When an operational incident put a North American tugboat out of service, Thompson Marine and Berg Propulsion worked closely with the vessel operator to minimize downtime. Through close collaboration, local service presence, and access to critical components, the vessel could return to service without the lead time for new manufacturing.

When a tugboat is out of service, every day counts. Downtime is never just a single inconvenience. One disruption quickly affects scheduled operations and the network of people who depend on the vessel being available. In this case, an operational incident had damaged a North American tugboat’s propulsion system, making a fast and well-coordinated repair response essential.

Shortly after the incident, Thompson Marine, Berg Propulsion, and the vessel operator began discussing the most suitable repair approach. This early coordination helped define what would be needed once the vessel entered dry dock, while also ensuring that critical components could be made available without delay.

Once in dry dock, Thompson Marine acted quickly and executed the repair work using key components from a spare Berg MTA628 azimuth thruster unit — including the lower thruster, nozzle, propeller, and upper gear assembly. This strategic spare parts availability meant that the affected thruster could be restored without lead times for manufacturing or delivery. 

While the tugboat was in dry dock, Thompson Marine also serviced the vessel’s other thruster, helping support the vessel’s overall readiness before returning to operation. The repair work from start to finish was completed in roughly one week.

“These things are always a team effort between our customers and us. By keeping diverse spare units on hand, Thompson can respond quickly to our customers’ needs for large iron like this and get their boats back to work. We look forward to supporting our workboat market in this way for many years to come,” says Richard Tremayne, General Manager of Thompson Marine.

Through close collaboration, local service presence, and support throughout the vessel lifecycle — Berg Propulsion and its partners help vessel operators reduce downtime, avoid unnecessary headaches, and keep their vessels available for the people who rely on them.