Further to LP Bulletin 119, which detailed the unwarranted delays to ships discharging bulk cargoes, we have been advised of further cases of shortage claims involving cargoes of wheat, yellow corn, soya bean meal, fodder wheat, barley and feed barley throughout most of the Algerian ports.

It is thought that the main causes of the shortages are:
1. The use of a non tight crane grab used to clinch the cargo directly into trucks
2. The trucks being overloaded which results in further spillage during transit to the shore scales. The accuracy of the shore scales can also be questioned together with the care in reading and recording the weight of the shore scales.

It has been reported that in the cases where a surveyor has attended the discharge operations the receiver has not claimed any discrepancies, the final outturn of the shore scale being similar to the figures entered in the bill of lading. Where a surveyor hasn't been present on behalf of the owners, shortage claims have been systematically raised on completion of the cargo discharge.

We remind Members of the above situation and recommend that to prevent discrepancies of weight as between draft surveys, shore scales and bills of lading they should appoint a surveyor to perform joint surveys. A full detailed report on the general recommendations for alleged shortage of grain cargoes in bulk when being discharged in Algerian Ports is available for Members on the Encyclopaedia.

Source of information: AMCS - Algeria P&I Services
Club correspondent


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