Pusher (boat)

"Tow boat" redirects here. For the water ride, seeTow boat ride.For another use, seeHorse-drawn boat.

Not to be confused withtugboat.

3x3 nine unitbargegoing throughLa Crosse, Wisconsin

The towboatAngelinapushes two loaded barges inNew Orleans.

Apusher,pusher craft,pusher boat,pusher tug,ortowboat,is aboatdesigned for pushingbargesorcar floats.In the United States, the industries that use these vessels refer to them astowboats.These vessels are characterized by a square bow, a shallow draft, and typically have knees, which are large plates mounted to the bow for pushing barges of various heights. These boats usually operate on rivers and inlandwaterways.Multiple barges lashed together, or a boat and any barges lashed to it, are referred to as a "tow" and can have dozens of barges. Many of these vessels, especially the long distance, or long haul boats, include living quarters for the crew.

Size

The towboatPeter Fanchisouthbound on the Ohio river at Louisville, Kentucky

Towboat engine outputs range from less than 600 horsepower (447 kW) up to 11,100 horsepower (8,277 kW). Most towboats are from 35 to 200 feet (11 to 61 m) long, and 21 to 56 feet (6.4 to 17.1 m) wide. Smaller boats are used inharbors,fleeting areas and aroundlockswhile larger boats operate in "line-haul" operations over long distances and between major ports. In the United States, south of theChain of Rocks Lockacross fromSt. Louison theMississippi River,the river is open with no locks or impediments other than channel size and depth. Larger boats can run this segment of the river with the maximum tow size of 42 barges southbound and 40+ northbound. A typical River tow might be 35 to 42 barges, each about 200 feet (61 m) long by 35 feet (11 m) wide, configured in a rectangular shape 6 to 7 barges long and 5 to 6 barges wide, depending on the number of barges in tow. The whole tow, excluding the towboat, can easily be over 1,200 feet (370 m) long and 200 feet (61 m) wide, covering over 6 acres (2.4 ha) and holding thousands of tons of cargo.

In the United States above St. Louis on the Upper Mississippi River and on other rivers such as theIllinois,Ohio,Arkansas,TennesseeandCumberland,boats can handle only up to 16 barges including a "hip" barge due to the size of lock chambers. These boats tend to be limited to 5,000 horsepower (3,728 kW).

Towboats in line-haul service operate 24/7 and have the latest in navigational equipment, such as color radar, GPS systems, electronic river charts, and specialized radio communications.

TheDonna Yorkpushing barges of coal up theOhio Riverat Louisville, Kentucky

Boats that traverse the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) are commonly referred to as "ditch boats" or "canal boats". ICW tows usually consist of 1 to 6 barges ranging in size, usually "strung out" end to end when loaded or "breasted up" side by side when empty.

Towboats always push the "tow" of barges, which are lashed together with steel cables usually 1 to 1.5 in (25.4 to 38.1 mm) in diameter.

History

TheshowboatMajesticbeing pushed by its towboatAttaboy

The term towboat arises fromsteamboatdays, when steamboat fortunes began to decline and to survive, steamboats began to "tow" wooden barges alongside to earn additional revenue. Eventually, the railroad expansion following theAmerican Civil Warended the steamboat era.

During the 19th century, towboats were used to pushshowboats,which lacked steam engines to free up space for a theater.

Preserved towboats

TheBinnenvaartmuseum('Inland Shipping Museum') inDordrecht,South Holland,Netherlands is centered aroundRené Siegfried,aRiver Rhinepusher boat which was built in 1963 and decommissioned in 1989.

TheW. P. Snyder Jr.,also known as W. H. Clingerman, W. P. Snyder Jr. State Memorial, or J. L. Perry, is a historic towboat moored on the Muskingum River in Marietta, Ohio, at the Ohio River Museum. ANational Historic Landmark,she is the only intact steam-driven sternwheel towboat still on the United States river system.

See also

• American Waterways Operators
• River cruise
• Riverboat
  • Paddle steamer
• Sampan
• Tugboat

References

• Lehman, Charles F. (2009).A riverman's lexicon: in Lehman's terms.Florissant, Mo.: J.R. Simpson & Associates.ISBN978-0-9841503-0-4.Nautical terminology specific to towboating and inland waterways.
• Casto, James E. (2010).Towboat on the Ohio(reprint ed.). Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky.ISBN978-0-8131-2970-9.Retrieved23 July2017.
• Coomer, James (2004).Life on the Ohio(reprint ed.). Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky.ISBN978-0-8131-9108-9.Retrieved23 July2017.

External links

• "Diesel Engines For Towboat", December 1931, Popular Mechanicsbottom of page 981

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  TowboatBen McCoolupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge with two tank barges (1 of 6), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatBen McCoolupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge with two tank barges (2 of 6), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatBen McCoolupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge with two tank barges (3 of 6), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatBen McCoolupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge with two tank barges (4 of 6), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatBen McCoolupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge with two tank barges (5 of 6), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatBen McCoolupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge with two tank barges (6 of 6), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatBruce Darstupbound on Ohio River at Clark Bridge, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 2005
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  TowboatCity of Pittsburghupbound on Ohio River at Clark Bridge, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 2005
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  TowboatDakota Stormupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge (1 of 4), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatDakota Stormupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge (2 of 4), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatDakota Stormupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge (3 of 4), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatDakota Stormupbound on Ohio River at Matthew E. Welsh Bridge (4 of 4), near Mauckport, Indiana, USA, 1987
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  TowboatElizabeth Mariedeparting main lock at McAlpine Locks on Ohio River, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatEnid Dibertdeparting main lock at McAlpine Locks on Ohio River, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatHugh C. Blaskeupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (1 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatHugh C. Blaskeupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (2 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatJames G. Hinesupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (1 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatJames G. Hinesupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (2 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatJerry E. Holbertupbound on Ohio River at Clark Bridge, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 2005
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  TowboatMartha Macupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (1 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatMartha Macupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (2 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatMichael J. Graingerupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1998
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  TowboatR. W. Nayeupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (1 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatR. W. Nayeupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (2 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1999
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  TowboatSue Chappellupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (1 of 4), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1998
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  TowboatSue Chappellupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (2 of 4), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1998
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  TowboatSue Chappellupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (3 of 4), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1998
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  TowboatSue Chappellupbound in Portland Canal on Ohio River (4 of 4), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1998
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  TowboatV.W. Meythalerupbound at Clark Bridge (1 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1987
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  TowboatV.W. Meythalerupbound at Clark Bridge (2 of 2), Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1987
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  TowboatValvolineupbound with empty tank barges in Portland Canal, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1987
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  TowboatWilliam Clarkupbound in Portland Canal, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 1998