Fertiliser transport by inland barge
Bargely charters vessels for fertiliser on the Rhine and connecting waterways. You tell us about your lot, we find a vessel that suits the product, the quantity and the water level, and you get one clear proposal by email.
Which products
Bulk fertiliser and its raw materials, such as potash, phosphate, urea, CAN and NPK blends. Also related dry bulk such as salts and minerals. Not sure whether your product fits? Email us and you will hear straight away.
Which routes
From the seaports and production sites in the Netherlands and Belgium to Germany, and back. For example Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Terneuzen as loading port, and Duisburg, Cologne, Mainz and Mannheim, or a port on the Moselle or the German canals, as discharge port.
Lot size
You tell us the tonnage, and we work out how it fits best. An inland vessel on the Rhine usually loads between 1,000 and 3,000 tonnes. If your lot is smaller or larger, we propose a smaller vessel, a part cargo or several vessels. A single voyage is welcome, and so is a regular flow.
What we watch for with fertiliser
- Dry, clean hold. Fertiliser absorbs moisture. We look for a vessel with a dry, clean hold and well-sealed hatch covers.
- Previous cargo. We ask what the vessel carried before, so your product is not contaminated.
- Loading and discharge in dry weather. Rain stops loading or discharge. We plan the loading date and the loading and discharge times around that and record them.
- Clean handover. Arrangements for handing over the hold swept clean after discharge are set out in the voyage confirmation.
Low water on the Rhine
At low water a vessel can load less. You do not have to work that out yourself. You tell us how many tonnes you want to move, and we calculate what is possible on your route at that moment. You get a concrete proposal: one vessel, several vessels, or part of the lot now and the rest later, with the freight included. A low-water surcharge applies only if it is stated in the voyage confirmation beforehand, so there are no surprises afterwards. Current levels are on our Water levels page.
The season
Most fertiliser is delivered in winter and early spring, ahead of spring application. In those months vessel space is taken more quickly. So tell us about your lot as early as you can, even if the loading date is not yet fixed.
What it costs you
Nothing. The skipper invoices the freight directly to you, and the skipper pays our commission. You are not tied to anything: try us with one voyage.
Register a lot
Email the loading port, discharge port, product, tonnage and preferred loading date to [email protected]. You will hear from us within 24 hours.