Mississippi River barge tows

[Doug Kerr]

The Mississippi River, together with its tributaries (notably the Missouri River, itself about 2300 miles long and the longest "single-named" river in North America) forms a continuous waterway over 3700 miles in length. It is thus only exceeded in length among the world's rivers by the Nile, the Amazon, and possibly the Yangtze.

The furthest tributary of the system arises in northern Montana, and the Mississippi itself discharges into the Gulf of Mexico through a complex and porous delta southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Since the earliest days of the westward expansion of the US, the Mississippi has played an important role in travel and transport (as well of course as its role in hydrologic drainage).

An important format for the transport of a wide range of goods along the Mississippi is the river barge, of which there are many types. They are typically about 200 feet long and 35 feet wide. They are usually gathered into rigid flotillas called "tows', propelled from the rear by rigidly-attached diesel-powered tug boats (called, in particular, push tugs or pushboats).

The term "tow" goes back to earlier river practice in which one or more boats or barges were "towed" from the front by a towboat.

In the portion of the river south of St Louis, Missouri (in which there are no locks), tows of up to 40 barges - eight barges wide, five lengthwise - are practical (in some cases, even larger). Above St. Louis, the largest standard tow is 15 barges (three wide, five lengthwise). The entire tow, including the push tug, is about 1/4 mile in length.

Typically, the barges in the front have a sloped ("raked") bottom to the bow to reduce drag. The other barges may in fact have "box" ends (although "rake" barges may be used any place in the tow).

Here we see a very small tow (three barges):

Douglas A. Kerr: Three-barge tow on the lower Mississippi​

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The push tug here is unidentified.

Here we see a typical "small" push tug, the Dottie D:

Douglas A. Kerr: Push tug Dottie D​

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The Dottie D is 60 feet long and has a total propulsive power of 800 hp. Its rectangular hull is typical of many modern push tugs.

Now for something a bit bigger, the FR Bigelow:

Douglas A. Kerr: Push tug F R Bigelow​

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The F R Bigelow is 166 feet long and has a total propulsive power of 7200 hp.

Here we see something a bit different, the Robert J Bouchard

Douglas A. Kerr: Push tug Robert J Bouchard​

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The Robert J Bouchard is 127 feet long and has a total propulsive power of 6140 hp. Note the elevated pilot house, very useful to allow the captain to see over a long tow (especially when the barge has a deckhouse or such, as in this case) and in any case to give better visibility of the river ahead.

The hull of the Bouchard has a more traditional tugboat shape.

Note that here that the barge (an oil barge) has a "push notch" in the rear to receive the bow of the push tug. Only one barge is involved (both the tug and the barge are operated by the same company, and these two are permanently "paired" - they were in fact built as a "pair"). This barge has an overall length of 468 feet.

The tug and the barge are connected with a special coupling interface - the Intercon Coupler System. The complete arrangement is called an articulated tug-barge unit (ATB).

But that's a story all its own.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

Doug,

I love these glimpses into one of the most important trade routes in the USA today. I love the boats and the stories of the folk on board must be great as are sure to be the restaurants and other places that provide rest, food and entertainment to the crews.

So what about tourists? In Europe, it's quite a delightful way to travel and one can doc in some of the quaintest villages and wonderful town and quietly glide at night.

So are there boats one can rent for a long ride to visit towns along the way?

Asher

 

[Tom Robbins]

Fascinating post, Doug, the people involved in river transportation are few in number, and their work and existence is largely unknown outside the business. A handy little reference to this world is "The Little Tow-Watcher's Guide to Towboats and Barges on the Upper Mississippi", by Pamela Eyden.

I received email from barge working folks after creating an online photo gallery of Midwest barges several years ago and was admonished for using the word tug when describing the boats. I think this has something to do with the pride in the history of the work where draft animals originally towed barges along waterways, particularly canals. Mules and such towed the barges, and boats continued to tow the barges when they replaced the animals. Hence towboats. This persnickiness might be restricted to the upper river area, however. There are probably regional variations.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Tom,

Fascinating post, Doug, the people involved in river transportation are few in number, and their work and existence is largely unknown outside the business. A handy little reference to this world is "The Little Tow-Watcher's Guide to Towboats and Barges on the Upper Mississippi", by Pamela Eyden.

I received email from barge working folks after creating an online photo gallery of Midwest barges several years ago and was admonished for using the word tug when describing the boats. I think this has something to do with the pride in the history of the work where draft animals originally towed barges along waterways, particularly canals. Mules and such towed the barges, and boats continued to tow the barges when they replaced the animals. Hence towboats. This persnickiness might be restricted to the upper river area, however. There are probably regional variations.

Thanks so for your insights. I am not involved in this industry, so my knowledge is all very "outside-in".

Regarding "tug", all I know is that this is how these boats are often classified in various online data bases (these in particular as "push tug"). I have no idea how they are really spoken of by those in the business.

Thanks again for your insights.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Asher,

I love these glimpses into one of the most important trade routes in the USA today. I love the boats and the stories of the folk on board must be great as are sure to be the restaurants and other places that provide rest, food and entertainment to the crews.

Yes, and I know little about that.

So what about tourists? In Europe, it's quite a delightful way to travel and one can doc [Freud strikes again!] in some of the quaintest villages and wonderful town and quietly glide at night.

So are there boats one can rent for a long ride to visit towns along the way?

I don't know about that. I should poke around.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Winston Mitchell]

Doug, thanks for sharing this peek.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Doug, a fascinating, informative glimpse into the world of this mighty river. Really enjoyed it.

Asher, I do not know about the States, but a trip down the Danube..one delightful experience across
various countries.

A quiet trip along the Thames and canals of England is a joy to be experienced.

Regards.

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Tom

Fascinating post, Doug, the people involved in river transportation are few in number, and their work and existence is largely unknown outside the business. A handy little reference to this world is "The Little Tow-Watcher's Guide to Towboats and Barges on the Upper Mississippi", by Pamela Eyden.

I received email from barge working folks after creating an online photo gallery of Midwest barges several years ago and was admonished for using the word tug when describing the boats. I think this has something to do with the pride in the history of the work where draft animals originally towed barges along waterways, particularly canals. Mules and such towed the barges, and boats continued to tow the barges when they replaced the animals. Hence towboats. This persnickiness might be restricted to the upper river area, however. There are probably regional variations.

I was hoping that you'd visit this thread. How have you been?

Doug, a fascinating, informative glimpse into the world of this mighty river.

Agreed, great post Doug, thx!

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for posting this. I've had a fascination with river travel ever since reading Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer as a boy.
On a less glamorous note my great uncle worked for a while on the barge gangs which transported all sorts of things through the Cambridgeshire fens.

Regards,

Stuart