Loading and unloading tankship barges can take up to a day and is dirty work, involving the handling toxic chemicals and refined oil products. Strict fire regaluations prohibit smoking and also, on some ships in some periods, the heating inside the cabin and living area, making these days very unpleasant, especially in wintertime.

ship: Aquitania (ships details in Dutch: http://www.debinnenvaart.nl/schependb/inhoud.php?action=tel&id=2216)
photographer: probably E. Bosman
original: 6.5x10 cm. B&W