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When to Replace an Aluminum Workboat
Aluminum has been the default material for U.S. commercial workboats for decades, and for good reason: it is light, weldable, and well understood by the country’s shipyards. But every aluminum hull has a finite service life, and most operators wait too long to retire one. The cost of running a fatigued hull — in downtime, […]
Material Properties and Hull Design of HDPE Barges
When marine engineers evaluate hull materials for working barges, the conversation has traditionally centered on aluminum and steel. Over the past two decades, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has moved from a fringe option to a mainstream choice for purpose-built workboats and barges, particularly in applications involving abrasion, impact, and long service intervals. This shift is grounded […]
