An updated version of exemption 41 came into effect on 1 July 2025.
We reissued the previous version with a minor update to remove minimum crewing requirements from the exemption.
Minimum crewing requirements for unpowered barges can be found in Marine Order 504 (Certificates of operation – national law) 2024.
You do not need to apply to operate under this exemption.
Current exemption holders: Review the updated exemption to ensure that you still meet the eligibility criteria.
Download EX41 - Unpowered barges PDF219.37 KB
You do not need to apply to AMSA to operate under this exemption.
What this exemption will allow you to do
An unpowered barge is a vessel that is pushed or towed by another powered vessel. It does not have its own mechanical propulsion, except that which keeps it in a relatively fixed position at a work location, or assists it to be towed to and from a work location.
Exemption 41 exempts owners of certain unpowered barges from the requirement to comply with certain aspects of the accommodation, safety equipment, communications equipment, and navigation equipment sections of the NSCV Part C – Design and construction.
This exemption does not exempt an unpowered barge from the requirement to have a certificate of survey or to be operated under a certificate of operation.
An unpowered barge operating under exemption 41 does not need to comply with the following requirements of the NSCV Part C
- Barge with no machinery and no persons on board
NSCV subsection (part), chapter or clause:
- C1 – Arrangement, accommodation and personal safety
- Clause 5.9 and Chapter 6 of C4 – Fire safety
- Clauses 7.3 and 9.7 of C6B – Buoyancy and stability after flooding
- C7A – Safety equipment, C7B – Communications equipment and C7C – Navigation equipment
- If permanently moored—C7D – Anchoring systems
- Barge with no machinery and one or more persons on board (crew and special personnel only – no passengers)
NSCV subsection (part), chapter or clause:
- Clause 6.12.4 of C1 – Construction —to the extent that it requires a person overboard alert system mentioned in Table 30, measure 8
- Clauses 6.12.4 and 6.12.7.4 of C1 – Construction —to the extent that they require handholds mentioned in Table 30, measure 3
- Clause 5.9 and Chapter 6 of C4 – Fire safety
- C5A – Machinery
- Clauses 7.3 and 9.7 of C6B – Buoyancy and stability after flooding
- C7A – Safety equipment, C7B – Communications equipment and C7C – Navigation equipment
- If permanently moored—C7D – Anchoring systems
- Barge with machinery and one or more persons on board (crew and special personnel only—no passengers)
NSCV subsection (part), chapter or clause:
- Clause 6.12.4 of C1 – Arrangement, accommodation and personal safety—to the extent that it requires a person overboard alert system mentioned in Table 30, measure 8
- Clauses 6.12.4 and 6.12.7.4 of C1 – Arrangement, accommodation and personal safety—to the extent that they require handholds mentioned in Table 30, measure 3
- Clause 5.9 and Chapter 6 of C4 – Fire safety
- Chapters 3, 5 and 6 of C5A - Machinery
- Clauses 7.3 and 9.7 of C6B – Buoyancy and stability after flooding
- C7A – Safety equipment, C7B – Communications equipment and C7C – Navigation equipment
- If permanently moored—C7D – Anchoring systems
- Barge with or without machinery with passengers on board
- Clause 5.9 of C4 – Fire safety
- Chapters 3, 5 and 6 of C5A - Machinery
- Clauses 7.3 and 9.7 of C6B – Buoyancy and stability after flooding
- C7A – Safety equipment
- C7B – Communications equipment, other than clause 2.13
- C7C – Navigation equipment
- If permanently moored - C7D – Anchoring systems
Eligibility
The unpowered barge must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
If there are berths on the barge, they must not be in use.
If there are persons on board the unpowered barge, it must:
- carry communications equipment to allow communication with other nearby vessels
- have a documented, up-to-date risk assessment that identifies the marine safety equipment required while operating
- carry any identified marine safety equipment so that is readily accessible to those on board
- be at least one of the following:
- connected to the shore or a structure
- carrying a lifeboat, liferaft or rescue boat for all persons on board the barge
- accompanied by a vessel that remains close to the barge at all times and is equipped to rescue all persons on board the barge.
Legislation and standards
Superseded
Refer to superseded, repealed and expired marine safety exemptions for previous versions of this exemption.
