Another River Term

Greetings From New Orleans ,
Another River Term has come to mind with the meeting situation that I encountered with a Sea-going Tug and Barge . " On The Hawser " , is the term used when a towing vessel is literally pulling another vessel , usually a barge , on a wire rope known as a Hawser . These seagoing tugs and barges come in various sizes and deminsions but when " On The Hawser " there is always one tug doing the pulling and then occassionally there is another tug made fast with wire rope on the stern of the barge known as the " Tail Boat " . The purpose of the " Tail Boat " is to not only push but more importantly to add steering and added control and during high river stages in the New Orleans harbor the Coast Guard has a mandatory regulation that all Tugs " On The Hawser " be assisted with a stern " Tail Tug " . Just another River Term .
Smoothe Sailing !
Ted Davisson