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UHMW Marine Fender Pads for all applications! •UHMW Marine Fender Faces will im- prove your fendering system regardless of the manufacturer. •Any Color UHMW-we can color match, too! •Thicknesses up to 5" •Variety of shapes-bent, square. rectangle, tapered •Single pieces or large quantities •Counter-bored, chamfered and cut to your specifications. Let us know what you need... uiiRAPonr 1-800-872-8469 253-272-1217 • 253-272-1457 Fax 2926 So. Steele St. • Tacoma, WA 98409 http://www.ultrapoly.com Fn©k and IHESi Barging Ahead IT WILL COST YOU STHOUSANDSS IF YOU DON'T READ THIS AD! BE PREPARED! By Chris Leigh-Jones, chairman, International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) Barge operators are often accused of giving the marine fuels industry a bad name. While it is true that there are barging companies with a debatable approach to the business, they are very much in the minority. Worldwide, barge operators are working hard to improve their services and operations. In many respects, they are leading not only the bunker industry — but shipping as a whole. Nowhere is this demonstrated clearer than during barge-to-ship transfers of oil; nowhere is this expertise better demonstrated that in the U.S. Operating bunker barges in the U.S. is a fraught business. To say the very least, U.S. authorities do not like oil in their harbors, and culprits can find themselves on the sharp end of some harsh penalties if negligence is proved. In addition to the penalties, the bureaucratic paperweight that descends on bunkerers subsequent to a spill is hefty indeed. According to one U.S. bunkerman, no fewer than 17 officials turned up when a couple of gallons of oil were spilled by his company during a delivery. There is, then, plenty of incentive for U.S. bunker barge operators to get things right. And. it has to be said, the U.S. has some of the world's best barging companies plying its harbor waters. IBIA recently looked at the issue of quality barging in its quarter- ly journal World Bunkering. One of the respondents to a questionnaire sent to a quar- tet of quality barging firms around the world was a Houston-based firm. The questionnaire was designed to find out how companies are tackling the issue of spill prevention in the face of ever increasing regulatory pres- sure. Its findings show that bunker barge operators are taking spill prevention seri- ously and that measures that have been introduced over the last decade have had a dramatic impact. Analysis of spills shows that human error plays a large role, often fueled by a lack of communication between barge crew and the personnel on board the receiving vessel. To elimi- nate, as far as possible, acci- dents from occurring due to miscommunication, the Houston respondent to IBIA's questionnaire has drawn up a bunker transfer procedure form. This out- lines which grades of fuel the receiving ship would like, in which order and at which pumping rates. The form also has spaces for tanker measurement prior and subsequent to the oil transfer. The form is com- pleted by the chief engineer and signed. It provides a blueprint for the bunker transfer and fixes everyone's minds on what must Leaks in marine operations create safety exposure for personnel, and environmental damage risks are enormous. Here's the way to fix leaks fasti COMMON PIPE LEAK PROBLEMS: • Cargo, Ballast, Steam and Potable water lines. * Fuel and Lubricant lines. ' Fire Systems. • Engine Room and galley. 1 Electric Conduit exposure. 'General pipe corrosion. YOUR SOLUTION: Onboard Reviews: "Terrific results...works like normal original pipe—so strong ..." "When I join a ship, I request a dozen Stop It® to immediately use in an emergency without a delay in operation..." This product is a life saver for offshore locations." ® The STOP IT® PIPE REPAIR SYSTEM saves you time and money! STOP IT® is simple to use. One man, no special tools, NO HOT WORK, and can even be applied underwater. Pipes are wrapped with a knitted fiberglass tape, pre-coated with a water activated urethane system that sets in 5 minutes, cures fully in 30 minutes and conforms around elbows, tees and complex fittings. After the 30-minute cure, STOP IT® will withstand up to 400 PSI and 500° F and has excellent chemical resistance. Used by domestic and foreign Coast Guards, Navy, Air Force and marine operators worldwide! STOP IT® - A FAST LOW COST SOLUTION. PHONE, FAX or EMAIL NOW TO START SAVING MONEY! Toll Free 1-800-523-7867 or (713) 977-4100, fax (713) 977-4164 E-mail stopit@indumar.com, web site www.stopit.com The STOP IT® Pipe Repair System, FIX STIX™ hand moldable epoxy, the STOP IT® Pipe Repair Clamp™ and FUSION TAPE ™ are manufactured by InduMar Products, Inc. PO Box 70008 Houston, TX 77215-0008 Indulfffjl PRODUCTS, IHC/xSHP^ >0 2001 InduMar Products Inc. 38 Circle 305 on Reader Service Card Circle 250 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
