Standardised Tender Tow Plan: Guidelines

Sponsored by TowPro Advanced Tow Protection

Version: DRAFT April 2021

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 Standardised Tender Tow Plan: Guidelines
Sponsored by TowPro Advanced Tow Protection

Version: DRAFT April 2021

Aim
To help risk management in superyacht towing, TSM Systems are collaborating with leading insurers
and experts to provide guidelines for captains preparing Tow Plans to manage their tow risks.
The aim of these guidelines is to provide access to information gathered from experts in the
superyacht industry to assist the captain, crew, and management to develop a yacht-specific Tender
Tow Plan (TTP) based on good seamanship and best practise in the yachting industry.
The person(s) or organisation developing a Tow Plan, or using the Tow Plan, should satisfy
themselves this is appropriate for their purposes.

Process
The process follows the established principles of passage planning and should be familiar to senior
yacht crew. Following a familiar process will assist in ensuring all aspects of a TTP have been
considered and control measures correctly planned to mitigate risks.
The TTP should be considered a risk assessment for towing a tender and the results adopted in the
yacht’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The TTP will demonstrate to any third party that the
yacht crew and management have correctly identified hazards, assessed risks, and adopted risk
mitigation measures for tender towing. Tow protection is structured around three phases:

Tender towing includes any chase boat which is connected to the yacht as a towed vessel. The TTP
should consider the implications of a manned tow if this is appropriate.

Insurance Requirements
Tender towing is considered a high-risk activity by insurance underwriters and their policies will
usually include warranty limitations for this activity. A well thought through and effectively
implemented TTP will demonstrate to the underwriters that the risks associated with tender towing
have been identified and procedures are in place to mitigate these risks to an acceptable level.

Familiarisation
A key component to the success of the TTP is ensuring all the crew are trained and familiar with the
equipment and procedures. Drills, which rehearse responses to contingencies, and which test
equipment, should be conducted before commencing a towing operation.

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 Tender Tow Plan (TTP)

Appraisal – hazard identification and assessment

Gathering and assessing all relevant information
required for the intended towing operation.

Planning – mitigation and control

Developing a plan based on the outcome of the
appraisal.

Execution
Preparation and conduct of the towing operation
following the TTP.
Crew briefing and watchkeeping duties.

Monitoring
Checking the progress of the TTP remains within the
adopted safety margins.
Close and continuous monitoring of the towing
equipment and tender under tow.

Contingency
Response plans when safety margins are exceeded.
Actions plan before tow fails or tender adrift.
Locating and recovery of tender adrift.

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 Appraisal
When assessing the tow operation, consider:

• Sheltered waters or open sea

Location
• Proximity to navigation hazards
• Inside or outside harbour/port
• Restricted passages, narrow channels, traffic lanes
• Safety margins
• Location or changes of manned/unmanned tow

• Establish limits for sea state, swell, and wind, for tender safety
Environmental limits
and tow stability
• Establish visibility limitations
• Effect of current and tides
• Dangers of lee shores

• Chafing of tow lines and/or bridle

Duration
• Stress on towing points
• Tender systems – battery life etc
• Increased workload for crew

• Monitoring methods for night

Day or night
• Tender equipment for night
• Illumination for working area
• Available systems to assist with location of tender adrift

• In general
Crew experience of
• In expected location
towing
• During darkness
• Within environmental limits
• Practice drill to familiarise all crew and examine equipment
Legal aspects of a
• Liability in event of collision or running aground
lost tender
• Salvage by 3rd party, was tender abandoned?
• Benefit of placing notice on board with appropriate information

• Local
Regulations
• Pilotage
• International
• Restrictions on use of AIS while towing

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 Planning 1 of 2
When planning the tow operation, consider:

Weather forecast • Sea state, swell, and wind, within limits

• Visibility within limits
• Implications on locating and recovery

Towing Area • Inclusion in the passage plan

• Adequate safety margins to allow for set and drift
• Confirm speed plan
• Identify critical points where parameters may change e.g. speed
• Identify refuge points/ports

Towing equipment • Inspection

• Strong points on yacht identified
• Towing points on tender reinforced
• Breaking strain of tow line, bridle, attachment (see eg MCA advice,
generally 2.5 x total tow weight)
• Adequate for expected duration and weather
• Plan of towing arrangement for yacht and tender
• Secondary / redundant back-up attachments & tow line

Tender equipment • Suitable position reporting systems fitted for local recovery and
remote tracking, as required
• Appropriate monitoring systems for tender safety and tow
stability, as required
• COLREG lights and shapes, under tow and adrift
• Automatic bilge pump(s) of adequate capacity, capable of
operation when swamped
• Adequate battery capacity for: bilge-pumps, position reporting
systems, lights, etc
• Crew safety equipment inspected
• Tender engine lifted/secured
• Tender drive shaft secured
• Steering gear secured
• Watertight closures secured
• Cushions and loose objects secured
• Bilges clean and alarm tested
• Radar reflector rigged

Continued…

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 Planning 2 of 2
When planning the tow operation, consider:

Yacht equipment • Safety equipment in place e.g. life buoy with line
• Communication between tow position, bridge and engine room
tested
• COLREG towing lights and/or shapes
• Restrict access to working area
• Illumination tested for working area
• Test tender monitoring and position reporting systems on bridge
• Integration of tow alarms with alarm management system
• Process for informing other vessels of drifting tender

Crew planning • Adequate and experienced crew for deck, bridge and engine room

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 Execution
When conducting the tow, consider:

Crew preparation • Any towing checklist completed

• Adequate crew available
• All crew briefed and familiarised
• Crew safety equipment issued
• Guests kept clear from working area

Start tow • Decide tow length

• Secure tow line and bridle to strong points
• Flake tow lines – danger to crew of standing in bights of rope
• Check all lines clear of propellers and rudders before starting
yacht engines
• Slowly increase speed to avoid shock loading
• Keep clear of lines under load – snap back dangers
• Confirm with bridge before standing down from tow area

Watchkeepers • Monitor the tow and tender safety and stability

duties • Monitor correct operation & visibility of COLREG lights and shapes
• Monitor risk of another vessel crossing astern between yacht &
tender
• Remain within the speed plan
• Advise captain of any delays or alterations affecting the tow
• Monitor weather conditions
• Identify critical points on the passage plan
• Call additional crew if required

End tow • Crew preparation completed

• Taking in slack of tow line as speed reduces
• Keep crew clear of rope bights and lines under load
• Keep all lines clear of propellers and rudders

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 Monitoring
When monitoring the progress of the tow plan, consider:

Tender • Immediate awareness of tender’s position in relation to the yacht

• Yawing – should remain in yacht’s wake
• Surfing / over-running – should retain constant load on towline &
attachments
• Slamming – should avoid impact loads on tender
• Stability of the tender including trim, roll or heel

Tow line and bridle • Tow line and bridle remain secure
• Any excessive shock loading or snatching
• Any excessive weight on the tow line
• Signs of chafing
• Strong points on the yacht

Tender systems • Tracking system active

• Lights and battery life
• Bilge levels and bilge pump activity
• Tender sensor alarms
• Radar reflector

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 Contingency
Possible responses include the following:

• Reduce speed
Tow line under too
• Call captain
much stress/strain
• Consider possible option of abandoning tender
• Reassess the situation before increasing speed, e.g.: normal tow
speed, “run for shelter”, reduced tow speed
• Secondary tow line prepared

• Reduce speed
Tender excessive
• Call captain
yawing, slamming,
• Review weather and sea state
pitching, or surfing
• Review length of tow line
• Reassess the situation before increasing speed

• Reduce speed
Tender safety and
stability • Call captain
• Recover tender using the tow line
• Inspect and review tender conditions

• Stop engines if safe to do so

Tender adrift –
immediately • Call captain
awareness • Activate tender tracking and lights
• Advise other vessels in vicinity
• Recover any lines in the water
• Ensure yacht’s propeller and steering are not fouled
• Plot tender’s position and rendezvous course
• Advise shore authorities and management

• Call captain
Tender adrift –
delayed awareness • Ensure yacht’s propeller and steering are not fouled
or cannot be safely • Recover any lines in the water
recovered • Activate tender tracking and lights if possible – satellite reporting
may be required
• Plot tender’s last known position and use dead reckoning for
estimated position
• Advise other vessels in vicinity
• Plot rendezvous course
• Advise shore authorities and management

• Requirement for AIS equipment NOT to be operational on a tender

Regulations
under tow
• Recommendation for AIS to be operational on a tender adrift
• Requirement to advise all vessels in the vicinity of tender adrift
• Local regulations to advise shore authority such as coast guard

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