TowPro advanced towing system to launch at METS

TSM-Systems will be launching the new TowPro product at the Superyacht Pavilion at METS on Stand 07.609A. Nominated for a DAME Award, TowPro is the world’s first advanced tow protection system, and is currently the only product approved by insurers for superyachts towing tenders and chase boats. 

Visitors to the show can benefit from a special 20% show discount available for METS and for orders taken before the end of November.

After a 12-month period of collaboration with insurers, captains, marine risk experts and electronics installers, TowPro is now the only approved system which addresses the issues involved with superyachts towing tenders and chase boats.

The high cost of the loss or damage to tenders and chase boats has forced insurers to place restrictions on towing, such as not allowing towing overnight or in higher wind strengths, and significantly increasing deductibles for tenders under tow. 

Vincent Geake, managing director of TSM-Systems, commented, “TowPro uses innovative data monitoring technology to increase the awareness of crew on watch and provide them with ‘eyes in the boat’ so that they have early warning of potential issues at all times, day and night. It provides comprehensive safety data about what is actually happening in the towed vessel, which cannot be seen by the crew on watch, so they can take action to prevent problems.”

Essential data identified in the Advanced Tow Protection collaboration transmitted live from the tender includes information about how long the bilge pumps have run in the past hour, bilge water levels, battery charge, as well as external factors including continuous measurement of surfing and yawing. All of these are considered key safety indicators of emerging problems with the tow, which can be viewed on TowPro’s screen display on the superyacht.

TowPro will automatically trigger audible and visuals alerts if any safety indicators exceed pre-set thresholds, providing the crew with immediate early warning of any potential issues. TowPro does not require the fitting of any additional antennae on the superyacht, and uses industry standard NMEA connections to the yacht and tender.

Paul Miller, director at Underwriting at Millstream Underwriting Limited, said, “We, along with other insurers, have suffered a substantial increase in losses from towing of tenders and this coupled with the increase in tender/chase boat values has heightened concern, which has led insurers to impose increased premiums, deductibles and towing restrictions. In an effort to ease the problem we collaborated with our risk management surveyor, captains and TowPro in an effort to provide a solution to the problem.”

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