Towing the Agile Solution

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[swap]

Hi, I would like some help please. I am unable to tow the Agile Solution into the New York Harbour with the jet drive Tug. The Tug has no directional stability. It goes sideways it has no rudder or it is too small. I came from the Antarctic fighting my way out between Icebergs and Ice shelf's. I cannot get the tug and the Argile Solution into a straight line. I am using a single tow line from the middle of the Tug stern to the middle bow point of the towed vessel When trying to get into the correct heading the tug slide sideways and the towed vessel does not follow the turn. Using the towed vessels rudder does not help either. The tug goes sideways until it is hard alongside the towed vessel. Could someone give me some pointers please. It seems strange to use a tug with such poor directional control as you need the rudder to provide for lateral resistance I believe. Anyway I am unable to complete the assignment called " going south out of Sydney and returning to New York". Regards Peter

 

[sadsid (†2016)]

Hi swap
Please click on link this may help you with problem.

http://80.95.161.114/shipsim/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=25031.0;attach=94129

[saltydog]

Hi sadsid, clicking on that link gives me the following message:
"The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.
Please login below or register an account with Ship Simulator."

[sadsid (†2016)]

HERE YOU GO

[saltydog]

Thanks (I was actually asking for swap)  Bugsier is my favourite tug..
Here's a fairly accurate model of the Bugsier, to show how the propulsion looks ..

[swap]

Thank you sadsid and saltydog. I understand the drive system now. The tug still slides sideways when trying to turn. There must be a 3.5 knot current coming out of Sydney Harbour. As soon as I slow down the tug a little everything goes backwards. The tug the towed vessel as well. This is from 4 knots the speed indicator shows SOG 3.8 the towline is tight and everything is going in reverse even though I have a forward speed indication. So something is wrong here. Also as soon as I give the starboard engine a little more rpm like 50 more than the port engine the towed vessel immediately swings is bow. This is impossible in real life. So anyway thank you for your help but I was not able to bring the vessel and its crew home. I did offer them rowboats. I believe the software needs some work. Regards Peter
 

[saltydog]

I thought I would give that mission a go, but I can't find a mission under that name.
Where is it to be found ?

[sadsid (†2016)]

Hi
It is 1 of the Core missions with main game.
                                                          Eric

[swap]

Hi Salty Dog, it is a core mission called southbound across the Pacific. You will get to the antarctic to deliver parts to the Esperanza moor to its port side. Then find your way out of the ice fields and ice bergs. When you get to the ice shelf's go to starboard right along the edge of the ice shelf you will see a iceberg but there is a space between it and the ice shelf. Navigate through there and you will be clear. Visibility is poor because of snow falling. Then you get to New York harbour. That is where you will have to tow the Agile Solution to its berth. That is where my problems begin. Also I had to pause the game before reaching the berth by .4 nautical miles . When I resumed the game from pause the tug and the towed vessel had jumped ahead passed my turn to port. Very frustrating. Thank you for trying the assignment and good luck. Please let me know how you make out. I need to learn. Regards Peter

[saltydog]

Well, I managed to finish the Core mission #10, 'Departing from down under', where you leave Sydney with the Agile Solution, and via Antarctica go to New York. Getting through the Antarctic icefields/icebergs was tricky with all that snow falling.(the radar was useless)  In New York you must tow the Agile to a harbour with a Bugsier.
Towing her in a straight line was no problem, it's when you must change direction that it gets a bit hairy. It seems like the Agile has a mind of her own and decides not to follow your tug but go straight ahead. I had to cut the tow a few times, race ahead of her and reattach. I got there in the end but it wasn't pretty..
I don't know in how far a towed ship would behave in that way in reality.
So swap, it may take some doing, but it can be done..

[sadsid (†2016)]

Hi
A lot make the mistake of towing to fast instead of using the power of the tug
to go fast you should keep the speed down and use it in the turns.

Once you have the tow going at 2 to 3 knots you should keep the tow at that
speed towing is a slow steady job by keeping it down you can then apply the
power of the tug when needed in the turns.
                                                                                              Eric

[Traddles]

It should be remembered that "Agile Solution" remains a playership in the mission in question. Her main engine and bow thruster are de-activated, but her steering gear is still operational. As the tow proceeds you can swop to "AS" and back to the tug as needed, and make certain she follows the tug by steering her. Keeping the speed down is vital, both in the mission and in reality. If you were to try towing at high speed in reality the problems described above would actually happen. A ship is a very large lump of steel and the momentum she picks up cannot just be slowed down with a brake like a car. I took the tow into the berth at a maximum speed of 4.8 knots only and had no problems. I attach some pictures below. Note that I kept the tug & tow in the main channel with no problem.
NB I have turned off the red and white all round lights on the tug as they would not be used in a harbour tow like this. (Just in case you were wondering, I am able to do this but I'm afraid you cannot. )

Angus.

[swap]

Hi Salty Dog, my mission is the one before that southbound across the pacific. You end up in Sydney not New York. Thank for your reply and Explanation. Regards Peter

[swap]

Thank yo Traddles for your reply. I have tried to do it slowly in a straight line and it works somewhat. The turns are the problem. I have used the Rudder on the Agile Solution to assist with the turns. It was not pretty the Agile solution hit the dock at the stern and capsized. It was doing 3 knots at that time. I don't want to talk about it. I will try again. Please allow me a comment. It is not fun or enjoyable when the simulation becomes so very difficult to finish. Regards Peter

[saltydog]

You will get to the antarctic to deliver parts to the Esperanza moor to its port side. Then find your way out of the ice fields and ice bergs. When you get to the ice shelf's go to starboard right along the edge of the ice shelf you will see a iceberg but there is a space between it and the ice shelf. Navigate through there and you will be clear. Visibility is poor because of snow falling. Then you get to New York harbour. That is where you will have to tow the Agile Solution to its berth.

As far as I can tell, that is Core mission #10. Good luck with it..

[Traddles]

Hi Salty,
You are quite correct, the mission IS Core no. 10. Following on to you Swap. Part of the fun of a game like this, in my very humble opinion, is to get to the stage where things become less difficult through practice. It doesn't happen in a few minutes, it took me 10 years in real life to get my Masters ticket. (See below)

Angus.

[swap]

Hi Traddles, I bow deeply and Congratulations. My accomplishments fail to measure up. All I ever did was to operate a pleasure 50 foot Trawler built by Monk and other smaller pleasure motor and sail boats in the 35 to 42 foot range. I did not damage any of them. Happy steaming or sailing. Regards Peter

[swap]

Hi all, just for the record the mission is Core # 9 part 3. You end up in Sydney not New York. Regards Peter

[GunbusterG]

Hi Traddles,

Having a Masters Ticket you might be able to answer my question which I have just started in another message string. I obviously did not search with correct wording. Sorry!

here is the link to it. http://80.95.161.114/shipsim/forum/index.php/topic,28807.new.html#new