carrying vessels
Where a captain of a vessel or a pilot requests an increase in tugboat use

Preferred use of the tugboat

Where emergencies happen such as drift or marine accidents by weather changes so that tugboats must be used, they can be preferentially used by tugboat users, or in the Vessel Traffic Service Center and lock gate towers.