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Barge Shipment
Pre & Post Shipment &
Underwriting
By Capt Sivakumaran Divakaran
Head of Transportation Risk Management, Marine, Asia Pacific,
Chubb Asia Pacific.
PIAM Marine Insurance Knowledge Seminar – Kuala Lumpur
13 July 2017
Tug and barge arrangements – comparison between Europe, USA and Asia
Typical arrangement in Europe
Typical tug in Europe
Typical arrangement in USA – integrated unit
Typical arrangement in USA – integrated unit
Typical tug and barge arrangement in this region
Characteristics
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Barge – commonly flat top barge (a.k.a dumb barge).
Non self propelled. Prime Mover is the tug. Both tug and barge connected by a towline. Slow moving, demands good manoeuvring skills.
Economical mode of transport. Lower cost compared to conventional vessels.
Able to access port with shallow draft, e.g ports along rivers, jetties located within shallow estuaries etc
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Types of tow arrangement
Single Tow: The most frequent/common arrangement.
1 tug pulling (towing) one tow
Typical arrangement; towline of tug connected to bow of the barge.
Towline from tug connected to Smit towing brackets on barge using delta plate,
chaffing chain, shackles etc.
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Single Tow:
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Types of tow arrangement
Tandem Tugs : 2 tugs pulling (towing) one tow
Normal arrangement for ocean tow with large objects/barge
Typical arrangement; tow wire of lead tug connected to bow of the 2nd tug and
2nd tug line connected to towed unit
Usually larger of 2 tugs is positioned between lead tug and tow.
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Types of tow arrangements
Breasted Tugs: 2 tugs pulling (towing) one tow
Both tugs positioned next to each other and in front of the towed unit
Usually used for towing problematic structures where speed is not important
BUT maintaining towing control is.
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Breasted Tugs:
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Types of tow arrangements
Double Tow / Tandem Tow (a.k.a “Double Trouble”): 1 tug pulling (towing) 2 tows
Highest risk compared to other types of tows
Customarily 2 ways to secure the tows - Tow line is secured to the 1st towed unit. Another tow line passes the 1st unit
and secured to the 2nd unit.
- Tow lines from the tug is secured to the 1st towed unit and another intermediate tow line secured to between the 2nd towed unit and the 1st towed unit
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Double Tow – two towed units connected to different towing equipment on tug.
Barge shipment - Characteristic
Tandem Tow – two or more towed units connected in series i.e tow line connected behind 1st unit to the front of 2nd unit.
Barge shipment - characteristic
Why double trouble? In an emergency, tug is required to recover 2 tows.
Very difficult to manoeuvre
Often, no crew on 2nd tow (or even on 1st tow) – tug would not have any idea on
the condition of the 2nd tow.
In the event of issues with tow, especially 2nd tow, tug would most likely not be aware
In congested waters or water in very close proximity to underwater obstructions, the service of additional tug is often required (but not often arranged).
Barge shipment – Underwriting
Typical profile of tug and barge in the region: Unclassed or classed with non IACS
Underpowered
Questionable condition
Workhorses, little or no maintenance
Low morale crew with little or no motivation to ensure safety of cargo
Not usually subjected to PSC inspections
Barge shipment - Underwriting Information critical to underwriting process
Type of tow Tug and barge specifications (size, capacities) Tug and barge flag and class Age Tug horsepower / bollard pull Cargo details (type, weights, sizes, special requirements, protection) Load and discharge port (location, facilities, risks)
Barge shipment - Underwriting Information critical to underwriting process
Voyage distance and routes Expected weather and sea conditions Owners/operators reputation or record Other expected risk – cargo specific, piracy/hijacking etc
Barge shipment – Reality Check In reality, typical information that is provided (often at short notice)
Tug and barge name (or at times only tug or barge name – sometimes with wrong spelling!)
If lucky, with registry certificates and if very lucky with Class Cert
Cargo name and value (sometime very general description e.g machineries) General load and discharge port names (e.g Port Klang, South Kalimantan)
“Reply urgently as vessel about to complete loading and will depart soon”
or worst
“vessels have departed”
Above is recipe for disaster
Barge shipment - characteristic
Typical defects
Relating to bridge:
Charts and publications not updated
Master and officers not familiar with bridge equipment
Expired Safety Equipment (or due for servicing)
Navigation aids and instruments defective or not in good order
Little or no voyage planning
Barge shipment - characteristic
Typical defects
Relating to machinery spaces / engine room:
Oil leaks
Fire hazards
Critical machinery out of order
Breakdown maintenance instead of Preventive/Planned Maintenance
No records on running hours, maintenance, log books etc
Barge shipment - characteristic
Typical defects
Relating to deck, its equipment etc:
Towing equipment not suitable or in bad condition
Watertight doors and/or closing arrangement not watertight
Winch/windlass out of order
Certificates for towing equipment not available
No emergency towing equipment
Serious defects/damages on side shell, securing points etc
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Torn Section in way of side shell
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
This is what a navigation charts looks like (on a tug)
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Charts that looks like from the early 1900’s (a photocopied chart)
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical steering wheel
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Missing Steering Wheel
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Missing Steering Wheel – found it on the bridge. (According to tug Master, he keeps knocking into it so he removed it !!!)
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Defective Rubber Packing/Gasket at watertight doors
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Missing Rubber Packing/Gasket at watertight doors
Someone is
happy we found
this?
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Defective Rubber Packing/Gasket at machinery space access
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Life raft due for servicing
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Navigation side light on barge (light not per requirement)
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Side light housing (corroded and no side light in place)
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Cracked chaffing chain
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Severely corroded chaffing chain
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical anchor windlass on a tug
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Anchor windlass – missing port anchor and chain
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Anchor windlass – motor wastage
Barge shipment - characteristic
Photos of typical defects
Another one: Anchor windlass – motor wastage
Barge shipment – when things go wrong Risk when rushed decisions are made/risk blindly accepted
Barge shipment – when things go wrong
Risk when rushed decisions are made/risk blindly accepted
Barge shipment – when things go wrong
Barge shipment – when things go wrong
Barge shipment – when things go wrong
Barge shipment – when things go wrong
Barge shipment – when things go wrong
Barge shipment – when things go wrong
Barge shipment – when things go wrong
Barge shipment – What can be done better?
Prudent underwriting
Ensure all relevant information is obtained
Review previous/similar risk which experienced losses – learn from experience
Refer to your internal Marine Risk Management team if you have one and/or
Consider engaging a reputable and qualified surveyor.
Towage Surveys – Surveyor Selection
Qualification and experience required by a surveyor to carry out a towage
approval and lashing survey
Someone who: Has some amount of seagoing experience and especially someone who is aware
of the risks present at sea and/or
Has been carrying out towage approval surveys for a considerable amount of time, has the practical and past experience of such surveys.
Is absolutely independent even though effects his/her “popularity” among shippers, tug & barge owners etc.
Is objective, fair and able to provide honest and impartial recommendations.
Towage Surveys – Surveyors
Expectations from surveyors – among them:
Surveyor to be from third and impartial independent party who has absolutely
no interest in the venture.
Surveyor must inspect the tug and tow(s) and see that all necessary preparation has been carried out.
Surveyor expected to base his/her opinions and recommendations on what is required based on past experience, practical knowledge, local and statutory requirements to ensure safe and successful completion of the venture.
Chubb. Insured.