Ship towage tugs

Under the PLA Vessel Licensing Byelaws 2014, Byelaw 13, the Master of a vessel must not undertake ship towage operations on the Thames and the owner of the vessel must ensure that ship towage operations are not undertaken unless the vessel is licensed for ship towage by the PLA. Vessel operators undertaking ship towage operations on the Thames must meet the Technical Requirements for the issue of a Ship Towage Licence.

All vessels licensed for ship towage are inspected annually by the PLA, and must hold an up to date Bollard Pull Certificate.

Note: As per General Direction 3.20, "Escort Tug" means "a Tug which is classified not less than Class 1 FiFi, capable of fulfilling towage and firefighting requirements in the event of an incident and is of a suitable size to tow the Vessel whilst it is navigating." Where the notation "Escort Tug" appears in the "Comments" section against a particular ship towage tug on this webpage, this indicates that it appears that the tug in question fulfils the definition. The presence or absence of an "Escort Tug" notation in the "Comments" section on this webpage is not to be construed as having any significance except in relation to the definition in the General Directions.