Requirements checked against 46 CFR 11.464–11.466 · September 2026
What does a towing vessel do?
Towing vessels move what can't move itself. Harbor tugs assist ships docking and undocking. Ocean tugs tow barges and rigs along the coast and offshore. ATBs (articulated tug-barges) lock a tug into a notch in the stern of a barge — often a petroleum barge — and run like a single ship. River towboats push strings of barges on the Mississippi and other Western Rivers.
Who works aboard?
Crews are small — often four to eight people — so everyone pulls their weight and you learn fast.
Captain (Master of Towing Vessels)
In command of the vessel, crew, and tow. Stands a wheelhouse watch.
Mate (Pilot)
Runs the boat on the opposite watch from the captain.
Apprentice Mate (Steersman)
Learns the wheelhouse under supervision while building towing time.
Deckhand / AB
Lines, rigging, making up tow, maintenance, and lookout.
Engineer
Main engines, generators, and machinery. Larger boats carry a licensed engineer.
Tankerman
On tank barges and ATBs, handles cargo transfers. Needs a Tank Vessel (tankerman) endorsement. See Tankers →
How do I get there?
The towing ladder has its own officer endorsements. Here is the path for a standard towing route (oceans, near-coastal, Great Lakes-inland, or Western Rivers):
Approved training programs can shorten the Apprentice Mate service time. A Master of Towing Vessels–Limited endorsement for a limited local area has its own, shorter route (36 months total, 18 as Apprentice Mate, TOAR required).
Credentials you may need
What is the work like?
- Rotation: Many companies work equal time on and off, such as 14 on / 14 off or 21/21. Some river and coastal jobs run 28 on / 14 off. Ask before you sign on.
- Watches: Usually a two-watch system — six hours on, six off, around the clock.
- Living aboard: Close quarters with a small crew. The cook may be a deckhand taking a turn.
- The hazards are real: Parting lines, girding (a tug capsized by its own towline), and working on barges in weather. Good companies train hard for all three.
- Advancement: Faster than deep sea for many people — a motivated deckhand can be steering in a couple of years.
Traps that cost towing mariners months
- Not getting sea-service letters for every boat and every hitch as you go. Companies merge and records disappear.
- Letting the TOAR sit half-finished. Tasks need to be signed by a Designated Examiner — find out who that is on your boat.
- Forgetting route service. You need 3 months on the route you're applying for.
Typical earnings
Pay varies widely by company, union or non-union, region, vessel type, and rotation. We are gathering sourced ranges and will add them here with a date so you know how current they are.
Want to work toward this career?
Start with the step in front of you.
Sources
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