DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW GENERATION OF INLAND WATERWAYS MAINTENANCE CRAFT FOR THE BRITISH WATERWAYS NARROW BEAM CANAL SYSTEM

摘要

In early 2002 British Waterways initiated a programme to develop a new generation of standard maintenance craft, initially aimed at the narrow beam canals. This paper covers the development of the Narrow Beam Maintenance Craft System from the preliminary concept of modular floating and shore based accommodation units through to the complete equipment package including tugs, barges, lorries and a variety of integrated equipment packages. The paper identifies where the use of traditional and new concepts have been brought together to evolve into a maintenance system to meet the demands of British Waterways. The introduction of this system has involved significant input from all of the narrow beam regions of British Waterways and a general review of all the maintenance practices currently employed within British Waterways.