Amsterdam is one of the biggest importers/exporters of cocoa in the world and the main port for handling cocoa beans in bulk in Europe.

As the new cocoa season begins the Club’s correspondent in Amsterdam reminds us of some of the aspects of this particular commodity.

GENERAL

Cocoa beans are grown on cocoa trees in pods. These pods remain on the trees until they are harvested. When the pod ripens, the colour turns from green to yellow or from red to orange. The average number of cocoa beans per pod is 30 to 40.

After harvesting, the cocoa beans are fermented and are then mainly sun dried. The ideal moisture percentage should be around 7% after drying, the effectiveness of the drying process depends on weather conditions.

The cocoa beans are a soft commodity that easily give off moisture during transport from relatively warm countries to relatively colder countries.

TYPE OF TRANSPORT

In general, in the countries of origin, cocoa beans are packed in jute bags holding 60 – 67 kgs each. Up to the actual loading, the bags of cocoa beans are kept in storage.

Cocoa beans can be carried as follows when transported on board sea-going vessels:

Bulk	Bulk in bulk carriers Bulk in containers
Bags	Break bulk in general cargo vessels, Bags in containers/on bolsters

Containers are mostly stuffed prior to the arrival of vessels and the stowage / particulars depend on the transport agreement between cargo owners and the carrier.

Bulk should preferably be carried in vessels that are fitted with a double hull at the sides (side ballast tanks) and that have sufficient ventilation capacity.

Cocoa beans in bags may be transported in dry cargo vessels if fitted with sufficient ventilation capacity.

PROBLEMS WITH COCOA BEANS

The most frequent problems with cocoa beans in Amsterdam are

• Slack and missing bags
• Damage due to condensation
• Damage by seawater
• Damage by hydraulic oil
• Infestation
• Quality (not relevant for the carrier) regarding mould, bean count, FFA

• Fresh air should be ventilated over the top of the cargo. Generally speaking, this means that wooden ducts have to be made between the fixed ducts and the top of the cargo. Make sure that the wooden ducts can not collapse during the voyage.
• The ballast condition has to be in such a way that no alterations have to be made during the voyage. Pumping cold ballast water in ballast tanks around the cargo space will result in damage. Good ballast management is of utmost importance.
• Attention has to be paid to excessive moisture, lumped cocoa beans, and infestation.

• The bags have to be stowed free from the ship’s steel parts by using bamboo mats, (dried) dunnage wood, and/or kraft paper.
• The cargo has to be stowed in such a way that the fresh air can be ventilated all around the stow of cocoa beans. We refer to the UK Club’s “Carefully To Carry” publication for more detail.
• Special attention should be paid to discoloured bags, slack bags, number of bags and wet bags.