Workboats - Ain't All The Same!

    I simply can't stress this - Enough! .... Because average people seem to think, everything in workboats is always called some sort of TUG! ..... And They Ain't!!!    But all to often, you hear someone refer to most any kind of workboat - in that manner.    And It doesn't matter which kind of boat - It Really Is?    That's why you've ( I'm sure ), heard towboats, called Push - Tugs ..... Or Push - Boats ..... Or even = River Tugs.    The problem with those terms, is there is - No Such Kind of Boat!    And there's really only two types of vessels in = Workboat Class.    And all vessels in workboat class, fall under one or the other hull type classification, which sets them completely = Apart.    So Remember - Both Tugs & Towboats are totally different from one another, in hull designs and/or usage and in their work duties, so remember that, because Its = Most Important!

    And to work boater or crewman, its an insult to use such incorrect terms as I just mentioned ... Almost like putting "Screen Doors" On A Submarine!  .... "Cause Somethun Just Ain't - Right About It!"

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The 2 - Types Of Boats = In Workboat Class

    Look at the above drawings, and ask yourself - This One Question ...... "Mark Twain - once said, the Steamboat was a Remarkable Thing ..... Capable of running on as little water, as a "HEAVY DEW!" ... "Now Which Vessel, Or Design of Workboat .... Matches Closest To What - He Meant?"     Uh Huh, Now your beginning to understand what I'm talking about and it might also interest you - to know, that back when steamboats were still new.    `They were designed to run and work, "In as little, as 18 inches of water!"..... "Now that isn't much water - IS IT ..... Pretty close to being what Mark Twain - Said = Huh ....... OK!  - Now That you understand the origins of towboats a lot better, try doin that sorta thing = With A TUGBOAT!"

Tugs - The Blue Water - Workboats

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    These are vessels designed expressly with "DEEP-V Hulls" and carry very deep waterline drafts - more then 12 feet in depths of draft are common to many types of Tugs or so-called Tugboats, designed expressly for use on Blue Waters = Oceans & Lakes.    These vessels are used around Harbors & Sea Ports, to push & nudge - Barges or Larger Ships - for example.    Types of tugs consist of the following, but are not limited to; Pilot Boats ... Crew Boats ... Fast Ferry - Boats ... Fast - Delivery & Oil Supply Boats ... Dive Boats ... Safety & Navigational or Inspection  Boats ... Including Self- Propelled - Cranes, Derrick Boats or Heavy Lift & Salvage Vessels ... Dry-docks - Or Dry-dock Ships ... Coastal - Tugs ... Harbor - Tugs ... Docking & Berthing - Tugs ... Deep Sea-Going - Tugs.    And also - AT/B's = Articulated Tugs & Barge Combinations ... IT/B's = Integrated Tugs & Barges ... Anchor Handling - Tugs ... Ice Breaking - Tugs & Fire Boats, as some examples.

    Tugboat - General Duties = Used as assistance boats, in helping to maneuver larger - Ocean Going - Ships.   "Or to assist a vessel to Enter or Exit" coastal sea ports, or help them into or Out Of, Docks or Berths.    Secondary Duties = Handling Barges ( Only In Small Numbers = 1 - 2 ), because of their limited steering & maneuvering abilities.    NOTE - Tugs are the most widely recognized - World Wide in Popularity.    Something which often over-shadows - other vessels also in Workboat Class and this confuses some people as to Which Is Which.    Being - why people often refer to other workboats, as some sort of = TUG, in an unfair attempt to compare them, that isn't proper!

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Towboats - The Brown Water - Workboats

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    These are vessels designed to operate on shallow waters, meaning inland rivers.    As vessels go, their designed to do what is impossible in normally built vessels.    Meaning to operate in damned little - Water, and Survive such encounters while shove'n tremendous amounts of tonnage loaded in barges - being pushed ahead of them.    Designed with a SHALLOW - Flat Bottom Hull, such vessels are classed as Brown Water - Work Boats.    The following vessels are listed as brown waster workboats, but these are not limited to just these i've listed here, so this is just a small list = Towboats ( includes = All Types & Sizes ), Tenders ... Trip - Boats ... Utility - Boats ... Line Boats ...  Long - Haul Boats ... And Pool - Boats.    Other types of vessels in this class, include = Dredges or Dredge - Boats ... Bow- Boats ( Either "Remotely Controlled - Or Pilot Operated" versions  ), used to assist larger Tows ... Helper Boats ... Repair & Supply Boats for inland - Oil Rigs, or River Construction Boats, as well as River Work Platform Boats ... Including Bridge or Lock - Tenders ... Fleet - Boats ... as well as Grocery Store - Boats ...  Snag - Boats & Fleet Inspection - Boats and Others.   

   Towboat - General Duties = specifically designed to push or sometimes pull - Barges, on Inland Rivers.    Not well suited for "Deep Waters", easily swamped in high waves.    But when faced with "Dammed Little Water" or places where Maneuvering is almost impossible in narrow twisting channels = A vessel that's right at home - Doin The Impossible and can be modified to improve its ability to work on rivers.    

Hulls thickness on towboats, are heavier ( in strength ), than normal hull designs in order to withstand extreme abuse, like being run aground and constantly under  stress when pushing.    Think of a Tank - with Push Knee's capable of steering in any direction with multiple rudder steering.    Something which is not ordinarily needed by other boats, being the key in a towboats very unique design, its technology and usage    A towboat hull has to constantly expect to be rubbing or bumping the bottom, or going aground - at any time.   A daily occurrence for these work boats, which is highly abnormal in others,  making these vessels - even more unique.    During winter months, towboat can use their engines and hulls to break ice and unless the ice is extremely thick, they can break it.    Noting that sometimes to clear ice at a lock & Dam, one boat will use another boat as its plow, by pushing the other boat sideways to shove the ice into piles.     Ask anyone working on rivers  and they'll tell you - "A Towboat Survives, because its designed to Survive....  "Or Churn - Mud & Chew - STUMPS!" ........ And Tugs just can't do that - PERIOD!!!

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Last Updated On 06/29/23 . With