New problems which were as yet unknown to shipping companies arose with the advent of the LASH system and similar barge carriers. Aboard the carrier ship the lighter is simply a large cargo container, but in the seaport and on the inland waterways it becomes a vessel. As a vessel, they are subject to requirements for equipment regulations like anchors, winches, coupling had to be provided so-called "head barges" which could not be transported on the carrier ships. Also, serving waterways which freeze over in winter required a high capital expenditure.
随着载驳船系统及类似载驳船的出现，产生了许多船运公司前所未遇的新问题。在运输船上，驳船只仅仅是一个大货柜，但是在海港及内陆水运航道，它却是一艘船。作为一艘船，它必须符合设备规定的要求，配备锚、绞车、挂钩等犹如领头驳船，这是运输船不能运载的。还有，在冬天结冰的航道上运行需要高额资本开支。
Studies showed that the costs of addressing these issues, along with the costs of operating the carrier ships and her lighters, were much higher the customary freighter ships or the ISO-compliant container ships that were beginning to conquer the transportation market. While barge carriers and lighters are a technologically interesting sea transport system, they are economic only under certain specific conditions of traffic and economy。
研究显示解决这些问题的费用，还有运营运输船及其驳船的费用，与传统货轮或符合ISO规定并开始征服运输市场的货柜轮的费用对比要高得多。尽管载驳船及平底驳船是技术性有吸引力的水运系统，然而它们只在特定的航行与经济条件下有利可图。