But the Alameda-based Gore and many of his fellow captains who spend most of their time pushing or pulling barges are worried that a virtually unknown process deep in the bureaucracy of Washington, D.C., could further befoul Bay waters while hurting their business and reputations.

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The rule change being written by Coast Guard regulators seeks to bolster the ranks of aging barge-towing captains and mates by slashing from 30 months to 30 days the experience needed to qualify for a federal barge towing endorsement on a master's license.