[jjk166]

So 200-280 tons. A standard barge can support 1500-3000 tons of cargo. Even with the added weight of a catch tower and a healthy factor of safety thrust isn't gonna sink the barge. Far more likely the major hurdle would be stability issues with how tall it is.

[pixl97]

It's not 280 tons... it's a falling object with kinetic energy so that rocket thrust is going to be very problematic for that boat especially if it' hitting unevenly.

That and there's no way for it to stand without a catch tower.

[ethbr1]

Hypothetically, what's the effect of that much thrust close to a water surface?

I.e. if they cut a hole in the middle of a barge and it was burning at touchdown "against" the ocean

I imagine water doesn't have the kinetic problems that chunks of concrete do, but also that's a LOT of energy for even water, so maybe there'd be steam issues?

[jjk166]

Well the idea would be to put a catch tower on a barge so those aren't actually issues.