Although it at first appeared as if the barge carrier was a ship type that would rapidly become popular, there were in fact only 28 ships of this in service in 1980, eleven years after it was first introduced.
Nangona kuqala yavela ngathi izikhephe ezinezinqe ezibanzi zokuthutha luhlobo lwenqanawa enosuka ibe yeyaziwayo, yayizcinqanawa ezinga mashumi amabini anesibhozo qha ezazisetyenziswa kumnyaka ka1980, emva kweminyaka elishumi elinanye iveziwe.