Tug to ship communication before radios. How was it done?

[JEM]

I recall sailing into Newington, NH in the early 1990's (tug & barge, in the notch) with an assist tug. Whistle signals were still in (partial) use there at that time. The assist tug's Master would respond to the Pilot's radioed orders with whistles.

[Jon Paul]

Communications between tugs and boats have even led to accidents. On June 7, 1902 the Str Geo Hadley was approaching the Duluth Ship Canal inbound when the tug Annie L Smith came along side to inform them that their load of coal had been reassigned to a Superior dock. The Captain received the instructions on the starboard side of his ship and immediately ordered hard left wheel to steer clear of the Duluth entry not realizing the Str Thomas Wilson was closing fast outbound with a load of iron ore. The Wilsons skipper seeing the Hadley turning into their path ordered hard right wheel to avoid collision but unfortunately their turning arcs intersected and the Hadley hit the Wilson a fatal blow.

[CG Bob]

During several trips in the 50s, I remember seeing a chart on the pilot house bulkhead with tug whistle signals. I don't remember the codes, but a few "titles", were back, ahead, strong.
In the early days of bow thrusters, a common expression used in the pilot house to turn off the bow thruster was "blow off the tug"!

That chart had two columns; one for "Hand Whistle (Police Type); and one for "Hand Signals". The "Hand Whistle side had the following whistle signals:
From stop to half speed ahead - 1 blast
From half speed ahead to stop - 1 blast
From half speed ahead to full speed ahead - 4 short blasts
From full speed ahead to half speed ahead - 1 blast
From stop to half speed astern - 2 blasts
From half speed astern to full speed astern - 4 short blasts
From half or full speed astern to stop - 1 blast
Cast off, stand clear - 1 prolonged, 2 short

A blast is 2 to 3 seconds duration.
A prolonged blast is 4 to 5 seconds duration.
A short blast is about 1 second duration.

I have a copy of the chart in my basement somewhere. If I can find it, I'll post a picture.

[pcolachap]

A few more recollections from the 50s. The Hanna boats ran regularly to the Great Northern ore docks in Superior. There were three docks in operation in those days one, two and four. So... first, typically the loading stopped until the ballast water was pumped out. Then the boat would "blow for a load", meaning to complete the cargo on load. The Great Lakes Towing tugs were at the head of one of the ore docks. The supervisor was very much aware of who was loading and when they might be due out. So, when the boat was ready to leave the dock, they would blow for a tug. The tug would go to whichever dock the loaded boat was at and assist them out into Allouez Bay. Those were the days!

[Jon Paul]

In a busy harbor with many ships and tugs it must have been a noisy place. I wonder how a tug would know which ship was trying to get their attention?
If a ship blew for a tug more than one might race to the scene to get the job?

Wouldn't it be fun to see a film from back then with all the coal smoke and steam whistles?

Dwight Boyer wrote some interesting short stories about tug competition during the early part of the 1900's. The tugboat races still going on today are a vestige of the old days.

[Darryl]

In the movie On The Water Front there is a working old time tug in at least one scene.

[RCRVRP]

In a busy harbor with many ships and tugs it must have been a noisy place. I wonder how a tug would know which ship was trying to get their attention?
If a ship blew for a tug more than one might race to the scene to get the job?

Wouldn't it be fun to see a film from back then with all the coal smoke and steam whistles?

[pcolachap]

During several trips in the 50s, I remember seeing a chart on the pilot house bulkhead with tug whistle signals. I don't remember the codes, but a few "titles", were back, ahead, strong.
In the early days of bow thrusters, a common expression used in the pilot house to turn off the bow thruster was "blow off the tug"!

[BigRiver]

Joe Ruch always blew them on the Oberstar right up until he retired last year. I always listened to see if they were returned. They seldom were. Joe was old school in a good way.

[guest]

i believe whistle signals vanished about 1985 im sure someone out there likily knows the exact date it served its time but like all things time marches on in a aside to that march 4th is the only day of the year that is a command think about it

[guest]

Maybe?

[Guest]

In a somewhat connected topic. When did ships stop blowing the customary passing signals? I remember hearing them being used by ships on the St. River back in the 1970s but now it seems like about the only time you hear them is for salutes.

[BigRiver]

In some old accounts I have often run across the words "blew for a tug"

[Guest]

Before there was radio communication how did a ship communicate with a tug to request assistance?

Probably whistle signals.

[RCRVRP]

Before there was radio communication how did a ship communicate with a tug to request assistance?