Overview of EU Barges

'Barge' can be used to refer, equally, to a scruffy mud barge (ie. an unpowered 'dumb barge' used to carry away mud dredged from the bottom of canals during maintenance work) to the ornate state barges of Cleopatra's Egypt and of Tudor London.

Barges Today

Today, working barges still have an important role to play in the transport of heavy, dry goods. Liquid products in bulk are transported in what are known as 'tank barges'. The main characteristic, today, is that they are usually made of steel. Many have no method of propulsion of their own and are usually pulled or pushed by tugboats. Others have an engine house and accommodation at the stern. They are to be found on all the major waterway networks of America, Russia and Europe.

There has been a transformation, in the use of barges, from workhorses to leisure and pleasure boats, to homes afloat. Today the old restored Dutch and Thames barges, together with newly built versions based on the original designs, are much sought after by those seeking an alternative life style or just wanting a 'get away from it all' type of holiday. They offer spacious, and often luxurious, accommodation whilst giving you the opportunity to sit on your own deck and watch the waterborne world drift by.

Main designs of barge

The Dutch Barge and Thames Barge each have their own page

Other barges

Perhaps the strangest name for a barge is the 'Tom Pudding' barge. They were short, squat, flat-bottomed boats that were strung together in a train (up to 3 dozen at a time), transporting coal from the coal mines of South Yorkshire to the east coast port of Goole for trans-shipment.

Three groups of boats that satisfy the basic criteria of barges but are not generally referred to as such are 'narrowboats', 'lighters' and 'flats'.

Joeys - Day boats

Joshers named after Joshua Fellows, of Fellows, Morton and Clayton; they were characterised by a a front cabin

Find bargain barges for sale or to hire, vintage sailing and motor vessels plus other marine and boating information with Barges.eu