Abstract: By grasping a steel cable with a low cost portable self-tightening clamp that increases its holding force as the tensile pull force increases, one man can tighten steel cables of various lengths having bitter ends by using temporarily a single portable ratchet jack assembly to exert about 20 tons (20,000 KG) tightening force. Two similarly acting inexpensive clamps affixed to a barge deck hold the cable lines of various lengths without eyes in the end taut enough to bind barges together into one stiff unitary assembly, and permits the single ratchet (and portable clamp) assembly to be reused, thereby significantly reducing equipment inventory and cost.