USTDA awards $374,250 grant to Madagascar for barge lightering study

USTDA awards $374,250 grant to Madagascar for barge lightering study    The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has awarded Madagascar a $374,250 grant to conduct a feasibility study into barge lightering in the African country’s Mahajanga seaport.
   Mahajanga is the second-largest port in Madagascar, but experiences significant operational and infrastructure problems caused mostly by a silted estuary that limits ship capacity.
   “Because a large expansion and dredging of the port is cost prohibitive and could have negative environmental implications, the proposed project involves the establishment of an offshore loading and unloading system for bulk cargo using tugs and large barges,” USTDA said. “Efficiencies would be gained through the use of larger craft, towed by tugs, on which cargo would be transferred to and from oceangoing vessels.”
   Barge lightering operations are common in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and between Alaska and the U.S. mainland.
   “If the study confirms the project’s viability, multilateral investors could be approached to implement the $10.5 million infrastructure upgrade,” USTDA said.