Braking while steering
Apply effective braking force while retaining directional control of the assisted vessel.
Operational control
Brake and steer the biggest ships
The Carrousel Rave Tug enables high-precision braking and steering of large vessels in confined waters, without capsize risk from transverse towline forces.
- Tow rotation
- 360°
- Static bollard pull
- 70 t
- Dynamic bollard pull
- 180 t
- Top speed
- 14.1 kn
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Control through a moving towing point.
The Carrousel ring follows the towline through 360°, preventing capsize under transverse towline load. This lets the CRT use its hull to generate braking and steering force while the ship is moving.
Explore the CRT engineering
Bow spring maneuver
The CRT brakes and steers from the vessel's bow, combining a fast response with controlled towline force.
Aft tug braking
The CRT works astern on a line from the ship's stern. It angles its hull into the water flow and uses that flow, with stable tow geometry, to brake the ship.
Capabilities
Maneuvers at a glance
Bow spring control
Guide large ships through channels and toward berths with responsive bow-side control.
Confined water precision
Operate in tight port approaches where reaction time and predictability are critical.
Capsize-safe tow geometry
The rotating tow point keeps towline force aligned and removes the core capsize mechanism.
Use cases
Operational scenarios
Narrow channel transit
Challenge
Limited space and delayed response reduce the available control margin.
CRT response
Immediate steering and braking from the bow spring position.
Outcome
More controlled ship handling through the channel.
Berthing large vessels
Challenge
Towage assistance can lose effectiveness during final alignment.
CRT response
Stable tow geometry supports precise heading correction under load.
Outcome
Predictable alignment close to the berth.
High-momentum ship handling
Challenge
Large vessel inertia demands sustained and controllable force.
CRT response
Hydrodynamic lift and controlled line force provide braking authority.
Outcome
Greater control during critical decision windows.
Interactive simulation
Experience the maneuvering logic
Use the demonstration to explore how force direction affects vessel control and how the CRT can reposition around the tow.
This simplified demonstration works best on desktop.Take the manoeuvre into training.
Rehearse crew coordination in the full-mission simulator in Terneuzen, or experience ship–tug interaction through manned-model training at Port Revel.
Explore training and simulationFrequently Asked Questions
Which maneuvers can the Carrousel Rave Tug perform?
Two core maneuvers are the bow spring maneuver and aft tug braking. In the bow spring maneuver, the CRT brakes and steers from the vessel's bow, combining a fast response with controlled towline force. In aft tug braking, the CRT works astern on a line from the ship's stern and uses the water flow against its angled hull to brake the ship.
How does the CRT brake and steer a moving ship?
The Carrousel ring follows the towline through 360°, so the CRT can use its hull to generate braking and steering force while the ship is moving. Hydrodynamic lift and controlled line force provide braking authority while the assisted vessel keeps directional control. Multratug 32 has a static bollard pull of 70 tonnes and a dynamic bollard pull of 180 tonnes.
In which situations is the CRT used?
Typical scenarios are narrow channel transits, where the CRT provides immediate steering and braking from the bow spring position; berthing large vessels, where stable tow geometry supports precise heading correction under load; and high-momentum ship handling, where sustained, controllable force is needed.
Can the CRT capsize during these maneuvers?
The CRT cannot capsize under transverse towline load. Its rotating towing point keeps the towline force aligned and removes the core capsize mechanism.
Where can crews practise CRT maneuvers?
Crews can rehearse coordination in the full-mission simulator in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, or experience ship–tug interaction through manned-model training at Port Revel in France.
From concept to operations
See what this control can mean for your port
Talk with Novatug about ship handling, operational scenarios, and the Carrousel Rave Tug.