sampan, lighter, barge
艀 centers on small, flat-bottomed boats used for transporting goods or people, especially between a larger ship and shore: a lighter, barge, or sampan.
艀 combines 舟 (boat) with 孚, which likely contributes the sound フ and may relate to the idea of floating or buoyancy. The exact historical development of 孚 in this character is uncertain.
The left side 舟 is a boat, and the right side 孚 looks like a hand (爪) holding a child (子) steady. Picture a small boat ferrying people and goods, as steady as a hand cradling a child.
For フ, imagine a small boat floating on the water making a soft 'foo' sound as it bumps against the dock: foo -> フ.
lighter; barge; baggage boat