Definition of barge: “A capacious, flat bottomed vessel, usually intended to be pushed or towed for transporting freight or passengers “Various types and different kinds of barges mainly non self-propel/ without engine and need to be towed.
Types of barges – Pontoon Flat top barge, Lash barge, Log barge, Cable lay barge, Oil tanker barge, Accommodation barge, Project cargo barge, Push barge, Crane barge, Derrick pipe lay barge, Split hopper barge, Piling Driver barge, Specialized barges are equipped with the special equipment and tools for specific usage.
We, Constellation Marine Services (CMS) as independent ship and marine surveyors, often get instructions from our principals as On-hire surveyors to attend on board Barge to carry out on hire internal & external condition surveys. Recently we got a nomination from one of our clients to carry out On Hire Internal /External condition survey on board a Steel work Barge of GRT 4470 T and report on nature, cause and extent of damage to the Side shell/Main deck/Bottom plate/Internal structural members of ballast tanks.
Our Naval Architect/Engineer surveyors upon receiving instruction for the survey contacted the concerned client representative/ operations Superintendent for ETA of the vessel to attend a survey on board the subject barge in relation to on hire condition survey.
Before attending the job our Naval Architect/Surveyor
requested them through email to provide following details
for their reference:
1. Barge particulars
2. General arrangement.
3. Loose gear certificates.
4. Gas free certificate tank by approved third party for
man entry.
Constellation Engineer Surveyors’s Attendance on Board the Vessel.
Upon receiving the notice from the representative our
attending engineer surveyor boarded the barge. Barge was
portside alongside to berth. All the ballast tanks were
opened and ventilated. Gas free certificate of ballast tanks
were verified before man entry. Surveyor noted some repair
works were ongoing on starboard side deck wall.
Deck was covered with asphalt concrete coating to the thickness
of 15 cm approx. Center tanks were closed during inspection.
Barge side shell noted without any major defects. LSA/FFA
were in place. Loose gear certificates were found valid.
It has 36 watertight ballast tanks. Our engineers has inspected
20 tanks where remaining tanks were remaining closed. Tanks
coating were found intact. Most of the tanks found water
to the sounding of 30cm average during inspection. Underdeck
of most of the tanks noted with welding scorch marks. Only
small indentations in side shell were found in tanks 1P,
4P, 5P, 9P, 5S & fore peak tank. Mainly concentrated on
the structural members like bulkhead, top longitudinal,
frames, bottom longitudinal, side shell, bottom plate &
side longitudinal.
Fenders were found adequate. Towing gears were found well-greased
& maintained. Barge has the deck strength of 15 T/m2. It
was classed by DNV.
In general Barge main deck were found satisfactory. Forward
anchor & bridle recovery winch arrangement were equipped
on forward deck.
General View of Port Side Shell.
Nature of Damage
The Observations/defects found on board during inspection.
2 x indent of size 2m2 noted in forward plating.
2 x indent of size 2m2 noted in port side shell plating.
1 x indent of size 1.5m2 noted in port side shell plating.
1 x indent of size 0.8m2 noted in forepeak tank.
1 x indent of size 0.125m2 noted in tank 9P.
1 x indent of size 0.08m2 noted in tank 9P.
1 x indent of size 0.04m2 noted in tank 1P.
1 x indent of size 0.04m2 noted in tank 1P.
1 x indent of size 0.867m2 noted in tank 5S.
Defect List
Upon completion of inspection our Naval Architect/Marine
Surveyor prepared the defect list/Concerns during on hire.
Same were sent along with our final report.
