What to look for when searching for tugboat companies for marine transportation.
There are a handful of tugboat companies offering waterborne assistance, but they’re definitely not all built the same. Today, we’re going to explain how to find the best tugboat towing company for your particular needs based on the following attributes:
Towing Experience
Like with any industry, you should always be on the lookout for a tugboat towing company that has experience. Tugboats have been a necessary part of the ocean for a very long time, so an experienced company is likely to have decades of towage under their belt. Just keep in mind that most tugboat companies are going to have years of experience, so you’ll want to look for other details as well.
A Well-Trained Crew
Everyone knows you need to have high-quality tugboats in order to get the job done but you also need a well-trained crew. A reputable towage company will not only be willing to tell you about their crew, but they’ll be absolutely delighted to do so. They can give you all the details you want, including the types of rigorous training the crew has been through and their unique experiences before and after employment with the company.
Advanced Fleet
If you go with a towing company that only has a few tugboats, you’re likely to run into problems. They may not be able to handle the weight that you’re asking them to move or the fleet could be easily depleted because they only have a few vessels available at any time. There’s no exact number, but if a company has a dozen vessels or more, that’s perfect. Also, these vessels should use advanced technology that can assist them in the towing process.
Range of Services
A good tugboat company will always offer a wide range of marine towing services. These would include marine transportation services, barge towing, emergency towing, and more. When a towing company is able to offer many different types of services, this means the vessels and crew are equipped to handle any waterborne towing needs that you require.
Solid Reputation
It should go without saying that a towage company’s reputation is important, but we’re going to say it anyway. Due to the nature of the towage industry, you probably won’t find too many online reviews as you would with a local restaurant or car dealership, for instance. If you’d like to know about their reputation, you could always ask to be given a few references of their past clients.
24/7 Assistance
No towage company worth their weight will leave you hanging when you’re either in the middle of a towing project or have an emergency. A reputable towage company will always be able to provide ship assists, project status, and other customer support needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you’re not confident that you can pick up the phone and get in touch with someone even in the middle of the night, that’s not the right company for you.
On-Time & On-Budget
When it comes to waterborne towage, there’s no room for a company to offer subpar services. A good tugboat company will have the reputation of performing their services on-time and on-budget. While everyone knows that problems can arise – such as the chain supply fiasco a while back – the company should provide some type of guarantee.
Contact Dann Ocean Towing for the Best Marine Towage Services
Dann Ocean Towing has an extensive history, amazing crew, and a commitment to be the best of all the tugboat companies. For questions about our waterborne services or to receive a free quote, call us at (813) 251-5100 today.
