Columbia Coastal adds U.S.-built container barge

Columbia Coastal adds U.S.-built container barge    Columbia Coastal Transport, the U.S.-flag container feeder barge operator based in Liberty Corner, N.J., will introduce a 912-TEU container barge this month for its U.S. East Coast service.
   The “Columbia Boston” will be available to transport empty, full containers and project cargoes moving between ports on the U.S. eastern seaboard.
   Columbia Coastal said the U.S.-built, 343-feet-long “super-barge” is a sistership to a barge put into service by the company four years ago.
   “With the government’s focus on short-sea shipping, our all-water transportation alternative for cargo and empties moving between ports can help alleviate port and highway congestion moving forward,” said Columbia Coastal president, Bruce Fenimore.
   Columbia Coastal Transport operates 11 U.S.-flag container barges in scheduled feeder service operations to and from ports on the U.S. Atlantic coast, plus Freeport Bahamas. Columbia Coastal also operates a barge service between the port of New York/New Jersey and Albany, N.Y.