2 Application of safety standards to pusher tug-barge combinations

  2.1 Type A combinations

• 2.1.1 As a general principle, safety standards should be applied to a type A combination as if it were a single manned engine driven ship, the size parameters of which are those for the combination as a whole.

• 2.1.2 The gross and net tonnages may be determined either by taking the tug-barge combination as one unit or by calculating the values for the pusher and the barge separately, in which case the tonnage of the combination, for the purpose of applying safety standards, should be the sum of the tonnages of these.

• 2.1.3 If the pusher is intended to move alone, it should be fully seaworthy on its own.

  2.2 Type B combinations

• 2.2.1 As a general principle, safety standards could be applied to a type B combination as to two separate ships, where nothing else is specified in the standard in question.

• 2.2.2 The pusher should be capable of towing the barge on a hawser, and pusher and barge should be equipped and rigged with the necessary gear for this purpose.

• 2.2.3 The following codes should be applied, when relevant to the cargo carried on the barge:

  • Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes;
  • Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing;
  • Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes;
  • International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk; and
  • International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.

• 2.2.4 For use in exercising their responsibility for the operation of the combination, the master and operator should be informed of the maximum sea states at which the pusher can routinely disconnect and safely reconnect.