Florida Marine Transporters has added tank barge FMT 3008 to its fleet. The barge, the second of several being built by Trinity Marine Products, Inc., reflects an ongoing commitment by Florida Marine to shift to double-skin tank barge equipment.
"Double-skin" tank barges, designed with an interior cargo shell and a secondary exterior hull, are primarily used for transport of petrochemical products over the nation's waterways. The hull configuration is designed to reduce cargo spills resulting from collisions, which rupture the barge hull. OPA 90 mandates all tank barges be "double-hulled" by the year 2015. Florida Marine has responded by moving well ahead of the mandated date, to make these barges available.
