Because of the high cost of fuel the size of barge strings on the river have been curtailed ;-)
@rdaily How are long barge strings steered? Not just from behind, right?
@kentborg The twin propellers are in steel tubes called Kort nozzles with rudders across both ends. This gives a lot of control over the torque the boat can develop. The boats push almost always. The towboat term is from steam days.
@rdaily But what about the front barge? It feels like an railroad engine pushing freight cars without any railroad track. Or, are the barges wide enough, and is the snake of barges never so long that it can snake? (Except when the resulting failure hits the news.)
@rdaily So firmly steered from behind.
With some wise reading of the cross-forces and turns in the river, with a relaxed alertness for surprises.
(Sounds like you and yours had some fun, while working hard.)