The Maritime Administration has approved in principle an application by Parker Towing Co., Inc., Tuscaloosa, Ala., to aid in financing the construction of 20 hopper barges.

Jeffboat, Inc., Jeffersonville, Ind., was the builder of the barges which were delivered recently. They are expected to join the company's current fleet and provide freight and general towage service on the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River system. The Title XI guarantee covers $4,292,000 or 75 percent of the estimated actual cost of $4,735,880.