Insights

The Workboat Association (WA) and Polestar Publishing are pleased to announce a new partnership to deliver online training for workboat crews. The courses are based on the WA Good Practice Guides and developed in close collaboration with the WA Training…

Gob Ropes, Use and Risks, by Captain Henk HensenConventional tugs may be old school, but their safe operation is more crucial than ever as their numbers, and experienced crews, dwindle. The biggest risk? Not knowing your tug’s limits, which can lead…

Polestar Publishing signs collaborative agreement with the British Tugowners Association Polestar Publishing was delighted to sign a new collaborative agreement with British Tugowners Association (BTA) at Seawork on 11 June. The agreement formalises a publishing partnership between the BTA and…

Towline Care and Ship, Port and Tug Crew Safety (Parts 1 & 2) Captain Henk Hensen, SWZ Maritime, April–May 2026 As tug power has increased, fewer tugs are now used per job, making towline failure more dangerous.  87 towline failures…

Second Edition of the BTA Guide to Rope Selection, Procurement & Usage Polestar Publishing is proud to have published the second and revised version of the highly respected first edition of the Rope Guide. This edition provides updated structure and…

Gog Rope Industry Guidance Polestar Publishing is proud to have contributed to the Gog Rope Industry Guidance. This Guide, written by The British Tugowners Association, UK Maritime Pilots’ Association and the Workboat Association aims to provide practical recommendations for the…

Use of Tugs in Firefighting   Ship fires remain one of the most dangerous incidents at sea, threatening lives, the environment, and global trade. With over 200 reported fire incidents in 2023 alone, the need for effective marine firefighting has…

The future of the ISM Code: navigating new horizons in maritime safety By Kerrie ForsterThe International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been recently reviewing the effectiveness of the  International Safety Management (ISM) Code to address emerging issues in maritime safety. In…

Discover Polestar Digital Academy in the 27th edition of TugeZine Over the past months, we’ve shared several teasers about the upcoming Polestar Digital Academy. Now, 2025 marks the year we go live! This transformative step in maritime training is further…

Learning by turning By Captain Henk HensenThis article focuses on a very specific issue, which has had not much attention up till now but may play a role during the use of a turning circle or similar situations. It may…

Big is Better? By Captain Henk Hensen, 30 JUL 2024. Credits: The Nautical InstituteTug power has increased considerably over recent decades. Today, some ship handling tugs have a bollard pull of more than 100 tons. In addition, high tug power…

3 questions for Tom Abbenhues 1. Why is your job/discipline important? The maritime sector is a vital part of the world economy as roughly 90% of everything we use, including our food and raw materials, reaches us on a ship.…

What is e-learning? April 2023In an era defined by technological and digital advancements, the traditional landscape of educational publishing has undergone a remarkable transformation. E-learning has now become an integral part of the educational ecosystem, offering an array of opportunities…

Shiptalk Ep. 35 with Capt. Henk Hensen Captain Henk hensen, FNI, shares his views on Tug use in Port. In this podcast Henk Hensen talks about tug safety, training with tugs, and safe working with tugs, pilots and ships. GoldenStripes…

3 questions for Ramon van Hal 1. Why do you like the field that you work in and why is it important? I always liked ships, trains and airplanes. The enormous power of these machines, crossing countries, hammering through skies…

3 questions for Henk Hensen 1. Why do you like the field that you work in and why is it important? The field I am working in comprises ships, tugs, and ship handling with tugs. It is not only interesting…

Digital Transformation in the maritime industry From radar to ECDIS to IBS In recent years, maritime digitization has advanced, particularly in navigation systems. The integration of ECDIS with radar led to fully integrated navigation and bridge systems. It's crucial for…

Three Questions for Captain Ralph Becker-Heins March 2023 Why do you like the field that you work in and why is it important? The sea and the maritime world were fascinating me from childhood, and I had the incredible privilege…

Western Maritime Training and Polestar Publishing collaborate on teaching materials for new tug course April 2023Western Maritime Training, a bespoke provider of maritime training courses located in Plymouth, United Kingdom, will be launching an online training for Tug Masters to…