Patent ID: 8327789

Claim:
In combination: a sectional barge assembly, comprising: at least a first barge and a second barge, said barges each having an upper exposed deck; a plurality of first connection elements on at least one side wall and at least one end wall of said first barge; a plurality of second connection elements on at least one side wall and at least one end wall of said second barge aligned with said plurality of first connection elements; and connector devices of a given configuration interconnecting some of said plurality of first connection elements and said plurality of second connection elements on said side wall or said end wall, respectively, to thereby connect said first barge and said second barge together; a non-buoyant thruster unit for maneuvering said sectional barge assembly, said thruster unit comprising: a frame; a hydraulic motor and a propeller drivingly connected to said motor, whereby said propeller provides a thrust force that acts to move said sectional barge assembly; a thruster unit connection element on said frame compatible for connection with said plurality of connection elements, a connector device of said given configuration interconnecting said thruster unit connection element to an available one of said plurality of connection elements on said side wall and said end wall of one of said barges to thereby connect said thruster unit to said sectional barge assembly, said thruster unit thereby being detachably connected to a side wall or an end wall of one of said barges and vertically supported thereon; and a power unit comprising an engine and a hydraulic pump driven by said engine and hydraulically connected to said thruster unit motor, said power unit supported on the upper deck of one of said barges.