At most of the companies that still run wire boats the Tankerman (barge Captain/mate) handle all cargo by necessity. We used to drop off a barge at one dock and go pick up another so the barge crew had to stay aboard and the tug mate had to go with the boat. I know first hand that the Genesis/Hornbeck barges still run this way and it works great. They have some top notch Tankermen and the tug officers have enough paperwork to keep them busy during the cargo ops. As far as an ATB they don’t have any but it wouldn’t be impossible for the mates to do it but it seems that if anything it should be in a more supervisory roll since in my experience the barge guys are more than competent and can handle their own cargo ops. I think since that company has a history of giving them that responsibility it’s expected and when they hire and train new Tankermen they instill that sense of responsibility. It would be hard to change it over if traditionally the mates have done it because the tankermen would probably be pissed at having the extra work without the pay of a mate. I’m curious though, do the companies that require the mates to do the barge work pay the tanker men less than the companies that require the tanker men to handle cargo?