Bollard pull

Bollard pull is a measure of a vessel's towing or pulling capacity, expressed in terms of the force it can exert backward when stationary with its towing gear. Imagine a ship using its engines and thrusters to hold or move itself against a tug or anchor; bollard pull quantifies how much force it can generate in that scenario, typically measured in metric tons or kilonewtons. This measurement helps determine a vessel’s strength for tasks like docking, towing, or maneuvering in challenging conditions, providing a standardized way to compare the pulling power of ships such as tugs or offshore vessels.