Towing & Ship-Assist · Operations — Made-Up Push Gear
When a towboat is rigidly made up to a barge for pushing, the wires connecting the boat to the barge are tensioned with:
- ALoose bights left to swing freely
- BRatchets/jacking gear so the unit behaves as one rigid body✓ Correct
- CA single light heaving line
- DThe barge's mooring lines to the dock
Explanation
Face wires, backing wires, and breast lines are set up tight with ratchets (jacking gear) so the towboat and barge(s) move as a single rigid unit. Slack rigging lets the tow work and surge, degrading control and stressing the gear.
Authority: Towing seamanship references; inland push-boat practice
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