The ups and downs of barge safety
Barges are essential for bringing cargo through restricted waterways, easing congestion and pollution on Europe’s roads, and will be playing an increasing role in today’s eco-aware logistics.
But barges have a number of safety points that really need to be considered, said Karl Lumbers of Thomas Miller UK P&I Club, who has helped put together a realistic guide that makes for easy reading on barge and tug safety. “Slips, trips and falls don’t just cause injuries, they also add up to loss of revenue and reputation for the owner.”
Some may seem obvious and in a way this is the problem, as these can easily be overlooked. For example, when one barge is fully loaded and an adjoining barge is in a light ship condition it results in increased mooring chafe. “If the ropes don’t have a protected covering it’s worth fitting canvas sleeves over the affected areas”, said Mr Lumbers.
Access between tandem moored barges can also be difficult. A portable brow landed clear of obstructions, complete with sturdy handrails and safety net, is considered good practice. Of course, any trip hazards, steps and handrails should be highlighted and deck areas at the top and bottom of steps made non-slip.
There are other issues that need careful attention, explained Mr Lumbers. Boarding a group of barges from a tug requires the greatest of care, especially in choppy waters. Beyond the wearing of lifejackets, it helps to have a small set of non-slip steps available, reducing the need to jump. Further, putting a non-slip surface on the tug’s bulwark also makes this safer.
But if the barges are empty, the freeboard will be considerably higher than the deck of the tug and while modern tugs often have a fixed ladder, sometimes crew will be left with boarding a barge via the pigeon holes, footsteps cut into the barge’s hull, with (usually) support rails providing a helpful handhold. “Obviously this means taking the greatest care.”
While embarking using the pigeon holes is normally fairly straightforward, disembarking isn’t as easy. The first foot hold (pigeon hole) is always arranged for the left foot and it is good practice for a suitable sign reminding staff that it is always left foot first painted onto the non-slip deck of the barge.
If using the pigeon holes, it is not just the difficulty on getting up or going down, crew also need to look out for trip hazards. For example, the barge’s emergency towing wire will usually be situated at the top of the pigeon holes. So, owners should consider sheathing the wire with a strip of yellow plastic or highlighting it to warn personnel of the danger.
The in-depth Tug and Barge Matters guide is available from the Thomas Miller UK P&I Club.
