World’s first advanced tow protection system launches at METS

TSM-Systems is launching its new tow protection system at Metstrade. Nominated for a DAME Award, TowPro is said to be the world’s first advanced tow protection system and, following a 12-month period of collaboration with insurers, captains and marine risk experts, is currently the only product approved by insurers for superyachts towing tenders and chase boats. 

“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,” says Vincent Geake, managing director of TSM-Systems. “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.”

Key safety indicators and essential data are transmitted live from the tender and viewed on the TowPro’s screen display on the superyacht. Information transmitted includes how long the bilge pumps have been running, bilge water levels and battery charge, as well as external factors such as surfing and yawing, trim and pitch, list angle and rolling. 

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. 

Paul Miller, director of underwriting at Millstream Underwriting Limited, comments: “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. We believe fitting the TowPro system provides a solution that will allow insurers to reduce both the towing restrictions and deductibles to the benefit of both the captains and owners.”

Retailing at 6,500€, the TowPro system can be installed by the ship’s crew, uses industry standard NMEA connections to the yacht and tender, and does not require the fitting of any additional antennae on the superyacht

TSM-Systems will be exhibiting on stand 07.609A in the Superyacht Pavilion at METS.