Irish Attitude's Adventures: Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers

Tows and Barges

You might have noticed that I have not included many pictures of the multitude of tow and barges we have seen along the rivers to date. It seemed like a good idea to combine my pictures in one post.

Prior to this trip we had no idea the magnitude of product that was moved by barges. Semi-trucks and trains are the norm at home. Barges are much more efficient. One tow w/15 barges can transfer the same amount of goods as 2.25 trains w/ 100 cars or 870 semi-trucks! Wow! Barges transfer coal, scrap iron, sugar, grain, petroleum, salt, fertilizer and more.

Tows in different regions monitor different VHF channels, but 13 is common. The further south we traveled the more difficult it became to understand everything the captain was saying. Garble, garble, garble, garble on the two. That is all we needed. Confirm, on the two, we respond. Same navigational rules as home apply. One whistle, you pass on port. Two whistles, you pass on starboard.

Below are pictures I have taken since entering the Illinois River. We have passed tows in the Great Lakes and even in the Saginaw River near our home port. They push freighters not barges. We respect them and give them a wide berth but do not converse via radio or by whistle (horn). It’s different on the rivers. Possibly because there are so many pleasure crafts or because the rivers snake around or maybe it’s the current. When approaching a tow it is proper river etiquette to call the captain and ask which side he would like you to pass on. They know the river and its shoals. A barge does not turn on a dime.

A week after leaving Hoppie’s Marina we heard a barge had broken loose and was heading towards the sleeping boaters. Quick action by Hoppie, Fern and family prevented any damage. We heard a barge had taken out a buoy the day before causing this tow to run aground, dislodging a barge. Hoppie jumped in his John boat and guided the barge to the shoreline. Fern and her daughter had all the boats power cords unplugged, woke up the boaters and assisted them in casting off their lines. Everyone was safe but no one slept well after that. Below are pictures I have taken since entering the Illinois River.