Towing & Ship-Assist · Operations — Pre-Departure Tow Inspection
Before departing on an ocean tow, the barge should be inspected and verified to be:
- ALeft exactly as received with no inspection
- BLoaded as heavily as possible regardless of trim
- CWatertight and properly trimmed, with hatches/vents secured, lights operational, and the rig examined✓ Correct
- DDown by the head for better towing
Explanation
A pre-tow survey confirms the barge is watertight (closures, vents, manholes secured), correctly trimmed (usually slightly by the stern for tracking), adequately lit, and that the towing connection (bridle, pendant, padeyes) is sound. Undetected flooding or a poor rig leads to a lost or capsized tow.
Authority: Towing operations references; Subchapter M
Practice the full Towing & Ship-Assist bank
Free spaced-repetition quizzing across 2190 USCG exam questions — it schedules your reviews so the ones you miss come back until they stick.
Related Towing & Ship-Assist questions
- Towing Lights
For the purpose of the towing light rules, the 'length of the tow' is measured from the:
- Towing Lights
A power-driven vessel towing astern, with a tow 200 meters or less in length, exhibits which lights in addition to sidelights and a sternlight?
- Towing Lights
When the length of the tow astern exceeds 200 meters, the towing vessel displays:
- Towing Lights
By day, when the length of a tow exceeds 200 meters, the towing vessel and the vessel being towed must each exhibit:
- Towing Lights
The yellow towing light required of a vessel towing astern is located:
- Towing Lights
A vessel or object being towed astern (and not a composite or pushed unit) normally exhibits: