Typically, there is a main engine used for basic forward and aft movement, and an auxiliary engine in the rear used to control the barge’s lateral movement or to stop the barge from drifting. The engines help navigate the barge. The placement of the engines on the barge determines the direction of the barge’s travel. The engines are turned on individually or both, as needed, depending on the situation. These barges are loaded several meters deep into the sea, as they can sink into the sea when completely full and get stuck near a shallow area when loaded. The captains of the barges are guided by latitude and longitude to consider the working conditions in any weather. In addition, the speed of the barge is measured in nautical miles per hour (Nmi/hr).
- Barge tracking and monitoring in real time via the Internet.
- Provision for engine hours calculation. Since regular engine/barge maintenance depends on how many hours the engine is running (Engine Hours).
- Since there are two or more engines, it is possible to determine the ignition status for each of these engines independently and thus know which engine was “on” for what amount of time (Ignition 1 and Ignition 2).
- Precautions to know when the barge is “drifting.” This is a potentially dangerous situation and the barge owner must be warned. There is already a solution for this (Drift Alert).
- Accurate and real-time information helps smart operations.
- Timely warnings to avoid any dangerous situation.
Route mapping. - Information on speeding, emergencies and route violations.
- Safety and security features.