1. Learn about Towage services
According to the Maritime Code, ship towing services are defined as follows:
Article 178. Tugboat services
– Ship towing is the act of towing, pulling, pushing or standing by ships and other floating vehicles at sea and in port waters by tugboat.
– Ship towing includes towing at sea and supporting towing in port waters.
Article 179. Ship towage contract
– A towage contract is a contract concluded in writing between the towage owner and the towage lessee, except in the case of towage assistance in port waters.
– The price of ship towing service is agreed upon by the parties, except where otherwise provided by law.
Article 180. Command of towing vessels
– Tugboats and seagoing vessels or other towed vehicles form a tugboat convoy. A tugboat is formed when the tugboat and other members of the tugboat are ready to perform the necessary operations as ordered by the tugboat commander and is disbanded when the final operation is completed and the members of the tugboat have moved a safe distance from each other.
– The parties to a towage contract shall agree on the person who has the right to command the towage fleet; if there is no agreement, it shall be determined according to local customs.
– The right to command towing assistance in port waters belongs to the captain of the towed vessel.
Article 181. Obligations of the parties in the contract of towing a ship
– The tugboat owner is obliged to provide the tugboat at the correct location and time with the technical conditions agreed upon in the towage contract.
– The towage lessee is obliged to fully prepare the conditions to ensure safety for the ship as agreed in the towage contract.
Article 182. Liability for compensation for losses in towing vessels
– The shipowner of a vessel whose captain is in command of a towing convoy shall be liable for damages to the vessel, persons and property on board of other members of the towing convoy, unless it can be proven that such damages occurred outside the scope of his responsibility.
– Vessels under the command of the captain of another vessel are not exempted or relieved from the responsibility to care for the general safety of the towing vessel; the shipowner is responsible for losses to the vessel, people and property on board of other members, if his vessel is at fault causing the loss.
– During the performance of a ship towing contract, if damage is caused to a third party, the parties to the contract must be responsible for compensation according to the level of fault of each party.
Article 183. Statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit regarding the performance of a ship towage contract
The statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit regarding the performance of a ship towage contract is two years from the date the dispute arises.
2. MacStar tugboats perform the following tasks:
► Tugboats to and from ports;
► Escorting and clearing channels for ships to pass through narrow channels with many vehicles;
► Supporting the launching of ships and vehicles
► Other requirements of the Ship Owner, Agent or Seaport
