by 
Anonymous
ANSWERS: 3
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They do both. Cruise ships have to be "tugged" away from the dock before they can move under their own power.
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Tugboats push AND pull. Depending on the situation.
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The previous answers are correct - tugboats both push and pull. They tend to do mostly pushing in the place you see them most often, getting ships to the wharfside. Obviously, they have to push because otherwise they would be trapped between the ship and the wharf. Further out at sea, where you tend not to see them, they tug rather than push. Another reason is historical. Tugboats were amongst the first steam vessels, used to help sailing ships get into and out of harbour when the wind was weak or in the wrong direction. In this case, they overwhelmingly tugged. It is only with the aid of ships with their own power that they become a steering aid, shoving, instead of a moving aid, pulling,
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