Barge Safety - (Liquefied Cargoes in Bulk)

This publication offers practical guidance on many elements of operational safety such as fire prevention and fire-fighting, instructing personnel on the necessary lifesaving equipment for emergency situations. All instructions are tailored appropriately to both self-propelled and non-self-propelled barges.

In addition to practical information on vessel maintenance, crew training and transfer operations, the guide is also supplemented by crew checklists on areas such as pollution prevention and safety management.

While this guide is imperative to barge safety, it does not replace nor supersede applicable Classification Society rules or local standards. Readers should exercise their own judgement as to its applicability.

Many vessels engaged in the carriage of bulk petroleum cargoes are not required to comply with international conventions or national or local regulations, and may not be entered in a Classification Society. This may be because they are small, are not self-propelled, or are engaged in restricted trading. In some parts of the world this lack of international standards is addressed by national or local regulations and codes. But many charterers and terminal operators lack applicable standards on safety and pollution prevention against which to assess vessels for the carriage of their products or for calling to their terminals.

This guide makes recommendations for safety and pollution prevention features of the design, equipment, operation and management of all vessels used for the carriage of petroleum or chemical cargoes in bulk, and of associated towing/pushing vessels, which are not covered by international conventions. Examples of such vessels include:

• large self-propelled tankers trading locally;
• small tankers and self-propelled barges trading locally or internationally; and
• non self-propelled barges and their associated tugs/pusher vessels.
  

This guide is intended primarily for use with such vessels where there are no international, national or local regulations. It is not intended to:

• replace or override any applicable international conventions, national legislation, local laws or Classification Society rules;
• replace any existing regional or local standards or checklists for barge safety, for example those existing in the USA and parts of Europe;
• encourage the use of non-self-propelled barges in trades in open waters where the use of self-propelled tankers or barges is more appropriate;
• discourage the use of non-self-propelled barges where full and appropriate safety precautions are already practised; or
• provide comprehensive operating instructions.
  

This guide is primarily intended for use by prospective charterers, vetting departments and terminal managers. It may also be of use to vessel managers, vessel and terminal staff, and government, port and local officials. A general guide of this nature cannot be specific to all types of vessels in all locations and readers should use their own discretion on its application in the particular circumstances.

This guide does not address inert gas, crude oil washing or specialist features of vessels such as LNG barges or integrated tug/barges. Where these are fitted or used, the relevant IMO Conventions or industry guidelines should be complied with.

PART I Recommendations

1 INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Definitions and Abbreviations

1.3 General Arrangement of Guidelines
2 CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION

3 CREW MANAGEMENT (Manning and Qualifications of Personnel)

3.1 Unmanned Barges

4 NAVIGATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS

4.1 Equipment

4.2 Operators’ Navigation Policy

4.3 Nautical Publications, Charts and Information

5 SAFETY MANAGEMENT

5.1 Safety Management System

5.2 Fire Prevention

5.3 Fire-Fighting

5.4 Personal Protective Equipment

5.5 Lifesaving Equipment and Pyrotechnics

5.6 Access Between Vessel and Shore

6 POLLUTION PREVENTION

6.1 Emergency Response

6.2 Cargo Handling and Spill Containment

6.3 Discharge of Dirty Ballast

6.4 Oil Record Book

6.5 Disposal of Sewage and Garbage

7 STRUCTURAL CONDITION AND GENERAL APPEARANCE

7.1 Inspectors and Gaugings

7.2 Maintenance

7.3 General

8 CARGO AND BALLAST SYSTEMS

8.1 Cargo Handling Equipment

8.2 Cargo Handling Procedures

8.3 Pumproom

8.4 Tank Cleaning and Gas Freeing
9 MOORING AND ANCHORING

9.1 Mooring

9.2 Anchoring

10 TOWING – EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

10.1 Tug Design

10.2 Towing Equipment and Procedures

10.3 Tug Fendering

11 ENGINE ROOM AND STEERING GEAR
12 VESSEL TO VESSEL TRANSFER (Including Bunkering)

12.1 Fenders

12.2 Cargo Hoses

12.3 Communication
13 CHEMICAL BARGE SUPPLEMENT

13.1 Personnel Safety

13.2 Chemical Data Sheets

13.3 Fire Protection

13.4 Cargo Gauging and Emission Requirements

13.5 Cargo Certification

14 GAS BARGE SUPPLEMENT

14.1 Personnel Safety

14.2 Chemical Data Sheets

14.3 Fire Protection and Safety Equipment

14.4 Cargo Gauging and Emission Requirements

14.5 Cargo Certification

14.6 Cargo Operations

Appendix 1 Guidelines for the Control of Drugs and Alcohol On Board Ship

PART II Checklists of Questions

1 Introduction and General Information

2 Certification and Documentation

3 Crew Management (Manning)

4 Navigation, Communications and Electronics (self-propelled vessels only)

5 Safety Management

6 Pollution Prevention

7 Structured Condition and General Appearance

8 Cargo and Ballast Systems

9 Mooring and Anchoring

10 Towing and Pushing

11 Engine Room and Steering Gear

12 Vessel to Vessel Transfer

13 Chemical Barge Supplement

14 Gas Barge Supplement