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. In addition, a towboat without barges in front of it may be towing astern with the towline submerged. Recreational boaters should always maintain a proper lookout and steer well clear of commercial boat operations. How, Inc .