One of the themes of the latter part of my book is the extent to which the advent of steam, a technology that would eventually drive merchant sailing ships from the sea, actually worked with sailing ships to improve their efficiency and extend their economic lives by considerably improving their port turnaround. Before ocean-going tugs were developed sailing ships might have to wait in the offing for days for a favourable onshore breeze and tide to bring them into port. Similarly, on departure a favourable breeze and tide would be required to carry them out of and away from port.
With the advent of steam tugs entering port became a business transaction negotiated by the respective skippers. The tugs might race out to the ship to win the tow, but the further it was the more expensive. The longer the sailing ship skipper could keep the tug master talking the shorter and less expensive the journey became. Also, by delaying the acceptance of a tow the sailing ship skipper increased the possibility that competing tugs might arrive.
Above: The sailing ship Lingard agrees to a tow up the Thames. Sailings ships benefited considerably by being towed in and out of ports. The tugboats often met them far out to sea. The sailboat skippers tried to keep the tugboat talking as long as possible to reduce the price. Photo from the Maritime Museum’s (Notteroy Historielag) letter No 24.
