2 towboats struggle upstream on the Ohio River at Cincinnati with 12 coal loads. 3/19/15 with river stage of about 51.2 (flood stage is 52). CSX westbound train also.
This is know as an assist through the bridges. The main vessel can't outrun the speed of the current through the Cincinnati bridges. So the Mac is called in for an assist. The difference in speed before 1.5mph and after 2.5mph is just enough to make it through.
Each one of those barges could fill 200 tractor trailors and the fuel burned to move that much from Virginia to Mississippi would be astronomical if it weren't for towboats.
