Question 268General Subjects - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is B) These are checks to be performed jointly by the persons in charge (PICs) of both the barge's and ship's roles of the bunkering operation. This is correct because the "checks prior to transfer" section of the bunkering safety checklist is a set of items that must be verified by both the PIC of the barge and the PIC of the ship before the bunkering operation can commence. This ensures that critical safety precautions have been taken on both sides to prevent accidents or spills during the fuel transfer. The other options are incorrect because the checks are not solely the responsibility of one party (the barge PIC or the ship PIC), nor do they involve the USCG marine inspector, who has a separate role in overseeing bunkering operations.