Salary$1,111 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration2 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Tug Boat Jobs
3 open vacancies · updated 15 Oct 2026
5 Nov 2026 · 2 mos · Any citizenship
Salary$1,111 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration2 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$1,111 / mo
Boarding5 Nov 2026
Duration2 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
About Tug Boats
Tug boats are small ships with large engines. They push, pull and hold other ships and barges. Harbour tugs help large vessels berth and unberth. Escort tugs stand by ships in narrow channels. Other tugs tow loaded barges, handle anchors for offshore units, or work as pilot boats and safety boats. The work stays close to shore, but the load on the towline is heavy and each manoeuvre is slow and exact. Deck crew handle lines, fenders and winches. Engineers keep the main engines, winches and towing gear running. The Master controls the tug from the bridge with the tow in view. Common ranks on tugs are Master, Chief Officer, Bosun, AB, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, Motorman/Oiler and Fitter.
Cargo and operations
The job is moving things that do not move by themselves. A harbour tug comes close to a large ship, takes or passes lines, and pushes or pulls it to the berth. A barge tug tows a barge loaded with aggregate, bulk cargo or fuel, and must keep the tow safe in wind and current. Pilot boats carry pilots to and from ships. Safety boats stand by at worksites. Main risks are towline snap-back, girting when the towline pulls the tug over, contact with the assisted ship, and injury during line handling and barge mooring.
Crew on board
The Master is on the bridge for each manoeuvre and decides how the tow is made fast. The Chief Officer or Chief Mate runs the deck, checks the towline, winch and fenders, and works with the Bosun, AB and OS on the lines. The Chief Engineer and Second Engineer keep the main engines, winches and towing gear ready. Motorman / Oiler, Fitter, Wiper and ETO or Electrician work under them. Cook and Messman cover food on tugs with a galley. Deck Cadets and Engine Cadets learn by watching each manoeuvre.
Special training
STCW sets no separate certificate for tug boats. The general training requirements apply: BST under STCW VI/1 for all seafarers, PSCRB under STCW VI/2 for crew who handle survival craft and rescue boats, AFF under STCW VI/3 for crew who control fire-fighting operations, and medical first aid under STCW VI/4 for crew designated to give it. Deck officers on tugs of less than 500 GT follow STCW II/3. If a barge carries oil or chemical cargo and you have duties with cargo or cargo equipment, the basic tanker training under STCW V/1-1 applies.
Requirements
| Document | Convention | Note |
|---|---|---|
| CoC for officer in charge of a navigational watch and Master on ships of less than 500 GT | STCW II/3 | On ships of less than 500 GT engaged on near-coastal voyages, the officer of the watch and the Master must hold a CoC. |
| CoC for Master and Chief Mate on ships of 500 GT or more | STCW II/2 | Every Master and chief mate on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must hold a CoC. |
| Certificate for rating forming part of a navigational watch | STCW II/4 | Such ratings on ships of 500 GT or more must be certificated, and a candidate must be not less than 16 years of age. |
| Able seafarer deck certificate | STCW II/5 | Every able seafarer deck on a ship of 500 GT or more must be certificated, and a candidate must be not less than 18 years of age. |
| CoC for officer in charge of an engineering watch | STCW III/1 | Required on a ship with main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more. |
| CoC for chief engineer officer and second engineer officer, 750 kW to 3,000 kW | STCW III/3 | Required on a ship with main propulsion machinery between 750 kW and 3,000 kW. |
| Certificate for rating forming part of an engine-room watch | STCW III/4 | Such ratings on ships of 750 kW or more must be certificated, and a candidate must be not less than 16 years of age. |
| Able seafarer engine certificate | STCW III/5 | Every able seafarer engine on a ship of 750 kW or more must be certificated, and a candidate must be not less than 18 years of age. |
| BST (basic training) | STCW VI/1 | All seafarers must receive safety familiarization and basic training or instruction. |
| PSCRB | STCW VI/2 | A candidate must be not less than 18 years of age and needs approved seagoing service of not less than 12 months, or a training course plus six months. |
| AFF | STCW VI/3 | Seafarers designated to control fire-fighting operations must complete advanced training in fire fighting. |
| Medical first aid | STCW VI/4 | Seafarers designated to provide medical first aid on board must meet the standard of competence in medical first aid. |
Sea service
The conventions set no separate sea service rule for tugs. Service is counted against the certificate you hold. For AB, STCW II/5 asks for 18 months in the deck department while qualified as a watch rating, or 12 months together with approved training.
Medical fitness
You need a valid medical certificate before you start work on a tug or barge (MLC 2006 Reg. 1.2). It is valid for a maximum of two years, or one year if you are under 18. A colour vision certificate is valid for a maximum of six years.
Documents
- CDC / Seaman's book
- Passport
- Valid medical certificate
- CoC or CoP for your rank
- BST certificate
- Training record book
- Discharge records
Ships in our database
24,500+ Tug Boats in the Krew Guru ships database
Deadweight (DWT), most ships100–1,700
Gross tonnage (GT), most ships100–900
Range covers the middle 80% of ships of this type in our database.
Companies hiring on Tug Boats now
- QA Maritime Shipping One Ltd3 vacancies
Jobs on Tug Boats: questions and answers
Do I need a CoC to work as an officer on a tug boat?
It depends on the size of the tug and the voyage. On a ship of less than 500 GT engaged on near-coastal voyages, the officer of the watch and the Master must hold a CoC (STCW II/3). On a ship of less than 500 GT not engaged on near-coastal voyages, the officer of the watch must hold a CoC for ships of 500 GT or more.
What do I need to work as an AB on a tug?
You must be not less than 18 years old and you must first meet the requirements for a rating forming part of a navigational watch (STCW II/4). Then, while qualified as a watch rating, you need approved seagoing service in the deck department of not less than 18 months, or not less than 12 months together with approved training (STCW II/5).
Is there tanker training for work on tanker barges?
STCW V/1-1 covers oil and chemical tankers. Officers and ratings with duties for cargo or cargo equipment on such tankers must hold basic training, and senior officers with immediate responsibility for cargo operations need advanced training. For liquefied gas tankers, basic and advanced training are covered under STCW V/1-2.
What fire-fighting training is needed on a tug?
All seafarers must have safety familiarization and basic training, including basic fire fighting, under STCW VI/1. Seafarers designated to control fire-fighting operations must complete advanced training in fire fighting under STCW VI/3, with emphasis on organization, tactics and command.
How long is my medical certificate valid?
A medical certificate is valid for a maximum of two years, or one year if you are under 18. A colour vision certificate is valid for a maximum of six years. If a certificate expires during a voyage, it stays in force until the next port of call where a new one can be obtained, for no more than three months.
4 vacancies in the last 90 days
Sources
- ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)
- IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (1 July 2010), Resolution 1: The Manila Amendments to the annex to the STCW Convention
Checked against the official texts on 26 Oct 2026.