Shipping · Reference Entry

Towage

/ˈtaʊɪdʒ/
/ˈtaʊɪdʒ/
noun Shipping TOW-ij

The act of pulling or pushing another vessel, generally used in harbors or offshore.

Published 2026-10-04 Category: Shipping Reviewed by Alex Grant, Editor-in-Chief
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01

Definitions #

The act of pulling or pushing another vessel, generally used in harbors or offshore.

Technical A maritime service where a tugboat assists a ship with maneuvering, berthing, or moving when its own power suffices.

02

Etymology #

From 'tow' (to pull) plus suffix '-age' (charge for the service).

03

Collocations #

  • towage fee 拖带费用
  • harbour towage 港口拖拽作业
04

Real Business Examples #

  1. The tanker required three tugboats for the berthing operation, but the towage fee was reduced after a dispute.
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05

Register & Variants #

  • Register: neutral
  • BrE/AmE: global
06

Synonyms & Antonyms #

  • Synonyms: towing
07

Common Errors #

  • Consider towage as always for broken ships. Towage is often for maneuvering assistance, not only for emergency.
08

Confusable Terms #

Tugboat vs Towage
Tugboat is the vessel; towage is the service.
09

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does towage cost??

It varies based on the port, the size of the ship, and the number of tugs.

Who pays for towage??

Usually the shipowner pays, but if caused by default, the charterer may reimburse.

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Published: 2026-10-04 Category: Shipping