The Intriguing World Of Boat Stewards: Unsung Heroes Of The Waterways

A pusher, or pusher boat, is a type of powerboat designed for pushing large vessels like barges, car floats, and oil rigs. They are sometimes also called pusher craft, pusher tug, or towboat. In the United States, the industries that use these vessels refer to them as towboats. These boats are characterized by a square bow, a shallow draft, and large plates (called knees) mounted to the bow for pushing vessels of various heights. They are typically used in inland waterways, canals, and rivers, and can range in horsepower from 600 to over 10,000.

Pusher boats are also called towboats

A pusher boat, also known as a pusher craft, pusher tug, or towboat, is a vessel designed for pushing barges or car floats. These boats are characterised by a square bow, a shallow draft, and large plates (known as knees) mounted to the bow, allowing them to push barges of varying heights. Pusher boats are commonly used in rivers and inland waterways, although they can also be found in ocean areas, particularly in harbors, coastal regions, or intracoastal waterways.

In the United States, industries that utilise these vessels often refer to them as towboats. The term "towboat" originated during the steamboat era, when steamboats began to "tow" wooden barges alongside to generate additional revenue. Over time, the term came to be associated with pusher boats, which are specifically designed for pushing barges and other large vessels.

The horsepower of pusher boats can vary significantly, ranging from less than 600 horsepower to over 10,000 horsepower. The size of these boats can also vary, typically falling between 30 to 250 feet in length and 20 to 60 feet in width. Some pusher boats, particularly those designed for long-haul journeys, are equipped with living quarters to accommodate the crew.

Pusher boats are distinct from tug boats, which are designed for pulling rather than pushing larger vessels. Tug boats are more commonly used for traversing long distances on the open sea, while pusher boats are predominantly used in inland waterways and for pushing large vessels over short distances.

In summary, pusher boats, with their distinctive design features and functionality, play a crucial role in pushing and manoeuvring barges and other large vessels in inland and, occasionally, ocean settings. Their specific characteristics, such as the square bow and mounted plates, make them well-suited for this purpose, and they are an important component of industries that rely on water transportation.

They push barges, or car floats

A pusher, pusher craft, pusher boat, pusher tug, or towboat, is a boat designed for pushing barges or car floats. In the United States, the industries that use these vessels refer to them as towboats. These vessels are characterized by a square bow, a shallow draft, and typically have knees—large plates mounted on the bow for pushing barges of various heights.

Towboats push the "tow" of barges, which are lashed together with steel cables. Multiple barges lashed together, or a boat and any barges lashed to it, are referred to as a "tow". A "tow" can consist of dozens of barges, each about 200 feet (61 m) long by 35 feet (11 m) wide. The whole tow, excluding the towboat, can easily exceed 1,200 feet (370 m) in length and 200 feet (61 m) in width, covering over 6 acres (2.4 ha) and holding thousands of tons of cargo.

The engine outputs of towboats vary, ranging from less than 600 horsepower (447 kW) to 11,100 horsepower (8,277 kW). Most towboats are 35 to 200 feet (11 to 61 m) long and 21 to 56 feet (6.4 to 17.1 m) wide. Smaller boats are used in harbors, fleeting areas, and around locks, while larger boats are used for long-distance travel between major ports. Many of the larger, long-haul boats include living quarters for their crew.

In the United States, south of the Chain of Rocks Lock on the Mississippi River, the river is open with no locks or impediments other than channel size and depth. Here, larger towboats can handle a maximum tow size of 42 barges southbound and 40 or more northbound. On the Upper Mississippi River, and on other rivers such as the Illinois, Ohio, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Cumberland, the size is limited to 16 barges, including a "hip" barge, due to the smaller lock chambers.

They are used in rivers, canals and other inland waterways

A pusher, pusher craft, pusher boat, pusher tug, or towboat, is a boat designed for pushing barges or car floats. They are used in rivers, canals, and other inland waterways. In the United States, they are referred to as towboats by the industries that use them.

Pusher boats are characterized by a square bow, shallow draft, and large plates (known as knees) mounted to the bow for pushing barges of various heights. They can have a horsepower output ranging from 600 to 11,100. Most pusher boats are between 30 to 200 feet in length and 20 to 60 feet wide.

Pusher boats are ideal for use in inland waterways due to their flat sterns, which help boost their pushing capabilities. They are commonly used to push multiple barges lashed together, known as a "tow". These "tows" can consist of dozens of barges, with some having over 40 barges in total.

Inland pusher boats are also commonly used for long-haul operations, and as such, many of these vessels include living quarters for the crew. They are an essential part of transportation and commerce in inland waterways, facilitating the movement of goods and passengers over rivers, canals, and other inland routes.

They have a horsepower output range of 600-11,100

A pusher, pusher craft, pusher boat, pusher tug, or towboat is a boat designed for pushing barges or car floats. These vessels are characterised by a square bow, a shallow draft, and large plates (called knees) mounted to the bow for pushing. They are typically used on rivers and inland waterways.

Towboat engine outputs range from less than 600 horsepower (447 kW) to 11,100 horsepower (8,277 kW). This means that the horsepower output of these boats varies significantly, with some having less than 600 horsepower and others boasting outputs of over 11,000 horsepower.

The lower end of this horsepower range, between 600 and 1,200 horsepower, is typical for smaller push boats used in harbors, fleeting areas, and around locks. These boats are generally between 30 and 35 feet long and 20 to 21 feet wide.

At the higher end of the horsepower range, between 5,000 and 11,100 horsepower, are the larger boats used in line-haul operations over long distances and between major ports. These boats can be up to 200 feet long and 56 feet wide.

The variation in horsepower output within this range of 600 to 11,100 horsepower allows pushers to adapt to different tasks and environments, from smaller-scale operations in harbors to long-haul journeys on major rivers.

In the context of aeronautical and naval engineering, the term "pusher" is also used to describe a specific drivetrain configuration where the propulsion devices are placed after the engines. However, in this case, we are focusing on the horsepower output range of pusher boats, which aligns with the provided range of 600 to 11,100 horsepower.

They are 35-200 feet long and 21-56 feet wide

A pusher, pusher craft, pusher boat, pusher tug, or towboat is a boat designed for pushing barges or car floats. These vessels are typically 35 to 200 feet long and 21 to 56 feet wide, with some sources stating they can be up to 250 feet long and 60 feet wide. They are characterized by a square bow, a shallow draft, and large plates mounted to their bow, called knees, which aid in pushing barges of various heights.

The size of a pusher boat can vary depending on its intended use. Smaller boats, typically 30 to 50 feet long and 20 to 26 feet wide, are often used in harbors, fleeting areas, and around locks. These smaller pushers are more manoeuvrable and better suited to navigating in tight spaces.

On the other hand, larger pusher boats, typically at the higher end of the size range, are used for long-haul operations over long distances and between major ports. These larger vessels can accommodate living quarters and workspace for crew members on long journeys.

The length and width of a pusher boat is an important factor in its functionality and capability. The size of the boat determines its manoeuvrability and the number of barges it can push at once. Additionally, the size of the boat also dictates where it can operate, as some waterways have size restrictions.

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