tug-boats

The sun was setting and the last tug-boats, with their string of barges, were hurrying towards some port on the Seine.

Maigret's Little Joke Simenon, Georges, 1903- 1960

Now, who of the two hundred thousand spectators that lined the docks, would pay the two thousand dollars for the life-boat, a thousand for repairing the dock and vessels, and the bill for the three tug-boats for two hours each?

Ocean Steam Navigation and the Ocean Post Thomas Rainey

The captains from the adjacent sloops and tug-boats formed an outer circle about the closer ring made by the competitors for our favors, while the loungers along the parapets, and the owners of top seats on the shining quay steps, may be said to have been in possession of orchestra stalls from the first rising of the curtain.

In and out of Three Normady Inns Anna Bowman Dodd

No one, however, can complain of any want of variety in these steam-craft, whether in size or in shape, from the rather stately steamships to the little tug-boats that shoot to and fro like gnats upon the surface of a pool.

Lippincott's Magazine, November 1885 Various

When a vessel is announced to be ashore or sunk, the owners usually apply to the wreckers, and make a bargain with them that they shall receive a certain proportion of her value if they save her, and the wreckers then proceed to the scene of the accident, taking with them powerful tug-boats, large pontoons, immense iron cables, and a massive derrick.

Harper's Young People, December 30, 1879 An Illustrated Weekly Various

He was brought when quite young to Detroit, Michigan, where his parents settled, and he is at present engaged with his father in the boat business, they owning one ferry and two tug-boats.

The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 J. F. Loubat

Her head sails were set, to pay her head off still more, and at last the victorious tug-boats pulled her safe into the swatchway, accompanied by the lifeboat.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

Through our control of the Makaroff sawmill, we had two tug-boats belonging to the mill, but it was only rarely that we could use them for other purposes.

The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki Campaigning in North Russia 1918-1919 Harry H. Mead

Crown half an hour afterwards was floated by the rising tide on the very top of the fateful sands; her hawser was brought to the waiting tug-boats, and she was towed -- ship, cargo, and crew all saved -- into the shelter of the Downs.

Heroes of the Goodwin Sands Thomas Stanley Treanor

Seeing one of the curious little tug-boats about to proceed through the tunnel, we obtained permission from one of the very grimy crew to place our canoe aboard, and, this safely accomplished, the tug puffed and snorted up to the entrance, hitched on to a string of barges, and with a deal of fuss and smoke entered the tunnel.

Through Canal-Land in a Canadian Canoe Vincent Hughes