How can a tug boat move a large ship?

Question

How can a tug boat move a large ship?

Answer 1

A big engine made by a company that know all ther is to know about big machines

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=...

Answer 2

i dont think they actualli move the ship...they just guide them to the direction they need to go......but im not sure! :S

Answer 3

By attaching a large rope and pulling woth it`s massive engines.

Answer 4

They have Heart! Well, I guess it more of a big engine.

Very much horse power.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tugboat

Answer 5

It all has to do with power to weight.. Think of it as putting a 18 wheeler semi engine into a VW bug.

Tugs are used mostly for the little movements of the ship. Its not something that happens fast either. It make take 30 min to move a ship that last 30-50 feet next to its dock. Its a slow steady process.

Answer 6

Huge powerful engines. They use jet propulsion type engines with approx 7500 horse power!

Answer 7

Nothing other than obscene amounts of horsepower and huge propellers.  Shiphandling tugs in large ports often have to move aircraft carriers and the like. This doesn't happen without a lot of muscle.

Now that's not to say that tugs are always in complete control of their tows. Wind and current can turn a good day bad, real fast.

Answer 8

Slowly more for control and steerage>