Towing & Ship-Assist · Operations — Trim of the Tow
A towed barge generally tracks best when trimmed:
- APerfectly even keel in all conditions
- BDown by the head
- CWith a large list to port
- DSlightly by the stern (down by the stern)✓ Correct
Explanation
A barge trimmed a little by the stern keeps its pivot point aft and tends to follow straight behind the tug, like a weathervane. Trim by the head makes a barge yaw and sheer, chasing back and forth across the tug's wake and increasing towline loads.
Authority: Towing seamanship references
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