TUG AND BARGE COMBINATIONS FOR MARINE PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION

The development of large scale recreation complexes on the nation's waterfronts portends a return to waterborne transit as a means of access. In the New York City Metropolitan Region, Gateway, Liberty Park and the Palisades Interstate Park systems exemplify these sizable recreation/open space resources with waterborne Transit potential. Reinforcing the concept of barges for passenger transportation is the emergence of new technology barge/tug linkage systems. At least five or six of these systems have a direct application to passenger movement. Because of the relative slow speed (10-15 knots), the barge/tug system is acceptable for recreation trips but not for journey to work. Cost savings are achievable over comparable sized conventional self-propelled excursion boats. Cost savings are estimated in the magnitude of 20% for operating costs and 12% for capital costs. Scenarios have been prepared for a fleet of 3 tugs and 4 barges providing transit capacity of some 10,000 daily person trips. Regulatory, safety, operating and capital cost estimates and a host of other considerations and criteria point to the use of barge/tug combinations for large scale waterborne access. The paper recommends that this concept be demonstrated.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of Second International Waterborne Transportation Conference, October 5-7, 1977, New York City. Available April, 1978, approximately 750 pages, Cost: to ASCE members $15.00; non-members $30.00.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Phraner, S D
• Publication Date: 1977

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barges; Development; Economics; Marine transit; Operating costs; Passenger transportation; Policy; Safety engineering; Tug ship interaction; Tugboats; Waterfronts
• Old TRIS Terms: Tug barge economics; Tug barge linkage; Tug barge systems
• Subject Areas: Economics; Marine Transportation; Passenger Transportation; Policy; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00170270
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Civil Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 14 1981 12:00AM