WHAT WILL WE LOOK AT TODAY?

Where it started?

Where are we now?

What are the advantages of barging?

What is the down side?

The future!

BUT WHAT IS A BARGE? Originally: a long, flat bottomed boat for carrying

freight towed by another boat.

Now: a flat topped vessel, generally unpowered & unmanned but this dynamic is changing to carry cargo or as a support vessel. The changes are driven by safety from O&G Industry

IN THE BEGINNING

Bamboo rafts were the earliest form of non self propelled vessel.

Barges were used extensively on calm rivers.

MILITARY BARGES Barges were used extensively in the Pacific in WW2 & still used today

A Coal Barge on Tow Commodities such as coal lend readily to barging.

Early Supply Boat

A Materials Barge Alongside a Rig Offshore The oilfield provided a major developmental drive; the first Supply Vessels were in fact known as Motorized Barges.

Typical Batam to Singapore Barge Materials barges; Used to transport and store oilfield materials and supplies

A Dry Tow in Progress Dry tow; Semi submersible barges used for transport of floating structures eg rigs.

A Launch Barge Launching Jacket launch; Used to launch oilfield jackets

HONG KONG….. HKG container barge; Lack of wharf space prompts use of barges to move containers around the harbour

SHIP BLOCK BARGE Transporting ship sections from China to Korea

New Cranes on the Way Container crane barge; carrying container cranes from maker to user.

Discharging using the 3,300t capacity shear leg crane

A Barge Transporting Barges

Insurers Increased Confidence

BIMCO C/P Formats. (Bargehire, Towcon, Towhire, Supplytime etc)

Professional standards of Owners/Operators

Seabourne communications & Monitoring

High Tech Meteorology.

MWS……(What is that?)

Marine Warranty Surveyor

Check Dry Tanks Check Lashing Check Stability Calculations/ Transportation

Analysis Ensure Tug has updated NTM Cross check passage plan Check weather forecast and piloting charts Physical check life saving & Firefighting

equipment onboard tug Check drills are up to date Ensure Hatch Covers are Locked Down Sign Sail Away Certificate

This Data is Now Available on Board the Tug

This Data is Now Available on Board the Tug

Current Developments

Port congestion and undeveloped infrastructure pose issues to project cargo movement.

Cargo and ALOP Insurers are becoming more involved in project cargo transportation matters as insured values skyrocket.

Companies & Project Managers are becoming much more risk averse, with very good reason!

So how does this impact the barge business?

The old rust buckets are simply no longer accepted by Project Managers or their insurers. Their surveyors do reject them.

Transfer of rigging personnel has become a major issue in offshore construction projects.

An increased need to accommodate riggers on the barge (motorised)

Good quality, well maintained equipment is in demand in most Asian countries already, and will become even more de rigeur.

The science of towage has made itself felt in reduced casualties, and will make further improvements in this area.

Science….what science? Deck strength calculations.

Grillage design.

Wind overturning moment.

Combined barge and cargo motions.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of cargo structures derived from motions.

Intact and damaged stability.

Ballasting.

Hogging, sagging, racking, sheer stresses.

BHP calculations. (Bollard Pull)

Finite Element Analysis? Finite Element Analyses can be employed to evaluate the strength & stiffness of barges &

the structural construction.

The structure is modeled mathematically, the loads applied, and FEA provides the stresses and deflections. Pieces that are overloaded are identified and strengthened and parts that have little stress (overbuilt) can be safely reduced.

Using FEA, the steel is employed where it does the most good and redundant steel is reduced. The method also makes it possible to quickly evaluate “what if” questions and thereby facilitates innovative design.

FEA results are presented in professional engineering reports that are accepted by classification society authorities.

Top Engineering is Essential Here

Where are the advantages of barging?

The ability to access undeveloped ports or move cargo across beaches.

The ability to navigate shallow water, swamps, rivers. This is important in many Asian countries

Flexible operating cost structure.

High deck strength with reasonable asset cost.

Easier/quicker loading & discharging options & wide open deck spaces.

Conversely; Barges are slower than ships and this can make a big impact over long distances

Conversely; Barges are slower than ships and this can make a big impact over long distances

Conversely

Barges do not usually carry their own heavy craneage (unless special purpose barges).

Barge stability at deep drafts is not as good as a ship shaped vessel.

Barge motions in a seaway are not as smooth as a ship shaped vessel.

Barges are not subject to the same strict IMO controls as ships are.

Barges are NOT Immune to Casualties!

Stability & Loading Stresses?

What Does The Future Hold?

Will barges become more like ships?

Will barges get bigger?

Will barges become more specialized?

Probably YES to all of the above, and more too!

Economies of scale

Hopper Barge

Is This a Big Barge?