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Stowage solution · Barge

Barge stowage planning software

Plan deck cargo on 180–330 ft barges for heavy equipment, steel structures, project modules and coal. Cargo is drawn to scale on the deck layout, zone loads show as a heatmap, and drafts, trim and stability are recalculated every time cargo moves. The barge module is part of the first rollout wave.

Rollout wave 1Plan Cargo. Balance Vessel. Sail Safer.

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Vessel Planner · Demo vessel Illustration
  • Cargo in suitable zones
  • Cargo CoG close to target
  • Stability & strength from the deterministic engine
Illustration with a fictional vessel and sample data — not a stability calculation result. Shore-side planning & decision support. The class-approved onboard loading computer remains the official reference.

Problems it solves

Deck layouts drawn by hand

Barge layouts are often drawn in CAD or on paper without zone load calculations. Heavy items over weak zones or without lashing room are discovered during loading.

CoG and trim are guessed

A towed barge needs a slight trim by the stern and no list. Without a combined centre of gravity, operators reposition cargo several times at the quay.

Surveyor documents rebuilt every time

Marine warranty surveyors, tug masters and cargo owners ask for the layout, weights, CoG and sea-fastening plan. Rebuilding them for every shipment takes time.

Used by: Barge and tug operatorsMarine superintendents of barge fleetsProject freight forwardersMining and EPC cargo ownersMarine warranty surveyors (reviewers)

What is modelled

  • Scaled deck area with zones of different allowable loads (t/m²)
  • Lashing points, bollards and side boards
  • Ballast tanks and below-deck compartments
  • Coal or bulk carried on deck as heaps per segment
  • Crane working area and forklift or SPMT access routes

Checked on every move

  • Deck load per zone

    Cargo weight divided by footprint, including the spread from dunnage or grillage, is compared with the barge’s allowable zone load (t/m²).

  • Combined centre of gravity

    LCG, TCG and VCG of all cargo are calculated continuously and shown on the layout as the combined CoG against the target.

  • Barge trim and heel

    Forward, aft and mean drafts from the hydrostatic table, with a warning when trim by the head or list exceeds the set limits.

  • Stability and windage

    GM and the stability criteria that apply to the barge are checked, including the extra wind area of tall deck cargo.

  • Sea-fastening clearance

    Gaps between items and to the deck edge are checked so there is room for lashings, stoppers and crew access.

  • Freeboard and draft

    The final draft is compared with the maximum draft and with the channel or berth depth entered for the voyage.

Shore-side planning & decision support. The class-approved onboard loading computer remains the official reference.

Workflow

  1. Build the barge from a template

    Start from a 300 ft barge template, adjust dimensions, deck load zones, lashing points and tanks, then import hydrostatics from the stability booklet.

  2. Enter the cargo list

    Type it in, import Excel/CSV or extract it from a packing list; the user confirms each item’s dimensions, weight and CoG.

  3. Arrange cargo on the deck plan

    Drag and drop items as real shapes; the zone load heatmap, combined CoG, drafts and trim update with every move.

  4. Review and issue

    Send it to the superintendent and the tug master for approval, then issue the deck layout PDF, cargo list and stability condition.

Outputs

  • Scaled deck layout with cargo positions and orientation (PDF)
  • Cargo list with weights, dimensions and CoG
  • Deck load heatmap per zone
  • Stability condition: drafts, trim, heel, GM
  • Summary pack for the marine warranty surveyor and tug master

Example scenario

Illustration — fictional vessel, not a customer case study

Illustrative 300 ft barge with mining equipment

Situation

Illustration with a fictional 300 ft barge (91.4 × 24.4 m) carrying 6 excavators, 10 dump trucks and 2 steel structure modules, about 1,150 t in total, with an example allowable deck load of 10 t/m².

Steps in the planner

  1. 01The cargo list is imported from Excel; the steel modules’ weights and CoG are taken from the fabricator’s drawings and confirmed by the planner.
  2. 02The first layout trims the barge 0.25 m by the head because both steel modules sit in the forward third.
  3. 03The planner moves one module aft and swaps two excavators; trim becomes 0.15 m by the stern with zero list.
  4. 04The heatmap shows the excavator tracks above the zone limit, so timber dunnage is added to spread the load below it.

Result

Illustrative result: every zone is below its limit, the barge has a slight stern trim for towing, and the layout PDF is ready for the surveyor’s review.

Illustration with a fictional vessel and sample data — not a stability calculation result. Shore-side planning & decision support. The class-approved onboard loading computer remains the official reference.

See it with your vessel data

A demo video is coming. Meanwhile we schedule a live demo with a demo vessel or your own vessel data.

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Frequently asked questions

Which barge sizes are supported?

Deck cargo and flat-top barges in the common 180–330 ft range. Dimensions, deck zones, tanks and hydrostatics are entered per unit in the Vessel Builder, so other sizes can be modelled too.

Can it be used for coal barges?

Yes for layout and loading condition: coal is modelled as heaps per deck segment so trim and draft are visible. Staged bulk loading sequences and full draft surveys belong to the bulk module, which is rolling out in stages.

Are the results class approved?

Not yet. Calculations are shore-side planning and decision support. The class-approved stability booklet and loading computer remain the official reference, and sea-fastening plans still need a marine warranty surveyor’s review where required.

What vessel data is needed?

Main dimensions, lightship weight and centre of gravity, hydrostatic tables, KN, tanks and allowable deck load per zone. Data is imported from the stability booklet via Excel/CSV and carries a verification status: Draft → Internal → Naval architect.

Other vessel types

Plan Cargo. Balance Vessel. Sail Safer.

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