(えいこう)(せん)

えいこうせん
noun
tugboat; tug
1. tugboat; a boat that tows or pushes larger vessels
A small, powerful boat used to tow or push ships that are too large or disabled to maneuver on their own, especially in and out of harbors.
曳航(えいこう)(せん)(みなと)(はい)る。
A tugboat enters the harbor.
大型船(おおがたせん)曳航(えいこう)(せん)()く。
A tugboat pulls the large ship.
故障(こしょう)した(ふね)は、曳航(えいこう)(せん)()かれて(みなと)(もど)った。
The disabled ship was towed back to port by a tugboat.

Compound of 曳航(えいこう) (towing) + (ふね) (boat). A small, powerful vessel that tows or pushes larger ships, especially when guiding them through harbors or rescuing disabled craft.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 曳航(えいこう)(せん)()く: to tow with a tugboat
  • 曳航(えいこう)(せん)()かれる: to be towed by a tugboat

In everyday speech it is often called タグボート.