BARGE CARRYING VESSELS, A CURRENT ASSESSMENT

The types of Barge Carrying Vessels reviewed in the opening section of this paper include Lash, Seabee, the Danube See Barges, Bacat, Baco and several other designs. The authors comment on the lack of standardisation of barge sizes and tabulate the standard barge sizes proposed by IS/TC8/SC17. The present fleet of barge carriers is also listed, details of new buildings given and the advantages and disadvantages of the Barge Carrying Vessel concept assessed. Also reviewed are developments in sizes of both barges and barge carriers. Present and future trade routes are discussed and the paper closes with general observations on the system and an examination of future trends.