BIQ5 · Barges

BIQ5 barge inspection guide: preparing a tank or deck barge

A barge inspection under OCIMF’s programme looks at the barge, the people who work it and — often — the tug that moves it. Most barges are unmanned, so the work falls on the operator’s office, the person in charge of the cargo transfer and the tow master. This guide explains the 13 BIQ5 chapters, how the day runs and what to have ready.

Updated 11 October 2026 · Written by SeaReady in our own words. Not affiliated with OCIMF, RightShip, CDI, any MoU or any administration — always check the current official documents.

The 13 BIQ5 chapters

Chapter headings of BIQ5 North America (US v5.3.01), our summary of each.
Chapter	Title	What it covers
1	General particulars	Barge identity, operator, what it is doing on the day, and whether the particulars in SIRE are right.
2	Certification and documentation	Trading and statutory certificates, class and survey dates, Coast Guard papers, insurance, the safety management system.
3	Crew management	Manning — or who supplies the attending tankermen — work and rest, drug and alcohol testing.
4	Navigation and communications	The barge’s lights, shapes, sound signals and radios; the tug’s bridge when the tug is inspected.
5	Safety management	General safety, fire-fighting and life-saving gear, operational safety, tank cleaning, security.
6	Pollution prevention	Response plans, spill kit, leaks, spill rails, drip trays, manifold blanks, vents, slops and garbage.
7	Structure	Visible condition of hull, decks, deckhouse and any tanks or voids looked into.
8	Cargo handling	Transfer procedures and the declaration of inspection, pumps, lines, hoses, gas plant, measurement and overfill alarms, venting and inert gas.
9	Mooring	Fittings, winches, lines, making fast and brake tests.
10	Towing and pushing vessels	Tow sizing, towing wires and bridles, emergency towing, push connections and articulated tug-barge units.
11	Machinery	Pump engines and generators on the barge; the tug’s engine room and steering.
12	General appearance	How well the barge is kept.
13	Packed cargo	Deck barges with drums, portable tanks or tank vehicles: securing, stability and condition.

How the inspection runs

Before the day: update the barge (and tug) particulars questionnaire in SIRE — the inspector checks it against the barge. Gather certificates, class status, the response plan, transfer procedures and test records into one folder.
Timing: book it when the barge is loading or discharging so the transfer can be seen, with the person in charge at the manifold and the terminal told.
On board: documents first, then the walk-round — manifold, drip trays and scupper plugs, tank openings, pumps, towing points, emergency towing gear, lights, fire and lifesaving gear.
Interviews: spill first actions, overfill alarms and topping off, gas testing, the cargo’s hazards, stopping the transfer, the emergency tow.
Afterwards: note every observation with its number, raise and close each one with evidence, and submit the operator’s comments through SIRE.

Common barge findings

Perished gaskets and seized dogs on tank hatches and openings.
Scuppers left open or drip trays draining to deck during transfer.
Manifold blanks not fully bolted; hoses with no recent pressure test.
High-level and overfill alarms not tested before loading.
Cracked or wasted foundations under towing bitts and kevels.
No certificate file on an unmanned barge when the inspector arrives.
A person in charge without the right endorsement for the cargo.

Related checks

US-flag and US-trading barges also face Coast Guard inspections — see the USCG prep guide for how the Coast Guard works. Rest hours on long transfers are a frequent finding — see the rest-hour rules.

SeaReady is not connected with OCIMF. Question numbers and chapter headings follow BIQ5; the descriptions are ours. Official templates: ocimf.org/barges.

Questions seafarers ask

What is BIQ5?

BIQ5 is the fifth edition of OCIMF’s Barge Inspection Questionnaire, used for inspections of barges carrying oil, chemicals or gas (and packaged petroleum or gas) and of the tugs that handle them. Reports go into the SIRE database, where oil companies and terminals read them before accepting a barge.

Are there different versions?

Yes. OCIMF publishes regional versions — North America (US), South and Central America, Europe and International. They share the chapter headings but differ in detail. Check which one your inspecting company uses.

How many questions does BIQ5 have?

The North America version has 447 numbered questions over 13 chapters (not counting the "additional comments" boxes). Not every question applies to every barge — a dry hopper barge, an unmanned inland oil barge and a manned coastal gas barge see very different lists.

Who prepares an unmanned barge for inspection?

The operator’s office (certificates, particulars, records), the person in charge of the transfer (the tankerman / PIC, who is interviewed on the day) and the tow master (towing gear, lights, emergency towing). The certificate file has to be brought to the barge.

Does BIQ5 cover dry-cargo barges?

No — it is written for barges carrying oil, chemicals, gas and packaged petroleum or gas. Dry-cargo and hopper barges may still be checked by charterers, terminals or the Coast Guard, so the general chapters make a good self-check.

Prepare every BIQ5 question for your barge

SeaReady has one prep item for each official BIQ5 question, in our own words, filtered by your barge type (oil, chemical, gas, deck, dry or hopper; manned or not; inland or coastal; ATB; tug included) — with dated answers, photos, a pre-inspection pack and a mock barge inspector.

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