ABSTRACT
The type of towing discussed in this chapter is that employed in open waters by a vessel which is not a tug. In the text the vessel which is being towed will be referred to as the tow.
In certain circumstances a ship which requires to be towed may not necessarily be in distress, and for this reason, a Master proposing to tow her should ascertain that his Charter-party and/or Bills of Lading allow him to do so in such a case. If the vessel is in distress, then she could be towed to a place of safety, but the towing Master then has no right to continue towing for the purpose of completing a successful salvage operation unless the above documents permit him to do so.
