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July 09, 2005
With a little help ....
Some stretches of the Rhine are narrow and swift, and another hazard is the ever shifting banks of gravel and sand. These create some interesting variations in the currents, so some of the barges make use of the many small tugs that wait at the signal stations located at intervals along the river.
A heavily laden barge is assisted up the Mannesheim reach toward the Mäuseturm by a small but powerful tug.
During a very pleasant trip - nicely cool even in the bright sun and general humidity - we passed several of these "powered tows" with tugs assisting laden barges through difficult or tricky stretches of the river.
The aptly named Lorelei powers past, her barge under tight control as she negotiates the swift water approaching the Mäuseturm.
The tug has a dual purpose in this, as she holds the tow's "head" or bow steady againts the eddying currents, allowing the towed vessel to use her engine power to hold against the current and not waste power with constant steering corrections.
Next trip - a Rhine Cruise for sure!
Posted by The Gray Monk at July 9, 2005 12:34 PM