Why bunker barges need protection

Speaking at the LNG Shipping & Terminals Conference 2023 in November 2023, Mr de Ruiter explained how a container falling off a vessel onto a conventional bunker barge during simultaneous loading and unloading cargo operations and taking on bunkers led Victrol to install tables over the tank domes of the barges.

The protection tables are designed to withstand a fully loaded container falling corner first off a vessel.

While a container falling and piercing a cargo line on a bunker barge would lead to a rapid response of shutting and isolating the cargo line, such an option is not available should a falling container pierce a tank.

Such an event on an LNG barge would lead to the escape of LNG and serious consequences, which is why Victrol has taken the step of fitting protective tables over the tank domes.

The question for the rest of the bunker barge industry conducting simultaneous loading and unloading cargo operations and taking on bunkers is – should protective tables be mandatory?