Barge Application: Bridge Construction
Barges play a pivotal role in bridge construction and maintenance. Without them, the use of the materials and equipment to construct bridges would be significantly hindered. A few different types of barges are used in bridge construction. These barges often have flat decks and the ability to be moored or anchored firmly in place to keep equipment and materials secure and crew members safe. Most of them are not self-propelled, but some of them can be. They also have the ability to support a sizeable amount of weight in the form of machinery like cranes or in the form of materials like concrete, steel, asphalt, stone, timber, iron, rubber, etc. Below are some of the most common types of barges used in bridge construction and bridge repair:
Sectional barges
Sectional barges, also sometimes called “modular barges” or “truckable barges”, are made up of sections or modules that connect together to form platforms of various sizes for the purpose of supporting equipment, materials, and crews. Sectional barges are engineered to be able to sustain maximum load conditions and support heavy equipment like cranes of various shapes and sizes. They are well-suited to bridge construction projects that require use of barges in in-land marine areas and bays, lakes, and inland rivers. Since their individual modules and sections can be disconnected, transporting sectional barges via traditional trucks and trailers is relatively easy and simple. Sectional barge manufacturers often offer spud and spudwell attachments that help securely moor sectional barges in work areas.
Deck barges
Large vessels with flat decks (as their name suggests), deck barges enable the storage and transport of materials as well as heavy machinery. They also can serve as work platforms for using heavy machinery and for other purposes. This type of barge’s deck can typically support several hundreds of tons of equipment like cranes and excavators in addition to materials like concrete and steel. Deck barges are also an excellent option for storing and transporting large prefabricated bridge sections.
Crane barges
A crane barge comes with an attached crane that enables it to easily perform the lifting necessary for bridge construction. You may have also heard crane barges referred to as “crane vessels,” “crane ships,” and “floating crane barges.” Crane barges usually have either a crawler crane mounted to them or a stiff-leg derrick attached to them. For bridge construction, it’s a lot more common to use crane barges with mounted crawler cranes. Crane barges that feature derrick cranes, which can rotate on their own, as well as large hydraulic cranes are more commonly used in offshore oil and gas operations.
Spud barges
Similar in many ways to deck barges, spud barges use spuds (steel shafts or other piling) and securing pins to anchor themselves into the sand or dirt below. Spud barges offer a stable surface to work and a stable surface for storing equipment and materials. In addition to being used in bridge construction, spud barges are frequently used in offshore construction thanks to their strength, durability, and versatility.
These are just some of the most popular types of barges used in bridge construction and bridge repair. Oftentimes, bridge construction projects will make use of a combination of the types of barges listed above. Each type can play an important part in helping bridge construction teams use heavy machinery, store and transport materials, and ultimately get the job done.
To learn more about barges, check out our blog titled "Barge Type Reference Guide".
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