Barges can also be used as large flat-bottomed ships carrying passengers and cargo on canals and rivers. They have no power propulsion device, no self-propelled ability, and are driven by motor boats. It is mainly used for passenger and freight transportation. Barges can be towed by tugs or pushed by push boats alone or in formation.

Barges that cooperate with bucket dredgers, bucket dredgers and grab dredgers to transport dredged sediment are self-propelled and non-self-propelled. There are many types of mud barges, such as open bottom type, open side type and closed bottom type. There are movable mud doors on the bottom of the open bottom mud barge. The open side mud barge is equipped with movable mud doors at the bilge on both sides. Open the mud doors to discharge mud automatically.