Novatug, the Rotterdam-based specialist behind the design of the revolutionary Carousel towing system for tugboats, has established an international tugboat equipment sourcing consultancy for vessel owners and shipyards. The innovative Carousel towing system, which is being incorporated into two combi-tugs being built in Malaysia for Dutch salvage and towage company Multraship, could revolutionise tug design, without the need for expensive technology, according to Rolf Kievits. The Carousel design incorporates an integrated winch platform, together with appropriate finite element calculations to ensure that the entire structure is able to take its prescribed design load, fully independent of the ship, on the freely rotating Carousel and winch platform.