Does anyone know anything about/ have had experience with the Navy’s tugboat fleet? I saw an article that they have Z drive assist boats and was unaware of that. Are those who work on them service members?
https://www.facebook.com/SUBPAC/posts/10159498177120406
This Navy tug looks to be crewed with a USN crew, its at Yokosuka however and not stateside.
Tugs with a name starting with USS are most likely crewed by Navy personnel, while tugs with USNS are operated by MSC with primarily civilian crews.
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Did you find the answers you are looking for? Yes, the Navy owns six YT 802 class built under contract starting in 2010 and six YT 808 class built under contract starting in 2020. Professional Mariner had an article on YT 808 CL. All builds are Robert Allen Ltd Z-Tech design with Navy requested modifications including underwater fendering for submarine work. Good, solid tugs with 48t BP, 3,800hp, slip drives. They are not USS or MSC. Four tugs operate in Japan by uniformed sailors while the others (-809) operate in the Puget Sound and are crewed by Navy civilian federal employees, not MSC or contractors. There are also two 65’ tugs being built for the Puget Sound and northeast. Fun times as the old single screw YTB’s are replaced. If looking to change career paths there have been position flyers on USA Jobs for Bremerton.