Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / July 1, 1993, edition 1 / Page 44
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Tugs, Barges And Pleasure Boats BY TOM SHAW Tug with two loaded barges about a quarter mile ahead," reports our faithful lookout as we cruise up the ICW. The skip per has three logical reactions to the news: "so what," "man the panic stations" or "what do 1 know about tugs and barges that will enable me to have a safe and comfortable passing?" Assuming the third option, here are some of the things the skipper needs to know ? things that, oddly enough, are not often found in the "how to be a better boater" books. First, the Intracoastal Waterway was not devised for the pleasure boater. In a very real sense, we recreational boaters are the "guests." All that government mon ey tnat was and is spent on building and maintaining the ICW is from the U.S. Department of Transpor tation and is primarily for com merce. Joe Cruiser and Bill Fisherman are the fortunate sharers in thou sands of miles of dredged and well marked channels. Instead of cus sing that tow, we need to remember that he has every right in the world to be there. We share the waterways with him. One of the most apt slogans of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is "know before you go," and there are some essential things that recre ational boaters need to know about the tugs and barges we will meet or overt like. ?Fact One about a tug and tow is that he is "restricted in ability to maneuver." His draft constrains him to the center of the channel. His size makes fast turns impossi ble. His visibility, especially under his bow, is severely limited, even from a high pilot house. He must maintain speed to have any steerage way (ard with a fol lowing tide this m;?\ mean that he is moving pretty swiftly) and HE CAN'T STOP! A tug with two loaded barges may take as much as a mile to go from cruising speed to dead in the water. Newton's "first law" ? force equals mass times ve locity squared ? cannot be denied. While the tug's "velocity" may be a conservative 8 to 10 knots, the "mass" means there is a very sig nificant time and distance in which the tugboat captain is essentially powerless. Tne message is clear: we, in our maneuverable recre ational boats, need to get out of the way. ?Fact Two is that a tug pushing deeply loaded barges in a narrow and shallow channel such as much of the ICW displaces an astonishing amount of water. When the tow passes, all that water rushes back into the tug's wake, creating what is improperly called "tug suction," a force that "sucks" small boats and other objects from ihe edge of the channel towards its center. A small boat passing too near the McMillan Real Estate is a full-service , real estate sales, residential and commercial pro perty management agency. We will dedicate the time and provide the ex pertise required for successful management of your rental property. Or , if you are thinking of selling, stop by and discuss your real estate needs with our professional staff A New Look at Real Estate McMillan REAL ESTATE ?1993 THE BflUNSWICK BEACON stern of a large tow may be pulled off course and be temporarily out of control long enough for disaster. Be ready to apply full power to break away. The same force of water rapidly returning after being displaced by the tow can draw a crab pot and its buoyed line into the path of a pass ing boat where it can wrap itself around the propeller shaft with most unpleasant results. How does she small boat skipper safely "share the waterway?" First, he has real respect for the forces generated by the tug and barges. He is keenly aware of the tug's severe ly restricted ability to maneuver. In a head-to-head passing, he stays as far to the side of the channel as his draft will allow, passes slowly to avoid the tug's wake and keeps his hand on the throttle ready to apply power if his vessel experiences the "suction" caused by the tow's pas sage. When overtaking a tow the wise skipper uses his VHF radio on Channel 1 3, the "ship-to-ship chan nel." "Northbound tug passing day mark 144, this is the 24-foot cruiser "Happy Time" astem of you. Will appreciate your advice on when and how to pass." And the response from the tug's captain will be something like this: "Happy Time, this is the tugboat Hefty. Please wait till we pass day mark 142. Then pass on my star board side I'll he watching for you. All that remains is a brief 'Thank You" when Happy Time has safely passed the tow. Tom Shaw is branch chief of the Vessel Examination Department, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Wil mington. ^20 21 22 H zbiir ~fcri h ? 28 ^^B29 CLUES ACROSS 1 . Dread 3. Interval 5. Be sullen 7. 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The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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July 1, 1993, edition 1
44
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