Talk:Fleet ocean tug

Military Sealift Command
If tugboats are considered the workhorses of the sea, then Military Sealift Command fleet ocean tugs can be regarded as the Clydesdales.

When it comes to MSC's fleet ocean tugs, put away the images of Tubby the Tugboat from children's books, merrily guiding big ships out of the harbor. Think bigger, because unlike standard tugs like Tubby – familiar sights in any port – MSC fleet ocean tugs are larger and more powerful. They can tow ships as large as retired aircraft carriers through open ocean.

Fleet tugs are used to tow ships, barges and targets for gunnery exercises. They are also used as platforms for salvage and diving work, as participants in naval exercises, to conduct search and rescue missions, to aid in the clean up of oil spills and ocean accidents, and to provide fire fighting assistance.

Each vessel is equipped with a ten-ton capacity crane and a bollard pull of at least 54 tons. A deck grid is fitted aft and contains one-inch bolt receptacles spaced 24 inches apart. This allows for the bolting down of a wide variety of portable equipment. There are two fire pumps supplying three fire monitors with up to 2,200 gallons of foam per minute. A deep submergence module can be embarked to support naval salvage teams.

MSC has four 226-foot-long fleet ocean tugs: USNS Navajo, Sioux, USNS Catawba and USNS Apache. All serve as dive platforms for exercises and salvage operations, in addition to their day-to-day work.

In the News

 * Fleet Ocean Tugs: Enough Horsepower for Any Mission
 * Tug, rescue and salvage ship crews assist contract mariners during ship conversion
 * Apache proves sub rescue capability in NATO exercise
 * MSC ships tow decommissioned nuclear sub

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 164.231.98.2 (talk) 21:22, 25 February 2009


 * So, is this just random trivia or do you have an idea how to improve the article? Astronaut (talk) 21:36, 25 February 2009 (UTC)


 * I unintentionally created this page in the discussion section. I was trying to create a new page called Fleet Ocean Tug, but that term sent my to the tug boat page, which isn't the proper place for the info. In the process of trying to appropriately create the page. Any ideas? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 164.231.98.2 (talk) 16:17, 26 February 2009 (UTC)


 * I didn't notice it at first, but Fleet ocean tug is a redirect page (ie. you get sent to Tugboat automatically). The redirect could be removed and your new material put in its place, but to avoid repeating some phrases it might be better to add your new material to the existing tugboat article.  There are however several style issues with what you have written above:
 * I, and probably most other readers, are unfamiliar with how the term "Clydesdales" is related to this subject at all.
 * The overall tone of the writing is too "chatty" in places for an encyclopedia article.
 * There are no proper references to enable other editors to verify the data provided, though the info linked in the "news" section could be a source of such references.
 * There are no links to other wikipedia articles and the inline external links are not the right way to provide additional information.
 * You might like to read Your first article, but to honest the best way to learn is see how other articles are put together. You should also consider registering - it's free and after 10 edits and 4 days you gain the right to create new articles, upload images, etc.  You might also be interested in Category:United States Navy tugs
 * Astronaut (talk) 03:52, 27 February 2009 (UTC)