Ocean towage is where the consequences of a wrong decision compound over thousands of nautical miles. Moving a drilling rig from one field to another, repositioning a floating dock across the Mediterranean, or recovering a vessel in distress at sea requires a specific class of tug, a crew with deep-sea experience, and a voyage plan reviewed by a marine warranty surveyor before a single line is connected. For operators sourcing ocean towage services, the difference between providers is not marginal. It is the difference between risk and certainty. IGMAR Group combines next-generation operational agility with five decades of expertise to execute the most demanding tows in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

How Ocean Towage Differs from Harbour Towage

Harbour towage is a precision operation measured in minutes and metres. Ocean towage is a sustained, high-exposure exercise measured in days and nautical miles. The distinction goes well beyond distance.

Key operational differences include:

• Tug specification: ocean tugs carry dedicated deep-sea towing gear including main and spare towing lines, emergency equipment, and extended fuel and provision capacity

• Voyage approval: every ocean tow requires approval from classification societies, flag state administrations, and the relevant maritime authority, with towage plans reviewed by marine warranty surveyors

• Weather and routing: ocean tows are planned around meteorological forecasts, routing studies, and tow resistance calculations specific to the tow object

• Crew endurance: ocean tug crews operate on extended rotations at sea, with communication and decision-making managed from a shore operations centre

What Can Be Towed

An ocean tug fleet with sufficient bollard pull and the right towing configuration can handle virtually any category of floating object. The defining factors are the tow's displacement, windage, drag coefficient, and the sea conditions on the intended route.

Common ocean tow categories include:

• Drilling rigs and jack-up platforms

• Oil production platforms and FPSOs

• Transport barges and cargo barges

• Tankers and large commercial vessels in transit or under repair

• Floating docks and cranes

• Vessels under salvage or emergency tow

Each category requires a different approach. A jack-up platform has entirely different tow geometry and resistance characteristics than a loaded barge or a semi-submersible. Voyage planning accounts for this from the first calculation.

Marine Warranty and Regulatory Requirements

Every ocean tow is subject to regulatory oversight at multiple levels. The tow plan must be reviewed and approved by a marine warranty surveyor (MWS) acting on behalf of the underwriter before the operation proceeds. The towing vessel and tow must satisfy the requirements of the flag state and port state control authorities at departure and destination.

Classification societies including Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, and DNV may impose specific requirements on the tow configuration, towline specifications, and emergency procedures. Non-compliance creates insurance voidance risk and can result in port state detention of both tug and tow. IGMAR Towage operations are conducted under procedures approved by MWS, flag state administrations, and classification societies worldwide.

IGMAR Towage Ocean Capabilities

IGMAR Towage operates ocean-capable tugs and AHTs with bollard pull of up to 75 tonnes, permanently fitted with main and spare towing gear configured for sustained deep-sea operations. The operations team maintains 365/24 availability, with mobilisation capability at short notice across the Eastern Mediterranean and globally.

Operational experience covers:

• Open sea towage of all vessel and rig types

• Drilling rig and offshore platform repositioning

• Floating dock and crane barge transportation

• Emergency and casualty tow response

• AHT anchor handling and offshore positioning

Route Planning and Voyage Execution

Effective ocean towage begins before departure. A thorough pre-voyage assessment covers the tow object's structural condition, attachment points, and freeboard; towing gear specifications and safety factors; meteorological forecasting for the proposed route and season; emergency procedures and contingency ports; and communication plans for the duration of the voyage.

During the voyage, the tug master monitors towline tension, tow behaviour, and weather continuously. Any deviation from the approved plan requires documented decision-making and, depending on the extent of the deviation, notification to the warranty surveyor or underwriter.