Getting on the wire, Port of Albany

Having departed with an unladen oil barge alongside our tug from the Global Terminal, Port of Albany, NY, and having gone a short distance down river to the turning basin, we are getting ready to put the barge on the wire (tow wire) for the trip down the Hudson River and back to the refineries in NJ to reload the barge.
The process is pretty straight forward and a experienced hand at the helm makes it look easy.
Following the Captains command, the tow wire, which was connected from our tow machine to the barges tow gear prior to leaving the dock, is slacked off 12-15 feet and held fast by the engineer; the deckhand on the tugs bow can now release our bow (head) line that had been holding the tug and barge together in conjunction with the tow wire.
The tug, now free of the barge except for the tow wire, is slowly turned away from the barge, and usually this can be done at clutch speed or just above; very often the tug can be assisted in turning the full 180 degrees to complete the maneuver by the current running down river...free help from Mother Nature.
The tug and barge are both now facing down river; the tug is brought ahead at clutch speed to take up the slack in the tow wire and speed slowly increased as the barge settles in behind the tug.
This is the preferred method for handling the barge, particularly in restricted waterways; no drama, no racing engines, no smoking clutches and the barge can be easily kept in check by virtue of being on a short tow wire.
Using this method also all but negates any chance of the tug being hit by the barge, since the tug is turned around next to the barge and not in front of it.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• tug
• tugboat
• oil barge
• towing
• tow wire
• Justine McAllister
• Port of Albany

[lirrp172]

Justine?

[rad3766]

@lirrp172 Yup, thats her.

[lirrp172]

@rad3766 Hows that steering? lol..