The world’s inland and coastal waterways serve as a highway for the movement of all kinds of essential goods and materials that make our lives better. Air starters crank and start the big tugboats and push-boats that deliver massive two-hundred-foot-long barges to our factories and businesses all along rivers, canals, lakes, and oceans. Tugboats are amazing machines, capable of pushing or pulling barges laden with product as would require five locomotives*.
Tugboats are powered by engines with up to 6500 horsepower. These huge engines can only be safely cranked and started with an air starter that themselves pack up to ninety horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque. So, if you are ever crossing a bridge over the Mississippi, or near New York harbor and see a big tugboat, you can bet that there is an air starter on-board. Learn more.
Credit: *https://www.dannoceantowing.com/how-much-can-a-tugboat-pull/