A ferro-concrete bulk freight barge is a cargo-carrying vessel constructed from reinforced concrete (ferrocement), rather than traditional materials like wood, steel, or iron. These barges were designed for bulk cargo transport on inland waterways and the Great Lakes, primarily during World War I and World War II, when steel was in short supply.
Construction & Design
• Ferrocement Hull: A combination of steel rebar (reinforcement) and cement-based concrete, molded into a rigid, watertight structure.
• Advantages:
• Resistant to corrosion (especially in freshwater environments).
• Lower material costs (used when steel shortages occurred).
• Durable hulls that could last longer than expected.
• Disadvantages:
• Heavier than steel (reducing cargo capacity and efficiency).
• Difficult to repair if damaged.
• Susceptible to cracking under stress.
Usage on the Great Lakes
• World War I & Postwar Shipping: Several ferrocement barges and ships were built to reduce reliance on steel.
• Limited Success: While experimental, these vessels were often considered less practical than steel ships due to their weight and handling issues.
• Example Vessel:
• U.S. 104 (1919-1921) – A 150-foot ferro-concrete bulk barge that sank in Buffalo’s Black Rock Canal after striking a rock.
Legacy & Decline
• Few ferro-concrete ships were ever built on the Great Lakes, as steel and aluminum became more available after wartime shortages ended.
• Some surviving concrete hulls were repurposed as docks, breakwaters, or artificial reefs.
• Most ferrocement vessels were scrapped, as they were outperformed by steel-hulled ships in efficiency and durability.
While ferro-concrete bulk freight barges were an innovative attempt to overcome wartime steel shortages, they ultimately proved too heavy and difficult to maintain. The U.S. 104 remains one of the few ferrocement shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, providing insight into this unique but short-lived maritime experiment.