Operational Evaluation of Tug/Barge Systems

摘要

The purpose of this report is to identify the potential military roles of the commercial Ocean-Going Tug-Barge (OGTB) fleet and to suggest how it may be efficiently used in military operations. The overall conclusion is that the commercial fleet of OGTB's in conjunction with our nation's extensive tug and barge building facilities provides a substantial sealift capability in support of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) peacetime, contingency, and mobilization operations. In many instances it is determined that OGTB's are superior to ships in fulfilling cargo transport, Naval Fleet Auxiliary, and scientific support missions due to their ability to separate propulsion unit (tug) from cargo/functional unit (barge). This separability allows drop-and-swap operation where specialization of function; tugs for transport and barges for storage and shoreside operations may result in mission accomplishment at less cost than if ships were used. Additionally, this flexibility of separability allows the same propulsion unit to be used in any of MCS's three mission areas as demands and priorities dictate.