One of the most asked questions when I’m on foreign vessels is: “ Why are all these tug boats around? “ Meaning not simple assist tugs.
The answer is manning loopholes.
No other country has this manning loophole. Thus no other country needs to have a distinction between a ‘ship’ and a tug and barge for manning reqs.
Many tugs and barges are used around the world. What is the manning scale of them? Any non US tug operators here that tow barges? What is the Tonnage of the barges you tow? Any Non US ATB operators that can elaborate about running equipment that did NOT originate in the US in your area of operation?
Looking around the world on marine traffic shows a lack of similar ATBs around the world. Wonder why.
Any vessel OVER 1600 tons must have an Unlimited tonnage Master and Mate to operate. How was it decided that the US tug fleet is so special that a barge (up to 9,999GT) is able to be pushed by tug with a less than 300 ton masters license!? It looks pretty stupid to the rest of the seafaring world.