towboat

A towboat is a specialized vessel designed to move barges and other vessels on inland waterways by towing or pushing. They are central to inland waterway commerce, especially on the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers, as well as in the Great Lakes region and on major canal systems. Towboats are designed for shallow water, with a flat-deck hull, a raised wheelhouse, and robust towing gear.

Design and propulsion: Modern towboats are typically steel-hulled, low-draft vessels carrying hundreds to thousands of horsepower. They are usually powered by diesel engines, often arranged to drive one or two large propellers; some older designs use steam or diesel-electric propulsion. Many are built to combine high power with maneuverability to handle long tows of barges.

Tow configurations and operations: A towboat moves a tow, a linked array of barges, which may be arranged in multiple rows and can be quite long. Tows are commonly pushed by the vessel and can consist of dozens of barges carrying bulk commodities; the configuration is designed for stability and efficiency on inland waterways. Operations require coordination with lock systems, other vessels, and harbor pilots.

History and terminology: The term "towboat" is widely used in North America to describe vessels that move barges on inland waterways. The design evolved from earlier steam-powered pushers and later transitioned to diesel and diesel-electric propulsion in the 20th century. In some regions, "tug" or "pusher" are used, but on inland rivers the towboat is the standard term.