Barge

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A barge is a flat-bottomed boat that usually does not have its own engine. Originally used on inland rivers, today barges work on both inland and coastal waters. Most barges are moved by other vessels—on rivers they are pushed by tugboats or pulled by towboats, and some barges are self-propelled.

There are many types of barges, and the word has a long history. In Britain in the 1800s, barges had different names in different places. Some carried sails; others were just flat boats used for carrying goods. The term “dumb barge” came from barges that were not propelled by themselves and later came to mean boats moved only by oars.

During the Industrial Revolution, Britain’s canal network expanded rapidly. Narrow canals required narrowboats, which were long and slim and steered with a tiller. Later, wider locks allowed bigger boats, leading to widebeam canal boats. Today narrowboats and widebeams are mostly used for leisure cruising, and the old use of the word barge is less common in Britain.

In the United States, barges evolved from converted sailing vessels and then from iron towed by steam tugs. Modern barges carry bulk goods at low cost and can haul very large items, sometimes in sections. A typical U.S. barge is about 195 by 35 feet and can carry around 1,500 short tons; European barges are about 251 by 37 feet and can carry about 2,450 tonnes.

Barge transport is very fuel-efficient, moving more cargo with less CO2 than trucks or trains. However, there can be emissions when boats idle in locks or crowded waterways.

Barges can be self-propelled for calm waters or towed by a tug for faster or upstream travel. Canal barges are usually built for a specific canal. In shipyards, deck barges—flat deck vessels—are used to access ships in dry docks.