Tips & Advice Posts

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is the preeminent authority on barge classification and regulation for barge classification in the nation and a leading global authority on these subjects. Founded in 1862, the classification society’s mission is “to serve the public interest as well as the needs of our members and clients by promoting the security of life and property, and preserving the natural environment.”The ABS has committed itself for nearly 160 years to promoting safety, service, and solutions to the maritime industry. Today, the ABS works with vessel manufacturers and barge operators to ensure that regulatory and safety standards are met. When the ABS officially classifies a barge, you can be assured that the vessel meets rigorous industry standards.Barges today can be classified over a dozen different ways. Tank barges are best suited for transporting chemicals like oil, gas, or fertilizers. Other types of barges can be used to carry heavy equipment or materials, provide accommodations for offshore workers, or transport freight (about 15% of all U.S. freight is moved by barge). In this post, we'll break down the main ways the ABS classifies barges for the U.S.

Tank Barges

The ABS classifies tank barges in the following types:

• Oil Tank Barge – This type of barge carries petroleum products with a flash point below 60°C
• Fuel Oil Tank Barge – This type of barge carries petroleum products with a flash point above 60°C
• Chemical Tank Barge – This category of barge carries chemicals considered dangerous/hazardous
• Liquefied Gas Tank Barge – This type of barge carries liquid gasses
• Tank Barge – This type includes barges intended to carry liquids that are not chemical or petroleum products
• Independent Tank Barge – Barges of this type carry cargo in independent tanks, and the cargo has a working pressure below 2.06 bar
• Pressure Tank Barge – Barges of this type carry cargo in independent tanks, and the cargo has a working pressure at or above 2.06 bar
• Fuel Oil or Chemical Tank Barge – Vessels carrying either petroleum products classified as “fuel oil” or chemical products. These barges are not approved to carry them at the same time
• Fuel Oil and Chemical Tank Barge – Vessels of this category carry both petroleum products classified as “fuel oil” and chemical products at the same time
• Oil or Chemical Tank Barge – Barges of this kind carry either petroleum products classified as “oil” or chemical products, but they are not approved to carry them at the same time
• Oil and Chemical Tank Barge – Barges of this kind carry both petroleum products classified as “oil” and chemical products at the same time

Other Types of Barges

Other types of barges classified by the ABS include:

• ITB Barges – A tug-barge combo where the two are connected with a specialty connection, connecting the tug to the barge by mechanical means other than simple rope, chain, lines, or tackle
• Oil Spill Recovery Barges – These barges (OSR) are specifically intended to recover spilled oil
• Crane CRC Barges – This type of barge has a permanently-mounted crane onboard used for work other than supply provision and maintenance of said barge
• Pipe Laying Barge – Barges in this category are involved in installing subsea pipelines
• Cable Laying Barge – This type of barge is involved in laying, maintaining, and repairing telecommunication and power cables
• Accommodation Barges – Vessels of this type operate offshore as accommodation barges or similar barges that “provide accommodations in support of the workings of the barge”

Determining Classifications

ABS’s classification designations indicate how barges should be used to best ensure safety and regulatory compliance. To learn more about ABS classification, we recommend you consult their recent rules for building and classification document, updated in January of 2019.The ABS also notes that the rules for classification are, unless otherwise noted, “intended for unrestricted ocean service,” and provides safety requirements for manned vessels. Part 5 of the 2019 Rules documentation helps manufacturers design specific barges by type (dry cargo, tank, OSR, etc.) by providing guidance on deck beams, flanges and knees, frames, trusses, and more.

Buy and Sell Used Barges with Eiffel Trading

Eiffel Trading currently has various types of truckable marine equipment. Plus, check out our selection of used concrete formwork, used drill rigs, to used access trestle and used hdpe pipe, and more.Ready to sell your used equipment or material? Fill out a form to get started!Eiffel Trading’s dedicated and experienced team is available to help buyers and sellers connect, negotiate, provide free freight quotes, and more. Let us help you every step of the way. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.Rules for Building and Classing Steel Barges – 2019Rules for Building and Classing Steel Barges – 2019 document.*

Creating a cohesive company culture of any kind is more difficult in construction. Workers in the field may rarely interact with employees in the office. Additionally, temporary and seasonal employees in the field may not be around for long enough to gain a clear understanding of company culture, unless management puts forth extra effort to build and improve the culture of jobsites and the morale of workers. A culture of success can boost productivity and employee satisfaction significantly, however, and it’s in your best interest not to overlook the importance of culture building. Here are three things you can start doing now to foster a company culture of success:<h3>1. Educate about your mission.</h3>On day one of any employee’s tenure at your company, you should have your managers not only take some time to provide an overview of the job and job goals. You should also make sure your managers spend time educating about the history of your company, your mission, and how each particular employee helps you fulfill your mission. Explaining the “why” of what you do and what your employees will be doing can help them better understand that they’re a part of something bigger than just their day-to-day life on the job, and it can help you build a culture of motivation.<h3>2. Create a highly visible rewards system.</h3>Create incentive programs for high-performing employees, and make sure all of your employees know that such programs exist. If your crews know that they’ll be rewarded and recognized for their hard work, they’re more likely to put their best feet forward.<h3>3. Solicit feedback from your employees and <em>listen</em>.</h3>It’s a great idea to send out company-wide surveys regularly that ask employees about their job satisfaction, interpersonal relationships on the job, and things that may be hindering their productivity. Read the surveys carefully, and see what you can feasibly do to make the experience of working for you better and more conducive to better work from your employees.

Need a trestle for crane access or bridge support? Finding this kind of construction material for sale online and offline can be more challenging than finding more commonly used materials like pipe and sheet pile. That doesn’t mean you should give up your search for trestle or any other material that’s harder to find. And it doesn’t mean you should pay a ton for brand new materials or materials built specifically for you. You have other options. Here are some things to consider:

• How quickly you need it. If you need it tomorrow, you might need to buy locally and pay a bit more. If you can wait a week or two, buying it online, especially if it’s used trestle, can save you some money.
• What’s best for your project’s budget. There’s no reason to exceed your budget because you pay full price for a bunch of new materials. See if you can find used materials that meet your needs. Buying secondary materials can save you some serious cash.
• The quality of materials you need. Make sure you buy from a seller that provides you with detailed information about the quality and condition of the trestle.
• Whether or not you need to buy other materials at the same time. If you’re looking to buy a number of different materials in addition to trestle, an online marketplace that sells secondary materials for contractors is ideal. Being able to buy everyone in one place will simplify your buying process and make the start of your project easier overall.
• Whether or not you’ll be able to sell it back once a project is over. If you only need trestle for one specific upcoming project and won’t need it anymore after that project is complete, it can be a great idea to purchase from an online secondary marketplace, where you can list the trestle when you’re ready for someone to take it off your hands. Buying and selling back all in one place is a major convenience.

Ready to buy some used trestle for an upcoming project? Take a look at our options! 

Are you at a loss as to what to do with those wide flange beams you don’t need anymore? Here are four possible options for getting rid of them and making a profit, some of which are better options than others:1. Sell them to a scrap metal recycler.This is an ok option if you want to get rid of your beams quickly. It’s not the best option for making a profit, though. Scrap metal recyclers often pay you far below market value for your materials. Keep this in mind and decide if you can wait a little longer and pursue a more profitable option.2. List on a global trade platform.Sites like Alibaba allow you to sell secondary materials like wide flange beams. Unfortunately, these sites also typically charge you to list or become a regular seller. Additionally, they price materials low so they’ll sell faster. Ultimately, they’re not the best choice unless you’ve already paid for a membership that entitles you to complimentary listings.3. Sell to an online beam seller.The way this typically works is that you contact the seller, and they provide you with a quote for what they’re willing to pay for your beams. In most cases, they also offer under market value for your materials. They’re usually small, mom and pop operations that have to offer you less out of necessity for their bottom line.4. List on an online marketplace for contractors.An online marketplace for contractors that allows you to list a variety of different secondary equipment and materials is, in our opinion, your best bet. This type of marketplace will allow you to pick your price, sell for a fair price, and retain your selling rights. It will also help you attract potential industry buyers who are shopping for other materials and stumble upon yours in the process. This can mean a quicker sale and faster profit.Interested in listing your wide flange beams or other type of beams at Eiffel Trading Company? Start the easy process here!

What are you going to do with all of that hot rolled sheet pile or cold formed sheet pile you don’t need anymore? Selling it is a great idea, and selling it online is an even greater one, in terms of convenience. However, there’s a science to selling your sheet pile and other materials online. Here are four tips to help you get the most out of your selling experience:1. Avoid selling on a global goods marketplace.Sites like Alibaba will help you sell your sheet pile for the lowest price possible. They sell anything and everything on a global scale. This usually means lower quality for consumers and less profit for sellers. They also typically charge you to list and take longer to post your items, especially if you don’t pay for listings or a membership. Selling your sheet pile on a marketplace that specifically targets contractors means you’re targeting the right audience. It also means your listing gets the attention it deserves because the marketplace isn’t too big for it to fly under the radar.2. Check site quality before you list.As you’re searching for sites where you can list your sheet pile, you may find some that specialize in selling sheet pile specifically that look like they haven’t been updated by the site owner in a while. Although it doesn’t necessarily hurt to list your materials on these sites, it may not necessarily be the best use of your time and effort. Site quality can reflect things like how fast your listing goes up and how well your materials are marketed to potential customers, so consider only listing on sites that look presentable.3. Price according to market value.There’s no need to lower your price or settle for less. The right buyer will come, particularly if the site you list on markets itself well to industry buyers. On the other hand, you probably shouldn’t price above the market value of your sheet pile.4. Keep your selling rights.Auction sites and other types of listing sites may request that you hand over your selling rights. This means you can’t advertise your sheet pile anywhere else. Options like Eiffel Trading Company allow you to retain your selling rights, which means you have the freedom to pursue other channels for selling your secondary materials while we also help find you a buyer.Now’s a great time to try to sell your secondary sheet pile. Learn more about listing with us!

Looking for the best place to sell your surplus stainless steel pipe, carbon pipe, fencing pipe, galvanized pipe, corrugated pipe, or other type of pipe? An online marketplace can be the perfect option. Here are five reasons why:1. It’s a great way to make an extra profit.Instead of collecting rust, your surplus pipe can bring in some extra cash to your business. Listing it and selling it on an online marketplace is a great way to get rid of it while giving you the opportunity to make a profit.2. It’s requires minimal effort on your part.You can just create your listing, set it, and forget it until it’s time to transport the pipe. Marketplaces like Eiffel Trading will take care of the marketing and all of the other moving pieces involved in communicating with and reaching out to potential customers.3. It’s a sustainable choice.Plenty of surplus heavy civil and drilling materials end up in landfills. Selling your secondary pipe is the eco-friendly thing to do. It also gives other businesses the opportunity to benefit from the pipe you aren’t using without having to pay full price for new materials.4. It’s free, depending on where you sell.Some surplus pipe sites will charge you to list with them. Luckily, there are free alternatives (like Eiffel Trading Company) that don’t charge you up front and only request a negligible commission once a sale goes through.5. You’ll be able to sell your other materials too.If you just finished a job and have quite a few different types of secondary materials laying around, an online marketplace allows you to sell them all in one place. This simplifies things tremendously and makes profiting off your excess materials easier.If we’ve convinced you an online marketplace is a good match for your needs, list your pipe with us!