Integrated tug barge

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ITB Jacksonville in the Panama Canal

Integrated Tug Barge , usually abbreviated as ITB or Pushing Mode ITB , describes a push convoy made up of a sea-going push boat that is designed for coupled operation with a specially designed barge . The main trading area of ​​these push convoys is the US east coast, especially starting from the ports of the US Gulf. ITBs are also operated as far as the Great Lakes .

technology

Technically, ITBs are sea-going tugs with raised bridge structures, which can be rigidly connected to an offshore barge with a bolt connection for pushing operation. The barge is provided with a recess in the rear, into which the tractor can drive and be coupled to the barge. Not all tugs and barges have the same passport systems, but they were usually ordered as matching pairs or units, whereby several barges were often ordered for one tug. ITBs coupled to a barge are to be regarded as a unit in every respect at sea, but the push units are not seaworthy when operated on their own, but can only be operated safely in smooth water operation, which has led to a number of accidents over the years. The Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) developed from the ITBs at the beginning of the 1970s . Their push units are seaworthy even when operated alone and their connection between barge and push boat is not completely rigid, which means that the tug and barge have a correspondingly more flexible sea behavior.

history

The basic idea for the ITB was developed and patented in the 19th century, but ships of this type were only built since the 1950s. The first ITB built was the carport . The ATBs replaced the ITBs in the 1970s. No new ITBs have been built since the early 1980s.

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