Although I’ve returned to the sixth boro, my thoughts keep returning to the vessels I saw on the Ohio. I think it’s interesting that the three vessels are branded as part of a barge company, rather than a transportation, towing, or tug company. Check out the Ingram site here.

Craig E. Philip is one of 80 line-haul boat pushing Ingram barges. Line-haul boats and a wealth of other info is shared on TowboatJoe‘s site, although with a ship-modelling audience as primary focus. Craig E. Philip, fotoed here in Cincinnati, was pushing at least 10 barges. According to TowboatJoe, that equals carrying capacity of 600 semitrailers! Here’s a BBC article from a few days back on the economics of moving bulk cargoes by water. Not bad, given that this 38-year-old vessel generates 6120 horsepower. Other stats: 158′ loa x40′ and built in Jeffersonville, IN, by Jeffboat.

Marge McFarlin, pictured last week here, is actually newer: built in 1976 by Nashville Bridge Co., 144′ x 35′ and generates 4300 hp. The wheelhouse way-uptop and the flags on the tow knees suggest a slight showboat style influence, I think. The Ingram Barge website gives mile-marker positions for each of their line-haul vessels.

James E. Anderson is the oldest of the three vessels although the wheelhouse and stack design would have led me to think it the newest. Refitted? Anyhow, stats: 159′ x 40′, 5000 hp, built by Dravo Corporation.

All three vessels are registered in St. Louis.

After TugboatJoe did a hitch on the towboat G. L. Furr back in 2005, he put up this reportage with lots of fotos including some showing the “underwater” portion after they went into a drydock in Paducah. Mammoth Kort nozzles and props!

Anyone recognize the vessel pushing this string of twelve barges? location? Answer tomorrow.

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