This book is a compendium of towing practices gathered during 48 years of service on various types of tugs and in the office. It offers an intimate concept of many forms of towing; towing vessels; their design, construction, uses, and equipment; personnel; management; and methods of operation both on inland and ocean waters. Towing problems, projects, towage liability, and the law are discussed broadly with reference to specific treatises devoted to the tug and tow. Modern Towing covers most of these areas and the various aspects and methods of tug handling, operations, and usage. It is not just devoted to the role of the tug master. It reaches into the engine room afloat and management ashore. It examines harbor towing's various components: shifting, ship handling, and docking; all types of bargeing on the Great Lakes. In some areas, the comments are based on local US practices; in others, upon worldwide usage. A series of tables and diagrams useful to the towboat industry has been included in the appendices.