It will depend on the barge. Sometimes the unloading of ballasts will be the deciding load rate. The people that should be answering that question should be the owners of the barge or the Captain of the tug moving the barge. Out of curiosity what are you loading? ■

Only few barges have ballast system. Usually they have only cofferdams (dry tanks). But even if the ballast operations is required and loading rate greater than deballasting rate, ballast can be pumped out before loading commence at an anchorage area or free berth. To avoid any lose of time, it’s better to put this issue into charter party as additional agreement. Any barge in shelter water will have satisfactory stability without any cargo and ballast. ■

Vladimir is correct. Be sure to have the specifics and loading rate in your agreement. Loading rates are usually not as important in loading barges unless you are tying up a tug. ■