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How to Attach Tugboats to Barges

In many situations, it's more economical and practical to move cargoes with the combination of a tug and a barge, rather than a conventional powered vessel. Sometimes this is because of the regulatory environment in a given jurisdiction. Other times, it's because having tugs bring in one barge and take out another, a "drop and swap" arrangement, allows more cost-effective use of cargo space and skilled labor. There are several ways to connect barges and tugs, depending on the usage.

Instructions

- 1
  Connect the tug to the barge in the traditional manner, with winches and cables, for short distances on sheltered waterways. Towing barges this way is inefficient, because the tug's own propellers and hull displacement disturb the water and make the barge harder to tow.
- 2
  Building barges with a notch at the rear allows the tug to position itself to push the barge efficiently, rather than pulling it. This type of connection also uses cables, and can't be safely continued in high seas, because the tug and barge move independently of each other.
- 3
  Attach the tug to specially designed barges using a nonrigid coupling system, such as the Artubar system. These mechanisms place coupling gear on the barge and the tug, and lock them together. The connection has a small amount of flex, allowing the tug and barge to move independently within specific limits.
- 4
  Design a barge with an integrated docking system for the tug, and you'll create what's called an Integrated Tub/Barge System, or IT/B. In this arrangement, the tug and barge become the functional equivalent of a conventional ship. The only difference is that the tug and its crew can detach from one barge and immediately leave with another, rather than remaining in port while their cargo is unloaded.

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