🔍 Key Concepts

• Typical exam dimensions for jumbo river barges and standard river barges (length in feet) • How to count the number of barge lengths in a tow when they are made up 3 abreast and multiple long • Whether to include spacing/couplings and the towboat’s length when estimating overall tow length

💭 Think About

• First, write down the standard length (in feet) you’ve learned for a jumbo barge and for a standard barge. Are they the same length or different in your study materials? • Next, determine how many barge-lengths you actually have in a line from the towboat to the front of the lead barges. How many rows long is the tow, and does adding the lead standard barges change the length or just the width? • After you find the basic barge-length total, ask yourself: does the exam convention you’ve been taught tell you to add extra feet for couplings or the towboat’s length, or do you use barge lengths only?

✅ Before You Answer

• Confirm the assumed length (ft) of a jumbo barge and of a standard barge from your study materials. • Double-check how many rows of barges fore-and-aft there are in this configuration (don’t confuse abreast with long). • Before choosing an option, verify whether the problem (or your course notes) expects you to include only barge lengths or barge lengths plus extra allowance for towboat/couplings.