The United States uses marine barges to ship all kinds of products and materials. One report found about 30,000 Hopper and 3,800 Tank Barges operating in the US to help keep up with shipping demands.
One thing that slows down those barges is damage and degradation caused by water and the elements. That’s why it’s important to keep up with the barge maintenance.
We put together a guide to explain everything you need to know about inland marine barge boat maintenance. Keep reading to learn how to extend the life of your marine barge.
Inland Marine Barge Boat Maintenance Procedures
When you get ready to do your maintenance, make sure to secure your inland barges in floating dry docks so you can access the underside of the boat. These are the three different kinds of vessel repairs and maintenance you’ll need to perform.
Conditioning Maintenance Checks
Every now and then, put eyes on all the machinery to make sure they are in good repair. You can put an automatic conditioning monitoring system in place. But, make sure you interpret the data the right way to avoid expensive large barge repairs later.
Preventative Maintenance Tasks
An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. The same goes for your barge. Some owners do preventative maintenance after so many hours of operation, while others choose intervals based on the calendar.
Repair Maintenance
When something breaks down, you’ll need to do the barge repair ASAP! The longer you let the problem persist, the more complicated the repair gets. Consider having a mechanic on staff for quick repair services when you need them the most.
A recent study found that barge prices have gone up significantly in the last few years. Any barge downtime prevents you from cashing in on this opportunity!
Where Do You Find Barge Parts?
When you need to replace parts during your marine barge repairs, you can’t run down to the local boat shop and pick up the parts. You’ll want to find a respected marine part company that sells inland marine barge equipment that will last. Ask other barge owners for referrals and check online reviews before you choose a company to supply your replacement barge equipment.
Keeping Records of Your Barge Maintenance
Another thing to note is that you need to keep records of your maintenance schedule to meet USCG regulations. US regulations say that you need to keep records of your maintenance, testing, and calibration for at least 2 years in case of an audit.
Don’t Let Maintenance Issues Barge In on Your Profits
It’s easy to let your barges fall into disrepair if you don’t keep up on maintenance. But, that puts your cargo at risk of loss or damage.
Don’t risk losing your profits because of poor inland marine barge boat maintenance. Keep this article in mind so you can keep your barge seaworthy for as long as possible.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned all about barge maintenance (marine). If you’re in need of quality equipment for your barge anywhere on the US inland water ways or if you have questions about this article, contact us today!
