This diploma course in tugboat operation is a free online course that introduces you to various tug operations and responsibilities. We demonstrate the multiple modes of tug operation under different conditions of ship work. You will investigate the characteristics of the harbour tugs, tractor tugs and the Azimuth stern drive (ASD) tugs. You will learn how to fit tugs out for rescue and salvage. You find tugs where there are higher concentrations of heavy shipping traffic. We explain how to record training in the ship’s logbooks and various river work scenarios. We outline the precautions and guiding principles that can assist a pilot in his decisions and describe the use of aft tug for breasting the ship's stern in place of the spring line as the critical manoeuvre steps. Understand how you can use towing gear to connect to a tug and tow, towing arrangements and equipment you should confirm during towing. This section ends with the procedures for carrying out checks on the towing winch.

The course then examines the towline and terminal gear equipment of UTV, the components of the hydraulic oil system and the classification of the pumps into different groups. Learn about oil properties, oil deterioration, oil contamination and oil filtration. Discover the welding and cutting processes in tugboats and the tools used to make permanent joints. We teach you the concept of the current setting, the length of the arc, the angle of travel of the arc welding, the oxy-acetylene gas welding process and finally the brazing process. Explore the sequential operations performed before making a soldered joint and classify the soldering flux and the functions. Become an authority on applying the soldering iron and the safety precautions in soldering. The course will also explain the process of basic marking, how to take measurements on steel plates, features of the measuring gauges and marking tools. You will learn about the measuring tools and marking gauges and how to measure the outer diameter of a cylindrical tube using a vernier calliper.

Become familiar with the use of a marking gauge, the importance of marking gauges and the essential parts of the marking gauge. You will also learn about handling tools that can be used to perform operations on a physical system and how to use a screwdriver. We demonstrate the general safety precautions of hand tools, misuse of hand tools, basic hand tool safety rules and spark-resistant tools. We highlight some non-sparking tools, different types of hacksaws, the surface finishing process, the important use of grinding machines and the application of drilling machines. We research the importance of filing and grinding, the shapes of files, portable and hand grinding machines. We end the course by disclosing general safety guidelines for different tools and the general precautions that power tool users should observe. This course will be of great interest to students, researchers and anyone intent on learning tugboat operations. So, register for this course and experience the art of tugboat operations.