Unusual barge propulsion system.

It may look a bit unusual, and certainly isn't a cheap way of motorising a barge, but for dredging barges that are equipped with a crane like that, it's almost the standard way of moving around.

When they're dredging on the river where I'm on, they always move like this, only for going through the locks, they will be moved by a pusher, or if they're not too wide taken alongside another barge to pass the locks.

Peter.