A marine barrier gate comprising: a first plurality of substantially vertical panels, each of the panels having a buoyant bottom portion and a pair of opposing sides; a plurality of hinges, each hinge for moveably connecting a side of a first one of the panels to a side of an adjacent second one of the panels with an included angle therebetween, to form a buoyant continuous first pleated row of panels, such that the hinges are arranged in first and second substantially parallel rows; wherein when the first row of panels is floating in a body of water, the panels are movable between an expanded position where adjacent ones of the panels are disposed with the included angle therebetween, and a retracted position where the panels are substantially parallel to each other; characterized by the marine barrier gate further comprising: a substantially stationary first buoy attached to a first end hinge of the second row of hinges; and a substantially stationary second buoy disposed remote from the panels when the panels are in the retracted position, the second buoy having a first tow winch with a first tow cable extendible to, and attachable to, a second end hinge of the second row of hinges opposite the first end hinge, for moving the panels from the retracted position to the expanded position by operation of the first tow winch; wherein the first buoy comprises a catenary winch with a catenary cable movably engagable with the first pleated row of panels and extendible and attachable to the second buoy; wherein when the first row of panels is in the retracted position, and the first tow cable is attached to the second end hinge of the second row of hinges, and the catenary cable is attached to the second buoy, the catenary winch is for setting a length or tension of the catenary cable such that the catenary cable absorbs catenary loads on the barrier when the panels are moved from the retracted position to the expanded position by operation of the first tow winch. a first plurality of substantially vertical panels, each of the panels having a buoyant bottom portion and a pair of opposing sides; a plurality of hinges, each hinge for moveably connecting a side of a first one of the panels to a side of an adjacent second one of the panels with an included angle therebetween, to form a buoyant continuous first pleated row of panels, such that the hinges are arranged in first and second substantially parallel rows; wherein when the first row of panels is floating in a body of water, the panels are movable between an expanded position where adjacent ones of the panels are disposed with the included angle therebetween, and a retracted position where the panels are substantially parallel to each other; characterized by the marine barrier gate further comprising: a substantially stationary first buoy attached to a first end hinge of the second row of hinges; and a substantially stationary second buoy disposed remote from the panels when the panels are in the retracted position, the second buoy having a first tow winch with a first tow cable extendible to, and attachable to, a second end hinge of the second row of hinges opposite the first end hinge, for moving the panels from the retracted position to the expanded position by operation of the first tow winch; wherein the first buoy comprises a catenary winch with a catenary cable movably engagable with the first pleated row of panels and extendible and attachable to the second buoy; wherein when the first row of panels is in the retracted position, and the first tow cable is attached to the second end hinge of the second row of hinges, and the catenary cable is attached to the second buoy, the catenary winch is for setting a length or tension of the catenary cable such that the catenary cable absorbs catenary loads on the barrier when the panels are moved from the retracted position to the expanded position by operation of the first tow winch. a substantially stationary first buoy attached to a first end hinge of the second row of hinges; and a substantially stationary second buoy disposed remote from the panels when the panels are in the retracted position, the second buoy having a first tow winch with a first tow cable extendible to, and attachable to, a second end hinge of the second row of hinges opposite the first end hinge, for moving the panels from the retracted position to the expanded position by operation of the first tow winch; wherein the first buoy comprises a catenary winch with a catenary cable movably engagable with the first pleated row of panels and extendible and attachable to the second buoy; wherein when the first row of panels is in the retracted position, and the first tow cable is attached to the second end hinge of the second row of hinges, and the catenary cable is attached to the second buoy, the catenary winch is for setting a length or tension of the catenary cable such that the catenary cable absorbs catenary loads on the barrier when the panels are moved from the retracted position to the expanded position by operation of the first tow winch.