Workboat/Towing Solutions
& Tow Rope Products

It’s not just a rope—it’s a system. Samson's innovative products and systems are designed to deliver value to tugs and winches around the world. That’s why our high-performance tow ropes are built to meet the rigorous demands of tugs and workboats. Towline systems are not an off-the-shelf decision. It’s been said that the single most important piece of equipment in the industry is the dependable connection between your towing vessel and the vessels in your care.

At Samson, we focus on developing ropes that work best within a complete towing system—ensuring safety, maximum service life, and reduced risk of tow line failure.

Tug Assist Branding 1
Close-up of a heavy-duty orange tow rope by Samson Rope
Tug Assist Branding 3

TUG & TOW LINE SOLUTIONS

For owners and operators in today’s towing industry, safe working conditions, maximum service life, and mitigated failure of towing lines on your workboat are top priorities. That’s why we focus on developing ropes and towing lines that work best within a complete towing system.

Samson specialists take all towline variations into account when making system recommendations, addressing issues related to long-term use and incident-specific damage, as well as towline construction, coatings, fiber, chafe gear, and ongoing line management.

Protect Your Tow Line Investment

Prevent line failure and extend line life. Maximize your service life through inspection, rope monitoring, and constant care.

Samson Rope Towing Systems Enhance SAFETY & SERVICE LIFE

Samson has proven longer service life compared to legacy tow lines and steel wire rope—frequently lasting up to 3x longer.

OTHER ADVANTAGES:
Samson’s tow ropes offer strength comparable to steel wire rope while being 85% lighter, making them easier to handle and deploy. Unlike steel wire, they are safer to use without the risk of injury and provide a similar stretch of just 1%. Designed to float indefinitely, they are easy to inspect and repair in the field. With approximately twice the strength of polyester, their performance remains unaffected when wet, ensuring durability in the toughest environments.

 

Learn more about ICARIA for Workboat solutions.

  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-FUSION-X™ FUSION-XTM 12-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 NYLON™ RP-12 NYLONTM 12-Strand Nylon
Details Where To Buy
Image-STABLE BRAID™ COATED STABLE BRAIDTM COATED Double Braid Polyester / Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-TURBO-37™ TURBO-37TM Jacketed / Multi-Core Polyester / Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-ULTRA BLUE-8™ ULTRA BLUE-8TM 8-Strand Polyolefin
Details Where To Buy
  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-SSR-1200-3™ SSR-1200-3TM 3-Strand Polyolefin - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-STABLE BRAID™ UNCOATED STABLE BRAIDTM UNCOATED Double Braid Polyester / Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-SUPER STRONG™ SUPER STRONGTM Double Braid Nylon / Nylon
Details Where To Buy
Image-ULTRA BLUE-3™ ULTRA BLUE-3TM 3-Strand Polyolefin
Details Where To Buy
  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-PROTON-8™ PROTON-8TM 8-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-QUANTUM-12™ QUANTUM-12TM 12-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-QUANTUM-8™ QUANTUM-8TM 8-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-QUANTUM-X™ QUANTUM-XTM 12-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 POLYESTER™ RP-12 POLYESTERTM 12-Strand Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 SSR-1200™ RP-12 SSR-1200TM 12-Strand Polyolefin - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-STABLE BRAID™ UNCOATED STABLE BRAIDTM UNCOATED Double Braid Polyester / Polyester
Details Where To Buy
  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-DURA-PLEX UNCOATED™ DURA-PLEX UNCOATEDTM 12-Strand Polypropylene - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 SSR-1200™ RP-12 SSR-1200TM 12-Strand Polyolefin - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 ULTRA BLUE™ RP-12 ULTRA BLUETM 12-Strand Polyolefin
Details Where To Buy
Image-SURESTEEL™ SURESTEELTM 12-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-ULTRA BLUE-3™ ULTRA BLUE-3TM 3-Strand Polyolefin
Details Where To Buy
  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-AMSTEEL®BLUE AMSTEEL®BLUE 12-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-NEUTRON-8™ NEUTRON-8TM 8-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-SATURN-12™ SATURN-12TM 12-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-SURESTEEL™ SURESTEELTM 12-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-TURBO-RC™ TURBO-RCTM Core Dependent Double Braid HMPE / HMPE
Details Where To Buy
  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-LINK-IT PLUS™ LINK-IT PLUSTM 12-Strand HMPE Details Where To Buy
Image-LINK-IT™ LINK-ITTM 12-Strand HMPE Details Where To Buy
  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-HTP-12™ HTP-12TM 12-Strand Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-MP-1™ MP-1TM 8-Strand Polyolefin - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 NYLON™ RP-12 NYLONTM 12-Strand Nylon
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 POLYESTER™ RP-12 POLYESTERTM 12-Strand Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 SSR-1200™ RP-12 SSR-1200TM 12-Strand Polyolefin - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-STABLE BRAID™ UNCOATED STABLE BRAIDTM UNCOATED Double Braid Polyester / Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-SUPER STRONG™ SUPER STRONGTM Double Braid Nylon / Nylon
Details Where To Buy
  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-EMERGENCY TOWING SYSTEMS (ETS) EMERGENCY TOWING SYSTEMS (ETS) N/A HMPE Details Where To Buy
Image-EMERGENCY VESSEL ATTACHMENT & TOWING SYSTEM (EVATS) EMERGENCY VESSEL ATTACHMENT & TOWING SYSTEM (EVATS) N/A HMPE Details Where To Buy
Image-VULCAN™ VULCANTM Core Dependent Double Braid Aramid / Aramid
Details Where To Buy
  product construction fiber (core/cover)    
Image-AMSTEEL®BLUE AMSTEEL®BLUE 12-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-FUSION-X™ FUSION-XTM 12-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-NEUTRON-8™ NEUTRON-8TM 8-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-PROTON-8™ PROTON-8TM 8-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-QUANTUM-12™ QUANTUM-12TM 12-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-QUANTUM-8™ QUANTUM-8TM 8-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-QUANTUM-X™ QUANTUM-XTM 12-Strand HMPE - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 POLYESTER™ RP-12 POLYESTERTM 12-Strand Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 SSR-1200™ RP-12 SSR-1200TM 12-Strand Polyolefin - Polyester Blend
Details Where To Buy
Image-RP-12 ULTRA BLUE™ RP-12 ULTRA BLUETM 12-Strand Polyolefin
Details Where To Buy
Image-SATURN-12™ SATURN-12TM 12-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-STABLE BRAID™ UNCOATED STABLE BRAIDTM UNCOATED Double Braid Polyester / Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-SURESTEEL™ SURESTEELTM 12-Strand HMPE
Details Where To Buy
Image-TURBO-37™ TURBO-37TM Jacketed / Multi-Core Polyester / Polyester
Details Where To Buy
Image-TURBO-RC™ TURBO-RCTM Core Dependent Double Braid HMPE / HMPE
Details Where To Buy

The Right Rope for the Right Application

Chances are, you have specific challenges that demand a customized approach to your towing operations. Selecting the appropriate rope for your towing operations is crucial to the safety and efficiency of any job. Samson offers a range of products specifically engineered to meet the needs of tug, towing, and workboat applications.

Products like Fusion-X™ are perfect for replacing traditional polyester lines, handling tough towing jobs with enhanced strength and abrasion resistance. Turbo-RC™ makes static towback operations safer and easier with its lightweight design that floats and spools smoothly on winches. For heavy-duty towing workboats requiring extra grip, Quantum-X™ offers a higher coefficient of friction and a high-visibility orange coating for extra abrasion resistance. For a tug that requires long-lasting performance under harsh sunlight, Saturn-12™, made with Dyneema® fiber, delivers exceptional UV and abrasion resistance.

Contact us to learn more about how Samson considers every detail—rope construction, coatings, fibers, and line management—to optimize performance in workboat environments.

Got more questions?

Check out our product selection guide for all of your towing system needs.

resources for Tug

In addition to our tug system approach, which provides you with a comprehensive strategy to meet your needs, we also provide unparalleled service, including application knowledge, technical support, and product training and service.

FAQ

Where can Samson tug and towing ropes be used?

Marine Environments: Designed to withstand saltwater and high-moisture conditions.

Heavy-Duty Towing: Built to handle high-stress operations.

Emergency Use: Reliable in critical situations such as vessel recovery, salvage, rapid response towing, and emergency towing.

What should I consider when choosing a tow/tug/workboat tow line?

To choose the right tow rope for your needs, consider the job—towing, towback, or emergencies—in addition to the environment, like saltwater or high UV exposure. From there, select a durable material with the strength you need. Lastly, ensure that your selection meets safety standards.

Svitzer A/S

As part of the Maersk Group of companies, Svitzer A/S is the largest towage and salvage company in the world, operating more than 430 vessels and employing over 4,000 associates globally. Read more

view all case studies

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Where To Buy