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This is a weird circular workboat / tug that I saw at Mukaishima Dock shipyard in Onomichi; I knew there must be some information available on it. And so it was:
The Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers "Ship of the Year 2016" award, category "Fishing/Work Vessels". This unique round shaped tugboat was created through a totally new concept of externally attaching a full slewing thruster to a towed ship. It can be easily operated by this single-lever-controlled slewing thruster. Adsorption equipment can eliminate the tug line, saving 2 workmen from handling ropes.
https://www.jasnaoe.or.jp/en/soy/2016.html
So now I understand that the contraption on the left is used to "suck up" to an unsuspecting vessel and, voila!, you've been tugged! :)
There is no Ship Data available for this photo!
Would you like to suggest new Ship Data?
This ship is not assigned to any other category.
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There's a dry dock photo showing it indeed has a single azimuth thruster in the middle, so I'm wondering...
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Push indeed, there are hooks for towing can be seen. I would guess those vacuum pads are for keeping the tug upright while applying thrust & to keep attached in place if thrust is applied at some angle.
Some article: https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/tug-and-salvage-world/harbour-tugs-and-operation/column-in-praise-of-a-fixed-mindset-tug-times/
Specs & drawings: https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/284361/Japanese-Tugboat-UMEMARU
What I don't seem to get is how to steer such tug with a single azimuth thruster in the middle of it?
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Anyway, somehow I still think that once those disks take hold, just like those glass adsorption pads of cat burglars, it's possible to either push or pull...
Cheers
Vlad
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That URL doesn't work for me, but try
https://www.jasnaoe.or.jp/en/soy/2016.html
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