Chiza : So as a Capt of the tug you operate, what is the protocol when you lose power? It is clearly evident that this vessel lost power twice before it hit the bridge.
What I could see, it lost power 3 times that I could see....
@TexasTideFan. And I operate a tow, not a tug. The tugs were not alongside during these operations, which is not abnormal because of speed and constraints....had the tugs been alongside....who knows what would have happened. The vessel also had a bow thruster, but at the speed it was moving and with the loss of power, it was useless. When I lose power on my tow, we attempt to swap generator/steering....wherever we've lost control. If that doesn't happen...we veer to the bank. I'm fortunate, we can generally hit the "hill" (a bank or the ground) to avoid impending traffic....not always, but generally.