Abstract: A hopper barge is disclosed. The hopper barge comprises a hopper compartment for carrying a plurality of containers, the hopper compartment comprising a hopper compartment deck. The hopper barge comprises an inner-bottom portion defined in part by the hopper compartment deck and a bottom portion of the hopper barge. A plurality of longitudinal bulkheads are arranged in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge. A plurality of transverse bulkheads are arranged in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge, the plurality of transverse bulkheads running perpendicular to the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads. A plurality of pedestal supports are affixed to the hopper compartment deck, wherein at least one of the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads intersects at least one of the plurality of transverse bulkheads at a position beneath at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports.