Barge vs. Vessel — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 28, 2023
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat designed mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods, while a vessel is a general term for any craft designed for transportation on water.
Difference Between Barge and Vessel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Barge and vessel are terms related to watercraft, each serving different purposes in water transportation. A barge is specifically a flat-bottomed boat, primarily designed for transporting heavy goods on rivers, canals, and other shallow waters. It usually lacks its propulsion and requires towage by other vessels or is pushed by towboats. On the contrary, the term vessel is broader, referring to any significant watercraft designed for transporting people or goods across water bodies, including ships, boats, submarines, and canoes, having its means of propulsion.
Barges are distinctive due to their design, focusing on maximizing cargo capacity, with a simplistic and functional structure, often without any superstructure or significant accommodations. They are integral for transporting bulk cargo like coal, grains, or heavy equipment. In contrast, vessels, depending on their type, may come in various designs, sizes, and complexities, featuring accommodations, superstructures, and specialized equipment, designed to serve specific navigational purposes, like cargo shipment, passenger transport, or underwater exploration.
The specificity of the term barge indicates its specialized function and application in waterborne transport, mainly in inland or nearshore waterways, where their flat-bottomed design and high cargo capacity are advantageous. Vessels, being a more encompassing term, implies a variety of applications, encompassing all watercraft used in different nautical environments, including high seas, oceans, rivers, and lakes, each with unique designs and functionalities to meet the demands of their intended use.
In operational terms, barges often depend on external means for propulsion, being towed or pushed, due to the absence of onboard engines, focusing solely on cargo transport with minimal crew. Vessels, however, are generally self-propelled, equipped with engines or sails, and may accommodate crew, passengers, and cargo, being autonomous in navigation and capable of long voyages, with specialized crew managing their operations.
To summarize, while a barge is a specific type of watercraft, designed for transporting heavy goods mainly on shallow waters, requiring external propulsion, a vessel is any craft designed for transportation on water, encompassing a range of types, designs, and functionalities, capable of autonomous navigation.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A flat-bottomed boat mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods.
Any significant craft designed for water transportation.
Propulsion
Typically lacks its propulsion, requires towage.
Generally self-propelled, has its means of propulsion.
Function
Primarily used for transporting bulk cargo.
Can be used for various purposes including transporting people or goods, exploration, etc.
Design
Simplistic, functional, often without superstructure.
Can have varied and complex designs, with accommodations and specialized equipment.
Application
Mostly used in inland or nearshore waterways.
Used in different nautical environments including high seas, rivers, lakes, etc.
Compare with Definitions
Barge
A vessel typically without its means of propulsion, requiring towage or push by other watercraft.
The tugboat was powerful enough to tow the fully-loaded barge upstream.
Vessel
Any craft designed for transportation on water, including ships, boats, submarines, and more.
The vessel sailed smoothly across the vast ocean.
Barge
A functional and simplistic watercraft, integral for bulk cargo transport on shallow waters.
Barges are commonly used for transporting agricultural products along canals.
Vessel
A significant watercraft, typically self-propelled and capable of autonomous navigation.
The vessel had powerful engines, allowing it to traverse long distances efficiently.
Barge
A vessel mainly used in inland or nearshore waterways due to its flat-bottomed design.
The barge is ideal for navigation in areas with shallow waters.
Vessel
A watercraft that can be used for various navigational purposes like cargo shipment, passenger transport, or exploration.
The research vessel was equipped with advanced underwater exploration tools.
Barge
A specialized watercraft with high cargo capacity, often lacking significant accommodations or superstructure.
The simplicity of the barge's design allows for maximum cargo space.
Vessel
A term encompassing all watercraft used in different nautical environments, each with unique functionalities.
Each vessel in the fleet had a specialized role, contributing to the overall naval capability.
Barge
A barge is a shoal-draft flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of bulk goods. Originally barges were towed by draft horses on an adjacent towpath.
Vessel
A craft that may come in various designs, sizes, and complexities, depending on its intended use.
The luxury vessel featured elegant designs and high-end accommodations.
Barge
A long, large, usually flatbottom boat for transporting freight that is generally unpowered and towed or pushed by other craft.
Vessel
A ship or large boat.
Barge
A large, open pleasure boat used for parties, pageants, or formal ceremonies.
Vessel
A hollow container, especially one used to hold liquid, such as a bowl or cask.
Barge
A powerboat reserved for the use of an admiral.
Vessel
A duct or canal holding or conveying blood or other fluid.
Barge
To carry by barge.
Vessel
A hollow utensil, such as a cup, vase, or pitcher, used as a container, especially for liquids.
Barge
To move about clumsily.
Vessel
(Nautical) A craft, especially one larger than a rowboat, designed to navigate on water.
Barge
To intrude or interrupt, especially rudely
Barged into the meeting.
Vessel
An airship.
Barge
A large flat-bottomed towed or self-propelled boat used mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods or bulk cargo.
Vessel
(Anatomy) A duct, canal, or other tube that contains or conveys a body fluid
A blood vessel.
Barge
A richly decorated ceremonial state vessel propelled by rowers for river processions.
Vessel
(Botany) One of the tubular water-conducting structures of xylem, consisting of a series of vessel elements attached end to end and connected by perforations. Vessels are found in nearly all flowering plants.
Barge
A large flat-bottomed coastal trading vessel having a large spritsail and jib-headed topsail, a fore staysail and a very small mizen, and having leeboards instead of a keel.
Vessel
A person seen as the agent or embodiment, as of a quality
A vessel of mercy.
Barge
One of the boats of a warship having fourteen oars
Vessel
(nautical) Any craft designed for transportation on water, such as a ship or boat.
Barge
The wooden disk in which bread or biscuit is placed on a mess table.
Vessel
A craft designed for transportation through air or space.
Barge
(US) A double-decked passenger or freight vessel, towed by a steamboat.
Vessel
Dishes and cutlery collectively, especially if made of precious metals.
Barge
A large omnibus used for excursions.
Vessel
A container of liquid or other substance, such as a glass, goblet, cup, bottle, bowl, or pitcher.
Barge
To intrude or break through, particularly in an unwelcome or clumsy manner.
Vessel
A person as a container of qualities or feelings.
A teacher should be a vessel of knowledge.
Barge
(transitive) To push someone.
Vessel
(biology) A tube or canal that carries fluid in an animal or plant.
Blood and lymph vessels are found in humans; xylem and phloem vessels are found in plants.
Barge
A pleasure boat; a vessel or boat of state, elegantly furnished and decorated.
Vessel
(transitive) To put into a vessel.
Barge
A large, roomy boat for the conveyance of passengers or goods; as, a ship's barge; a charcoal barge.
Vessel
A hollow or concave utensil for holding anything; a hollow receptacle of any kind, as a hogshead, a barrel, a firkin, a bottle, a kettle, a cup, a bowl, etc.
[They drank] out of these noble vessels.
Barge
A large boat used by flag officers.
Vessel
A general name for any hollow structure made to float upon the water for purposes of navigation; especially, one that is larger than a common rowboat; as, a war vessel; a passenger vessel.
[He] began to build a vessel of huge bulk.
Barge
A double-decked passenger or freight vessel, towed by a steamboat.
Vessel
Fig.: A person regarded as receiving or containing something; esp. (Script.), one into whom something is conceived as poured, or in whom something is stored for use; as, vessels of wrath or mercy.
He is a chosen vessel unto me.
[The serpent] fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whomTo enter.
Barge
A large omnibus used for excursions.
Vessel
Any tube or canal in which the blood or other fluids are contained, secreted, or circulated, as the arteries, veins, lymphatics, etc.
Barge
A flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)
Vessel
A continuous tube formed from superposed large cylindrical or prismatic cells (tracheæ), which have lost their intervening partitions, and are usually marked with dots, pits, rings, or spirals by internal deposition of secondary membranes; a duct.
Barge
Push one's way;
She barged into the meeting room
Vessel
To put into a vessel.
Barge
Transport by barge on a body of water
Vessel
A tube in which a body fluid circulates
Barge
A flat-bottomed boat designed for transporting heavy goods primarily on rivers and canals.
The barge was loaded with coal and traversed the calm river.
Vessel
A craft designed for water transportation
Vessel
An object used as a container (especially for liquids)
Common Curiosities
Can the term vessel refer to any watercraft?
Yes, the term vessel is a general term that can refer to any significant craft designed for water transportation, including ships, boats, submarines, and more.
Is a vessel only used for cargo transport?
No, a vessel can be used for various purposes including transporting people, cargo, exploration, and more, depending on its design and function.
Do barges have their means of propulsion?
Barges typically lack their means of propulsion and usually require towage or are pushed by other watercraft.
Can vessels navigate autonomously?
Generally, vessels are designed to be self-propelled and capable of autonomous navigation, equipped with engines or sails.
Are barges designed for shallow waters?
Yes, barges, with their flat-bottomed design, are primarily used in shallow waters such as rivers and canals.
What is a barge primarily used for?
A barge is primarily used for transporting heavy goods, mainly on rivers and canals.
Is the design of a barge complex?
No, barges usually have a simplistic and functional design, often without any superstructure or significant accommodations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
