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“Barges, Not Bargeships!”

Next time you’re sailing on the Danube and see enormous vessels gliding silently across the water, chances are you’ve come across HSP’s TS-type barges. These “giants of a thousand faces” are not only experts in transporting steel bridge structures — they play an indispensable role in major domestic and international bridge construction, demolition, and special event projects.
And here’s the interesting part: they’re barges, not bargeships — and that difference is far more important than you might think.

In everyday language, the two terms are often confused, but the key distinction is simple: a bargeship (or lighter) is equipped with steering and can maneuver independently, whereas a barge is a non-self-propelled floating unit that must be towed or pushed. This seemingly small difference carries major advantages when it comes to bridge construction or heavy transport operations. Thanks to their high load capacity and stability, barges are ideal for moving large steel structures, creating pontoon bridges, and operating in locations where shore-based infrastructure is limited or temporary.

Unmanned floating equipments…

The HSP fleet currently includes twelve TS-type barges in three different sizes: six units of 80 meters, two units of 52 meters, and four units of 40 meters, each 10 meters wide. Their load capacities range between 750 and 1,500 tons, and each has a gangway rated for 80 tons, with a distributed load of 3 tons per square meter. The 52-meter units are particularly noteworthy: equipped with lifting mechanisms, they are the result of HSP’s own in-house engineering innovation, created by converting 40-meter barges to meet specific project requirements. All barges are unmanned floating vessels, operated by push boats or tugboats.

One of the special applications of the TS barges is the creation of temporary barge bridges. By connecting several barges, HSP can establish a temporary crossing without the need for pre-built shore connections. This solution is fast, flexible, and deployable on any suitable river section — for example, during large-scale construction projects where temporary road access is required between work areas.

 

Unvisible heroes

Our barges have played a key role in nearly every major river infrastructure project in Hungary: in Komárom, Dunaújváros, and Budapest, as well as in the Tomori Pál Bridge linking Paks and Kalocsa, the Complex Tisza Lake Project, the Gönyű Port development, and construction works in Csongrád. They have also proven their versatility at major Danube events, including the “Átmentem” performance and the opening ceremony of the 2017 FINA World Championships, and they remain an essential part of Budapest’s August 20 national fireworks every year.
Their story continues: the TS barges are currently in action in Mohács, playing a crucial role in bridge construction, and in Belgrade, where they are heavily involved in the demolition of the Old Sava Bridge.

The TS-type barges are the unsung heroes of waterborne infrastructure development — stable, versatile, and capable of carrying enormous loads. While the public may only see them from the riverbank during celebrations, professionals in the field know: without them, bridges, ports, and large-scale river projects simply wouldn’t be possible.