New Horizons Push Boat design error?

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[donc13]

In the screen shots for New Horizons, it shows the push boat pushing barges but it shows the "push knees" (the two structures in the front of the boat that actually contact the barges to do the pushing) overlap the barge as if to keep deck of the barge at a constant height relative to the push boat.    Perhaps they're actually structures on the barge itself.     I have no idea about anywhere else, but in the United States, in particular on the Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, etc. rivers, there are no such structures on the barges nor is there anything on the push boat (called "tows" here) that overlaps the barge.

Here's an example of an unusual Mississippi River Tow (the "Reggie G") pushing barges on the Mississippi.   This particular tow has a pilot house that raises and lowers (like the push boat in New Horizons) which is pretty unusual on the Mississippi.

http://www.littleriverbooks.com/photos/ReggieG010906Nowack.jpg


Here's another Mississippi River Tow with a fixed pilothouse (much more typical) again, showing the push knees are just flat on the front...there is no overlap with the barge.

http://www.littleriverbooks.com/photos/RCLoedding060506Richardson.jpg

In any event....are European push boats that much different where they overlap the barge or have structures on the barge to push against?

[Ballast]

European barges have their own "push knees" at the stern. So their is nothing overlapping. I'll see if i can find a pic.

[Ballast]

Here you go  Here you can see clearly that the barge has his own structure at the stern.

[Mad_Fred]

Hi donc13,

Indeed, Ballast is right.

Regards,
Fred

[marcstrat]

In another topic,ive told that there is a difference between european&america tugboats,however if you look to the vessels on the danube,also different.
One of each in the game,can be an idea.
Regards
Marc

[llamalord]

Ya Ballast is correct.

Even switcher locomotives (which are kind of the railroad equivalent of a tug) are different from the US to Europe.

Personally I don't even think it matters that much but if you want to...

[Ballast]

Ofcours Ballast is right  I worked on a similar towboat, only bigger.

This was actualy the pic i was looking for on my pc for my message above.


Here you can see what purpose they serve. The bow of the barge behind is higher then the stern of the barge in front of it. The barges have also a similar structure at the bow but then upside down and under the bow.

[TJK]

Here you go  Here you can see clearly that the barge has his own structure at the stern.

And she haw even a life car and a life boat

[Cobrattack]

Yeah I was wondering about that,,, how the heck did that get up there?

[TJK]

my be it like one of those James bond 007 use like a submarine and even a airplane and helicopter
it's sacred agent 007 next secret weapons in the next film i think 
tjk

[donc13]

European barges have their own "push knees" at the stern. So their is nothing overlapping. I'll see if i can find a pic.

Quite right you are, I saw the picture you posted.   Here in the U.S., they "cross lash" the barges and even if pushing an empty barge and full barge front to back (with a 6 foot ( 2 meter) or so difference in height) the way they lash them together, no need for other structures than the stantions.    On the lower Mississippi, they push up to 40 barges at a time, on the Upper Mississippi...due to the locks and dams....they can only push 15 at a time in a 3 x 5 configutation for standard barges (200' long by 35' wide).   Most of the Upper Mississippi locks are 600 feet long by 110 feet wide so they have to split the tow and go through the locks in 2 passes.

Here's a page of images of Mississippi River tows and barges    http://www.cclockwood.com/stockimages/TUGS&BARGES.htm

And more here:

http://www.towboatgallery.com/The_Towboat_Gallery.php

Thanks for the reply, at least that cleared up that mystery!

Don

[Ballast]

Yeah I was wondering about that,,, how the heck did that get up there?

With the crane at starboard at the upperdeck. Here at the European rivers, many ships are from 'captain-owners', that means that the captain is also the owner. Most of the time, the captain owner lives on board with his family (wife, girlfriend, kids), so that's why they have a car with them on board. The captain owner also hires a few deckhands, depending on how big the ship is.


Nice pic's on the links that you provided Don! 

[muns]

Most of the time, the captain owner lives on board with his family (wife, girlfriend, kids), so that's why they have a car with them on board.

Wife, girlfriend and kids?      Hmmmm.....

[Cobrattack]

Wife, girlfriend and kids?      Hmmmm.....

Don't rock the boat!!!

[marcstrat]

Greetings,
Very nice link,vey nice pictures indeed.
Here you can see the differences very clear,how long are some of those push-boats?
And offcource the numbers of barges that they push,this would be not possible overhere.
Regards
Marc

[Ballast]

A typical European towboat with 6 barges. Total length 268 meter, 6000 hp and 18.000 mt cargo.

[marcstrat]

Yes, this is the way,how they push barges up and down the river Rhine&Waal,and maybe on some other places in europe.
Very nice picture to!
It's maybe an idea,that our american members show in big pictures how it is done in the U.S.,on the great rivers,like the missisippi.
they push alot more barges in one time i've seen.
Impressive work.
Regards
Marc

[thassos]

Many of the barge captains on the Rhine and other waterways live on their boats.  I saw one once that had a steel frame builtright around the top of the superstructure.  It was obviously a giant playpen as there were several garden type playthings such as a slide and trampoline.  How good to be able to leave the kids to play unsupervised but safe from people who wish them harm.

[llamalord]

Does anyone know if the push boat <in SS> was made after any ship in particular?

That would settle this for sure.

[trains]

Here you go  Here you can see clearly that the barge has his own structure at the stern.

she's carrying a nice car

[thassos]

Looking forward to the push boat and barges but I trust they will not incur damage when coming into contact with the load at reasonable speed.  That's something that rather spoils pushing ships against the wharf with the Harbour Tug.   
Thanks for the pictures, guys.

[Fox Luna]

My dad  told me when he worked in the netherlands that he saw a cage full of chickens :O
But that was in the old days , probably don't see that any more, . . . . . . .

cheers

[devin15]

A typical European towboat with 6 barges. Total length 268 meter, 6000 hp and 18.000 mt cargo.

     the name off that ship is the hercules these days they have 9 barges only in the big rivers

[Ballast]

@ Fox Luna; Yes that's true, back in the days some ships had chickens on board.
Now there are only animals like cats, dogs, birds, etc on board for fun. They don't end up like the chickens.... 

[Ballast]

@ Devin15; no, it's the Veerhaven 10 during her trails last summer. And 9 barges?? Maybe LASH barges, but not these kind. Veerhaven has red ships, Herkules has green ships