Articulated tug barge

Abstract

An articulated tug barge having a tugboat with two or three skegs and a barge with two skegs, wherein the tug comprises a large surface area double plate rudder, and the skegs are 30% of the length of the tug, and the barge skegs are 10% of the length of the barge.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An articulated tug barge having a tugboat with at least one skeg and a barge with at least two skegs, wherein said tug further at least comprises two large surface area double plate rudders, at least one skeg which is 30% of the length of said tug, and said barge comprises at least two skegs which are 10% of the length of said barge.  
     
     
         2 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , wherein said tug and barge each further comprises at least three skegs.  
     
     
         3 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , with a tug comprising an engine room with two diesel motors positioned in the midships portion of the hull.  
     
     
         4 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , wherein the hull comprises a super-structure which is positioned forward of midships of the tug.  
     
     
         5 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , wherein the machinery in the engine room comprises at least two drive engines coupled to a propeller shaft.  
     
     
         6 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , wherein said tug comprises pins for securing said tug and barge together.  
     
     
         7 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , wherein said rudder has a height of between 13 feet 5 inches and 14 feet four inches, a thickness of between 12 feet and ½ inches and 21 feet ½ inches, and a length of between 8 feet and 11 and ½ inches and 8 feet and 9 and ½ inches.  
     
     
         8 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , wherein each said tug skeg has a length of between 29 feet 6 inches and 37 feet 6 inches, a width of between 2 feet 2 inches and 3 feet 6 inches and a height of between 2 feet and 12 feet 4 inches.  
     
     
         9 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , wherein each said barge skeg has a length of between 66 feet and 72 feet, a width of between 1.5 feet and 6 feet 3 inches, and a height between 2 feet 7 inches and 24 feet 6 inches.  
     
     
         10 . The tug barge of  claim 1 , wherein said skegs are made from steel or iron alloys or combinations thereof.