Client:

Project Location:

Project Scope:

Project Details:

Challenge:

Solution:

Pre-stressed concrete was implemented for the barges instead of traditional steel, the benefits of which are as follows:

• Lower hull cost compared with steel
• Long, uninterrupted operational life
• Low maintenance cost; no rust sandblasting or painting required, resulting in less operational downtime for repair and maintenance. If repairs are needed, concrete hulls are easier to repair as restoration can be done while vessel is still afloat.
• Concrete vessels are spark-free, ideal for transport or storage of flammable or explosive cargo
• Concrete vessels are fire resistant
• Corrosion contamination and other damage to cargo is minimized due to lower thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance of concrete
• Concrete does not degrade or lose strength at very low temperatures

Results:

The world’s first prestressed concrete barge was launched in 1964. Within the next three years, 18 more were added to the fleet. The barges were in service for 35 years without dry-docking. Traditional steel barges typically have a lifespan of 20-25 years and require frequent dry-docking every 10 months, whereas the concrete hulls do not require dry-docking.