I have not posted any of my opinions about the mod changes for some time, so some people don't get offended by my criticism but... let me say my 2 cents here anyway. Sadly, for me, the barge is gone... a total loss, and now got no use at all - I see its info card saying that it should be acting as a far base, etc... but I don't see it being used as a base, since it's fragile, easily killed, can't have factories, and can't defend itself properly at all. So what I see is the use that the community gave it, which is a supplier for the excessive materials in POB recepies (previous mod).
Now it can't use trade lanes and is slow so it is useless sadly. I am sorry to say, another dead ship of no use and a great loss, but I adapted and sold them lol - No need for them now since the recepies of POBs are not by the 100,000 units lol and also because they are not using trade lanes and slow.... completely useless now sorry.