Barge traffic is a relatively new area for me, but my portion of the James River (near Richmond, VA) is one with few if any seagoing ships but lots of barges. Many transit very late a night, making it difficult to observe them visually or even be nearby when they dock.
There are two vessels on a regular run that I have had a chance to monitor multiple times. Always the same tug or towboat, always the same destination, and always that same freq for docking ops. I have also monitored a number of other vessels with the same company (Norfolk Tug), and have found a different freq in use in each case.
In one case, the freq used for docking (which was assisted by another tug) was also used to communicate with crew members who were off-boat and possibly making a grocery run.
In another case, a tanker barge was in comms with the shore on 151.5125, although the attached tug used 156.450 for ops related to undocking and departure. (both of these were with Kirby)
I can also remember years ago when LoneStar tugs (now Vulcan Materials) pushing gravel barges had radios on 43.10 for operational comms.
In a particularly interesting situation, I could hear a Norfolk tug discussing strategy on 156.65 (13) for maneuvering a barge into a slip at a spot where he would be completely blocking the channel. Couldn't tell whether he was discussing this with someone at the destination, or with the crewman standing point on the barge. When they were in sight of the destination, confirmed onboard comms were on 157.075 (81A) which was also a little surprising. It used to be used by the USCG Marine Safety Office for Hampton Roads, but I heard nothing on it when I was down there about 6 weeks ago.
So my questions involve what, if anything, is customary for radio use aboard these slow-moving vessels with small crews.
1 - is it common to have non-marine freqs for onboard use in these situations, and would marine and non-marine channels coexist in the same crew radios?
2 - Do deckhands handle all the docking, or are shore personnel also assisting? (am wondering about this as a factor in freq selection)
3 - Is it common to have non-marine freqs involved where there is a more labor-intensive cargo, like something heated, chilled or pressurized?
4 - Is it customary for a destination to issue radios on their proprietary freqs to visiting barge crews for coordination in the loading process?
5 - Do commercial marine radios commonly allow transmission of what are normally USCG channels?--or has the status of Ch-81 changed?
When able to be near any of these operations, I'm scanning marine freqs and most common low power freqs found in popular off-the-shelf handhelds. That includes the 457/467 freqs for both US & Europe. Very little heard other than marine band.
Any enlightenment appreciated.
73/Allen (N4JRI)
There are two vessels on a regular run that I have had a chance to monitor multiple times. Always the same tug or towboat, always the same destination, and always that same freq for docking ops. I have also monitored a number of other vessels with the same company (Norfolk Tug), and have found a different freq in use in each case.
In one case, the freq used for docking (which was assisted by another tug) was also used to communicate with crew members who were off-boat and possibly making a grocery run.
In another case, a tanker barge was in comms with the shore on 151.5125, although the attached tug used 156.450 for ops related to undocking and departure. (both of these were with Kirby)
I can also remember years ago when LoneStar tugs (now Vulcan Materials) pushing gravel barges had radios on 43.10 for operational comms.
In a particularly interesting situation, I could hear a Norfolk tug discussing strategy on 156.65 (13) for maneuvering a barge into a slip at a spot where he would be completely blocking the channel. Couldn't tell whether he was discussing this with someone at the destination, or with the crewman standing point on the barge. When they were in sight of the destination, confirmed onboard comms were on 157.075 (81A) which was also a little surprising. It used to be used by the USCG Marine Safety Office for Hampton Roads, but I heard nothing on it when I was down there about 6 weeks ago.
So my questions involve what, if anything, is customary for radio use aboard these slow-moving vessels with small crews.
1 - is it common to have non-marine freqs for onboard use in these situations, and would marine and non-marine channels coexist in the same crew radios?
2 - Do deckhands handle all the docking, or are shore personnel also assisting? (am wondering about this as a factor in freq selection)
3 - Is it common to have non-marine freqs involved where there is a more labor-intensive cargo, like something heated, chilled or pressurized?
4 - Is it customary for a destination to issue radios on their proprietary freqs to visiting barge crews for coordination in the loading process?
5 - Do commercial marine radios commonly allow transmission of what are normally USCG channels?--or has the status of Ch-81 changed?
When able to be near any of these operations, I'm scanning marine freqs and most common low power freqs found in popular off-the-shelf handhelds. That includes the 457/467 freqs for both US & Europe. Very little heard other than marine band.
Any enlightenment appreciated.
73/Allen (N4JRI)