An open or covered vessel used to transfer cargo between ship and shore primarily in harbors and inland waterways and for shorter trips than barges
A flat-bottomed boat for carrying heavy loads across short distances (especially for canals or for loading or unloading larger boats)
A barge-type vessel used to carry cargo between shore and cargo ship While the terms barge and lighter are used interchangeably, a barge usually refers to a vessel used for a long haul, while a lighter is used for a short haul