Coast Guard Regulations for Barges

There are several types of barges, each with its own set of regulations. The type of barge determines which agency has jurisdiction over safety regulations, be it the U.S. Coast Guard or the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

Regulations & Jurisdiction

As a whole, barges are flat-bottomed vessels designed for transportation of cargo. There are numerous categories of barges, from inland barges and cargo barges, to specialty barracks barges and liquid cargo barges.

Depending upon the type of vessel, barge operators may have to abide by regulations and standards set by the USCG, OSHA or International Maritime Organization.

Jurisdiction determines with which agency’s standards a vessel must comply. The OHSA has jurisdiction over what the USCG deems “uninspected vessels,” as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 2101 (43), which includes inland barges. Most other barges are considered inspected vessels and will need to abide by the USCG’s regulations.

USCG Regulations for Barges

There are an incredible amount of rules and regulations that barge operators will need to understand and ensure they adhere to remain in compliance and avoid liability issues. While the details are far beyond the scope of this article, the USCG’s Barge Inspection Book, a guide for officials and inspectors, briefs owners and operators on the areas that need to be monitored carefully.

Inspectors will look at the big issues, as well as the nitty-gritty. Some of the things they’ll check, if applicable, include:

• waste management plan and procedures;
• drug-testing program;
• required certificates;
• equipment testing records;
• hazard materials documentation;
• loading manual;
• emergency plans and security plans;
• all pertinent logbooks;
• oil record book;
• transfer procedures; and
• security measures and protocol.

Further details can be found in The United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Manual.

Vessel Record Keeping

The above list is just a general summary of the USCG’s checkpoints. The thoroughness of their logging requirements is impressive. For instance, barges are required to keep all types of records per 33 CFR § 104.235, including:

• training (this includes the date of each session, duration of session, a description of the training and a list of attendees);
• drills and exercises (the statutes read that for each drill, the documentation must include “the date held, description of drill or exercise, list of participants, and any best practices or lessons learned which may improve the Vessel Security Plan (VSP)”;
• breaches of security;
• change in MARSEC levels;
• maintenance, calibration and testing of security equipment;
• security threats (include “date and time of occurrence, how the threat was communicated, who received or identified the threat, description of threat, to whom it was reported and description of the response”);
• annual audit of the VSP; and
• declaration of Security (DoS).

The records have to be kept for at least two years, and operators will need to present them to the USCG upon request. It’s important to note that all records “must be protected from unauthorized access or disclosure.” The more thorough and secure you logbooks, the better.

Keeping Track of Your Vessel Documentation

For help determining which logbooks you need to meet the USCG’s standards for your barge, feel free to download the Logbook Quick Reference Guide, free of charge. You can place your log book orders online or call My Vessel Logsat 888-468-3757.