Get to know the vital terms of Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
LASH barges, also known as Lighter Aboard Ship barges, are small, flat-bottomed cargo vessels used to carry shipping in a modular transport system. These barges are loaded with different cargoes like bulk materials, equipment, and large shipments, and then they are hoisted aboard the LASH vessel, which allows it to be very versatile in transporting goods globally.
LASH barges allow cargo to be transferred easily in shallow or confined port areas where larger cargo vessels cannot be docked. It works this way:
Cargo Loading: LASH barges are loaded by goods at small ports, along an inland waterway, or at a storage facility. This can be done at riversides beside the dock, where goods can be packed and secured, or in industrial loading zones.
Lifting Onto LASH Vessel: Once loaded up to capacity, the barges are lifted onto the mother ship through cranes provided on the LASH vessel. The lifting system allows for a plug-and-play scenario whereby a number of preloaded barges can be speedily positioned onto the vessel for onward transportation.
Hence, the barge can then be towed downstream to the destination where barges are withdrawn from the water and hauled directly to either the ultimate unloading point or the inshore points. In this way, congestion in behemoths reduces port operations along with easy access to areas that only have limited docking capacity.
Cost-Saving Benefits Transport: All types of cargo can be carried on one LASH vessel, which reduces costs on transportation and prevents the need to have several shipping arrangements for different cargo types .
Access to Shallow Ports: LASH barges are highly suitable for shallow ports and seabeds or for places where deep-sea ports are lacking, making them particularly valuable for inland shipping routes.
Multi-Purpose Cargo Handling: LASH barges can carry varied cargo items with the capability of managing bulk as well as non-standard loads that might be challenging or impossible to transport by ordinary container ships.
LASH barges provide different varieties of flexibility and efficiency in logistics, always making it easy to move cargo across waterways and oceans. Additionally, they provide direct access to shallow or restricted ports for international trade by providing key roles in the regions that have limited infrastructure.