Pallet Shuttle Barge
A Pallet Shuttle Barge or PSB is a cargo ship designed to operate on inland waterways for the transport of goods on pallets or in big bags. It is a type of catamaran with two parallel hulls supporting a vast cargo deck. It was designed to offer a competitive alternative to freighter trucks to reduce traffic congestion[1] and carbon emissions. One PSB has the same loading capacity as 10 cargo trucks cutting carbon emissions by a third.[2]
Compared with traditional freighters the PSB also offers a number of advantages:
- A small draft (2,2 m when fully laden) allowing access to undeep waterways[3]
- A safe and shorter loading and unloading process because the goods do not need to be moved into containers first.
- Goods are transported directly on deck, not placed in a hold.[3] The deck offers space for 200 pallets per layer, stacked up to at least 4 m high.
- Smaller size barges resulting in lower operational costs and allowing access to smaller inland waterways.[4]
- Equipped with its own crane enabling independent loading and unloading, requiring little or no port infrastructure.[3]
- Equipped with Azimuth thruster propulsion and bow-thrusters using less power than trucks to transport the same quantities.
- No living accommodation on board of the barge.
- Operable by single crew.
History[edit]
The Pallet Shuttle Barge was invented by Antoon Van Coillie. The first one was built in 2014 and was commissioned by Blue Line Logistics nv.[5]
Capacity[edit]
It has a carrying capacity of 300 T or 198 euro pallets.[6]
In a further development of the PSB concept, 2 larger units called Maxi ZULU with a carrying capacity of 450T will be built in 2020.
Dimensions[edit]
Its standard dimensions are 50 m long and 6,6 m wide. Its draft is up to 2,2 m when fully laden.[4]
The Maxi ZULU version is planned to be 54 m long and 8 m wide, its draft will still be limited to 2,2 m at full load.
Fleet[edit]
Currently there are two Pallet Shuttle Barges.[7][8] They carry the name ZULU. The PSB fleet will be expanded to 30 or 40 vessels.[9]
| Name | Country | Construction year | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZULU01 | Belgium | 2014 | 300T |
| ZULU02 | Belgium | 2015 | 300T |
| ZULU03 | Belgium | 2018 | 300T |
| ZULU04 | Belgium | 2018 | 300T |
References[edit]
- ^ Huysmans, Luc (2014). "Veel wegvervoer kan naar het water". Trends. pp. 56–59.
- ^ "Scheepvaartkrant wk 46-47". content.yudu.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ^ a b c Smedt, Leen De. "Uniek schip maakt vervoer via Dender aantrekkelijker". Het Nieuwsblad. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ^ a b "Catamarans vol palletten" (PDF). Binnenvaart: 8–10. 2014.
- ^ "Blue Line Logistics - Home". www.bluelinelogistics.eu. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ^ Webdesign, Insyde. "Vlaamse Pallet Shuttle Barges komen ook naar Nederland". www.maritiemnederland.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ^ "Vessel details for: ZULU 01 (Inland, Motor Freighter) - MMSI 205527790, Call Sign OT5277 Registered in Belgium | AIS Marine Traffic". MarineTraffic.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ^ Effusion, Ewout Boers -. "ZULU 02 | 06105497 | Pallet Shuttle Barge | Binnenvaart.eu". www.binnenvaart.eu. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ^ "Port of Antwerp". www.portofantwerp.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.