In the early hours of 26 March local time, a container ship lost power after leaving the port of Baltimore in the United States and struck a bridge, causing it to collapse. Six days after the closure of the port of Baltimore, a fuel barge became the first vessel to use the temporary channel near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.
When it comes to the types of vessels used in international shipping, most people would first think of container ships, oil tankers and LNG, etc. However, barges, which play an important "bridge and link" role, are beginning to perform more efficient waterway transport functions.
Barge transportation plays a crucial role in inland waterway transport, facilitating the movement of goods along rivers, canals, and other water routes. Cargo barges, being non-self-propelled vessels, rely on tugboats or pusher boats to navigate through narrow and shallow waterways efficiently.
Their large cargo capacity and ability to adapt to various cargo types make them indispensable in transporting goods between ports on inland rivers.In addition to transporting cargo, cargo barges also contribute significantly to port services. Within the port, they support various operations such as ship repair, cleaning, restocking, and other essential port services.
Their versatility and capacity to maneuver within port areas make them valuable assets in ensuring smooth and efficient port operations.Moreover, cargo barges play a vital role in emergency rescue operations.
In times of maritime accidents or spills, barges can be deployed as lifeboats to rescue ships and personnel, contributing to maritime safety and security.Furthermore, cargo barges are instrumental in supporting maritime engineering projects.
Whether it's laying subsea pipelines or constructing offshore platforms, barges provide the necessary support for transporting materials and equipment to and from project sites, facilitating the progress of marine engineering endeavors.
Overall, the multifaceted role of cargo barges in barge transportation and inland waterway transport underscores their importance in the global logistics chain. From transporting cargo to supporting port operations and emergency response, cargo barges are indispensable assets in maritime commerce and industry.
Definition of barge:
A barge is a cargo vessel that is not self-propelled and must be towed by a tug or pusher.
In general, a barge is a non-motorised vessel that forms a barge fleet with a tug or pusher. It can navigate narrow and shallow waterways and can be easily reconfigured to suit the needs of the cargo being carried, making it suitable for transporting cargo between ports on inland rivers.
A few barges with additional means of propulsion are called motorized barges, which have some degree of self-propulsion.
Barges are characterized by simple equipment, shallow draught and large cargo capacity. In simple terms, a barge is a small vessel used to transfer cargo from larger vessels.
What are the functions of barges?
- To transport cargo: As one of the main means of transporting cargo, barges are responsible for transporting cargo from the port to the cargo ship or from the cargo ship to the port.Depending on their use, barges can be divided into passenger barges and cargo barges.
Freight forwarders mainly deal with cargo barges, which are used to load and unload goods. Depending on the type of goods transported, cargo barges can be classified as dry cargo barges, deck barges, coal barges, etc.
Typically, cargo barges do not have lifting gear, so their loading and unloading operations depend mainly on the loading and unloading equipment installed at the relevant docks. Cargo barges may also be used to transfer port cargo.
- Port services : Within the port, barges provide support for various operations, including ship repair, cleaning, restocking, and other port services.
- Emergency rescue : In emergency situations, barges can be used as lifeboats to rescue ships and personnel and to deal with spills or other accidents.
- Maritime engineering support: In marine engineering projects, such as laying subsea pipelines and constructing offshore platforms, barges provide the necessary support for transporting materials and equipment.
Barge vs large ship :
- Carrying capacity: Large vessels, such as container ships and bulk carriers, have large carrying capacities and are suitable for long-distance and large cargo transport requirements. Barges, on the other hand, can usually only carry smaller loads.
Container ships and bulk carriers are designed to transport enormous quantities of cargo. Container ships can hold tens of thousands of containers, each carrying up to 36,000 tons of goods. Bulk carriers can transport hundreds of thousands of tons of dry bulk cargo like grain, coal, or iron ore.
- Range: Large ships have a much longer range and can connect different ports around the world. Barges, on the other hand, are mainly used for short-haul cargo transport.Large ships are oceangoing vessels, like container ships and tankers, are designed for extended voyages across oceans.
Their hulls are specially built to handle rough seas and navigate long distances efficiently.barges are primarily used for short-haul cargo transport on inland waterways like rivers, canals, and lakes. Their flat-bottomed design makes them efficient in shallow waters but less suitable for navigating open seas.
- Port restrictions: Some ports have facilities and water depths that are not suitable for large ships to dock, so barges must be used to complete the cargo transfer.Large ships have a deep draft, meaning the distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull.
Ports with shallow channels or harbors simply can't handle these deep drafts. This can be due to natural geographical limitations or a lack of dredging to accommodate larger vessels.
- Route service: Although some ports have the facilities for large vessels to dock, shipping companies may not have direct vessels to reach these ports due to route settings.
For example, in the Pearl River Delta region, although there are ports in Foshan, Zhaoqing, Zhongshan and other places, the goods exported by local factories usually need to be transported by barges to Shenzhen or Hong Kong and then loaded onto large vessels.
In general, inland waterway transport can be provided directly by the shipping company or a logistics company can be contracted to transport the cargo to the port. PGS Logistics can provide you with a full range of logistics services from freight booking to freight delivery!
