Barge

A barge is a flat-bottomed boat with a long structure, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. The word originally could refer to any small boat; the modern meaning arose around 1480.

A barge carrying recycling material on Deûle channel in Lambersart, France By F. Lamiot 

The world's first ever patent was granted in 1421 to architect Filippo Brunelleschi in Florence to make a barge crane to transport marble.

During the later Middle Ages, members of the English nobility whose homes were on the banks of the Thames, almost exclusively made use of barges. These were equipped most luxuriously. In 1454, Sir John Norman, Mayor of London, had his own barge built. It was of impressive dimensions and noble appearance, with silver oars. 

During the reign of Henry VIII, a bargeman's occupation was much sought after in Britain, and many ruffians and persons of low repute joined their rank. Such unsuitable individuals introduced an element of unruliness among bargemen and caused frequent collisions and accidents. Matters went so out of hand that urgent control measures were needed. For this purpose, in 1555, the Watermen's Union was established.

From 1825 there was competition from the railways. Eventually the British rail system took over from canal traffic in many countries due to the higher speed, falling costs and route flexibility of rail transport.

Today, barges are used for low-value bulk items, as the cost of hauling goods by them is very low. Barges are also used for very heavy or bulky items. Open-hopper barges carry coal, gravel, and large equipment; covered dry-cargo barges are used for grain, dry chemicals, and other commodities that must be kept dry; tank barges carry petroleum and liquid chemicals. 

Barges may be self-propelled, usually with a slow-revving diesel engine and a large-diameter fixed-pitch propeller. Otherwise, "dumb barges" are pushed or pulled by tugboats and towboats; one towboat may pull as many as 40 barges lashed together.

The long pole used to maneuver or propel a barge have given rise to the saying "I wouldn't touch that [subject/thing] with a barge pole."

Sources Europress Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia