Pallet Shuttle Barge Explained
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
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
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
Its standard dimensions are 50 m long and 6,6 m wide. Its draft is up to 2,2 m when fully laden.
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
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 | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Huysmans. Luc. 2014. Veel wegvervoer kan naar het water. Trends. 56–59.
- Web site: Scheepvaartkrant wk 46-47. content.yudu.com. 2016-12-05.
- News: Uniek schip maakt vervoer via Dender aantrekkelijker. Smedt. Leen De. Het Nieuwsblad. 2016-12-05.
- 2014. Catamarans vol palletten. Binnenvaart. 8–10.
- Web site: Blue Line Logistics - Home. www.bluelinelogistics.eu. 2016-12-05.
- Web site: Vlaamse Pallet Shuttle Barges komen ook naar Nederland. Webdesign. Insyde. www.maritiemnederland.com. 2016-12-05.
- Web site: Vessel details for: ZULU 01 (Inland, Motor Freighter) - MMSI 205527790, Call Sign OT5277 Registered in Belgium AIS Marine Traffic. MarineTraffic.com. 2016-12-05.
- Web site: ZULU 02 06105497 Pallet Shuttle Barge Binnenvaart.eu. Effusion. Ewout Boers -. www.binnenvaart.eu. 2016-12-05.
- Web site: Port of Antwerp. www.portofantwerp.com. 2016-12-05.
