How to Set Up a Tug, Barge, and Dock Route on Water

Build the Dock

Place a Tug Dock at the water's edge and a Barge Dock where barges should moor. Put a Steam Tug or Energy Tug in the water next to the Tug Dock. Attach a Chest Barge, Barrel Barge, Fluid Tank Barge, Auto-Fishing Barge, Item Collection Barge, or Seater Barge behind the tug and connect them with a Vehicle Chain.

Guide the Route

Craft a Tug Route and use it on the tug to record waypoints across the water. Place Tug Guide Rail blocks along the path to keep the tug on course, and Vessel Corner Guide Rail at turns so the tug rounds corners cleanly. Right-click rail blocks with the Conductor's Wrench to orient them.

Load and Unload

Moor the barge at the Barge Dock. Move items in or out with a Rapid Hopper or Fluid Hopper placed against the dock. A Chest Barge holds items, a Barrel Barge holds more of a single item, and a Fluid Tank Barge holds fluids. The Auto-Fishing Barge catches fish while moving, and the Item Collection Barge picks up floating drops. Send the tug along its route and it will return to the dock to unload.