barges

[deltabighat]

Several folks in So Cal lost their lives when their craft struck a barge cable at night. A boat towing the barge was on its way to Catalina when the accident happened. A couple years ago, a friend of mine was operating my boat under the Golden Gate when he decided to turn around and cut behind a tug. Fortunately I saw, just in time, that the tug was towing a barge that was probably a quarter mile behind the tug. My friend thought they were two separate crafts. Why do they place barges so far behind the tow craft....just a bit curious.

DBH

 

[rduhon]

They do it when offshore to keep the barge from jerking the tug when they go over swells.
They should only do it when offshore. Around here, they suck them in so they have better control over
the barge in the smaller bays and rivers.
1/4 mile is not normal when they are in inland waters.

 

[towcapt]

Also be aware that there is usually a tow line dragging off the back of the barge. Don't cut the stern of those barges too close. Imagine wrapping the line in your running gear and being dragged by the stern right up to the scene of the sinking.

 

[deltabighat]

YIKES!!! However I think once the tow boat saw the problem it might be able to go into reverse and stop...........in about 3 days

DBH

 

[Thudpucker]

All boaters are supposed to know about the white lights on top the tug's mast
Three means hes towing.
There was a young kid that spent some hours on a log jamb after he ran right into it and his boat was disabled. He somehow held the boat to the Logs till the Tug crew noticed him.

The onus is on the operator of the boat he's driving. Watch out. Theres nobody out there that cares as much for you, as you do!