| Towboats
and barges are familiar sights on many of our
nation's waterways. Since these vessels
operate 24 hours a day and pose a number of safety
hazards, recreational boaters should be vigilant
when boating in areas with commercial traffic.
 Barges
can be surprisingly quiet, and the speed of both
barges and towboats can be deceiving. These
vessels are capable of traveling a mile in seven
minutes, but it may take them over a mile to come to
a stop. Boaters should steer clear of channel
areas with high commercial traffic even after barges
have passed since strong wakes can create serious
turbulence hundreds of yards behind the towboat.
While
towboat operators are generally on the lookout for
smaller boats, their visibility is sometimes limited
and they may be unable to maneuver quickly enough to
avoid a recreational boater... especially one who is
not paying attention!
In
addition, a towboat without barges in front of it
may be towing astern with the towline submerged.
Stay Clear! Recreational boaters should always
maintain a proper lookout and steer well clear of
commercial boat operations. Boat Smart. Boat
Safe.
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