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PART X
Towing and Operational Requirements ^

(Applicable to every Canadian oil barge and to every oil barge registered in a country other than Canada, when operating in Canadian waters)

Towing Vessel Assignment ^

79. (1) When assigning a towing vessel to any oil barge towing operation, the owner and the Master thereof shall ensure by the evaluation of all pertinent factors that

(a) the towing vessel is in all respects capable of maintaining safe control over the oil barge in all foreseeable conditions during the intended voyage, and

(b) the towing equipment, including towline, winches, towhook, chains, bridles, shackles and associated gear, is in all respects adequate for the intended operation and is maintained to a high standard of reliability.

(2) Guidelines respecting compliance with the requirements of subsection (1) are provided in Appendix A to these Standards.

Emergency Towline ^

80. (1) Every oil barge that operates on voyages other than Minor Waters voyages and does not form part of an integrated tug and oil barge combination described in subsection 88(b), shall be equipped with an emergency towline that is

(a) capable of immediate deployment without need for personnel from the towing vessel to board the barge, and

(b) kept rigged and ready for use.

(2) All chains, shackles and other gear used in making up the emergency towline to the towing vessel shall be at least equal in strength to the emergency towline.

(3) Unless otherwise required or permitted by the inspector, the emergency towline shall be renewed at five year intervals.

(4) Guidelines respecting the make-up of emergency towline assemblies are provided in Appendix A to these Standards.

Pre-voyage Emergency Towline Inspection ^

81. Before commencing to tow any oil barge, the Master of the towing vessel shall confirm by entry in the towing vessel log book

(a) that the emergency towline required by section 80 is aboard the oil barge and ready for immediate deployment,

(b) that the towing vessel is properly equipped to pick up the floating messenger line from the sea, and to haul aboard and properly secure the emergency towline, and

(c) that all gear provided for making fast the emergency towline to the towing vessel is compatible, one part with another.

Carriage of Cargo Oil in Peak Tanks ^

82. No cargo oil shall be carried in the forward or aft peak tanks of any oil barge.

Deck Cargoes ^

83. An oil barge that is operating in the transportation of bulk oil may also carry deck cargoes, provided

(a) the structural strength of the barge is adequate for the intended loadings;

(b) precautions are taken to avoid any risk of fire or explosion when loading or unloading the deck cargo, and during the voyage;

(c) the deck is properly dunnaged to prevent any chafing of metal parts;

(d) the deck cargo is securely lashed or stowed prior to departure;

(e) all cargo tank openings and vents are closed prior to the handling of any deck cargo;

(f) no deck cargo is loaded or discharged except under the direction of the person in charge of the cargo loading operation; and

(g) in the case of a Class A oil barge, at no time shall any potential source of ignition enter a zone extending at least 3.0m from any open cargo tank vent, hatch or other opening.

Dangerous Goods and Dangerous Bulk Materials ^

84. Notwithstanding section 83 of these Standards, no dangerous goods or dangerous bulk materials shall be carried by any oil barge except in accordance with the Dangerous Goods Shipping Regulations and the Dangerous Bulk Materials Regulations, respectively;

Opening of Cargo Tanks ^

85. Unless a cargo tank has been gas-freed, no hatch, ullage hole, Butterworth plate or other like opening thereto shall be opened or shall remain open without a flame screen except under the supervision of the person in charge of the cargo loading operation.

Shallow Water Operation ^

86. Notwithstanding any maximum draft permitted by the loadline regulations referenced in Section 78 of these Standards, the owner of every oil barge that operates in shallow waters such as those of the Mackenzie River system shall ensure that the loaded draft provides a safe margin of bottom clearance with respect to the available water depths.

Oil Barge Operations in Northern Canadian Waters ^

87. Notwithstanding the requirements of Sections 48, 49 and 63 of these Standards, oil cargoes of flashpoint above 40^oC but not exceeding 60^oC may be carried in an existing single hulled Class B oil barge in cargo tanks fitted with vents complying with subsection 49(b), provided that the owner and the person in charge of the oil barge

(a) are in possession, prior to the commencement of cargo loading, of certified data that

(i) pertains to the actual oil cargo to be carried,

(ii) confirms the oil cargo flashpoint to exceed 40^oC, and

(iii) confirms the oil cargo to contain a static dissipator additive in accordance with the applicable Canadian General Standards Board fuel specification;

(b) ensure that during active cargo operations such as bulk oil or deck cargo loading or unloading, the temperature of all parts of the oil barge that may come into contact with the oil cargo or oil cargo vapour remains at least 10^oC below the certified cargo flashpoint; and

(c) ensure that the voyage of the oil barge does not extend south of 60^oN latitude except within Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay where the voyage may extend as far south as 58^oN latitude.

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