Deck barges are used for various purposes, such as the storage of materials, as a temporary accommodation, as a landing stage for passenger ships and ferries.

In addition, they are used, for instance, as bases for aerial platforms in order to inspect the underside of a bridge.
Furthermore as a protection for a surplus width of a loading on a pontoon. Due to their small size and draught, they can reach many places where other vessels are unable to go.