Long Range Tugs
only few space faring civilizations ever developed technology or procedures to tow another ship, beyond the confines of a star system.
While there is no clear cut answer why this isn't a more common procedure. It is beleived that some civilizations simply destroy disabled starships and only rescue the crews. Also of course the lack of FTL communication is believed to be a factor.[4]
Union ships are almost all capable of towing or pushing another ship, as long as their ISAH drives are able to engulf the other object witin the ISAH field. Most Union ships have towing equipment on board. Either physical cables or tractor beams and the like.
I some cases a tow connection is made by welding the two ships together.
Union registered space ship (Military and civilian) are required by law to respond to a distress call.[1]
Almost all Union space ports (Class A and usually Class B) have dedicated long range tugs available to respond to stranded or damaged ships. Most noteably of course famous Yellow Banner services with their own fleet of very advanced service provider ships and long range tugs.
Tugs may also be used as part of barge and container chains.
The Union Navy operates a large FTL capable fleet of long range Tugs to move Union Army barges into destination systems or from one place to another. [2]
There are huge long range tugs specifically designed to tow or push entire Gigamon stations into place, or move space forts and asteroids. These monstrous tugs are operated by the Union Army Corps of Engineers (But on permanent loan to the Army by the Navy commanded by Union Fleet officers)[3]
[1] Failing to respond to a received distress call can cause the loss of the Ship Masters licence or criminal charges (or in the case of a Union Fleet CO a hearing or court martial procedures)
this is a gray area because Ship Masters can claim they have not heard it or considered the situation unsafe.
[2] By Assembly decission, only the Union navy might operate faster than light ships under the flag of the United Stars of the Galaxies.
[3] Navy-Army FTL coalition is a dedicated Union Navy department seperate from the standard fleet commands and groups ( Union Naval Cross Branch assistance fleet - UNCBS [a] headquartered at Fort Honor)
[4] Only a space ship with the capability to send a distress call (while stranded or otherwise disabled between star systems) can be responded too within reasonable time. While many societies do have some form of FTL communication, it is often very limted in range and not much faster than ships. Only the Union has, so it appears developed a true real time communications network.
[a] Union Naval Cross Branch Services) Nicknamed the "FTL Slaves"