Responsibility of Tug-boat and Barge Owners in Iranian Maritime Law

Tug-boat and barge are among the marine vessels operating in the sea, especially in the Persian Gulf. Tug-boats in the field of transportation of goods along with the barge can be used as a unit, and also play an undeniable role in field of providing services, especially in the oil industry. Because transportation contracts using this device in the Persian Gulf based on domestic law, in practice, there is a great divergence of opinions, and courts often decide, based on Articles 377 and 386 of the Commercial Code of Iran. This study was carried out aimed to investigate the responsibility of the owner of the tug-boat in various assumptions in accordance with existing maritime laws and conventions which Iran is one of their member, and to explain that the activities of tug-boat and barge owners, especially in the field of commercial twage and maritime transportation are subject to maritime law, and the owners can use the benefits of the Act, including limiting the liability of tug-boat owners in compliance with the 1976 Convention, which Iran has joined it in 2014. Another point is that the maritime law emphasizes the unpredictability of the owner's mistakes in barge and tug-boat owners in collisions at sea.