Hy in answer to the question whats a towing junk...
A towing junk was supplied by the tug and used as a Gog or as we called it a Kant, the ship would send down the tow rope and that was attached to the hook, the towing junk, usually about 5/6 inches thick was clipped on to the ships rope by means of a shackle, it was then pulled down to the aft bits by the capstan, (in my day that was all steam) thus the towing point was nearer to the stern of the tug. I suspect the question was a bit tongue in cheek, but thats what we called a towing junk when I worked the tugs. By the way they were a sod to splice, but we had to do it as deckies, and we were only 15, gave us plenty of overtime though.
Bosun