Container shipping demand is exceptionally high, especially on the transpacific and Asia-Europe trade routes leading some exporters to charter bulk carriers for carrying containers; this article outlines UK Club advice on the topic
This bulletin briefly describe the physical properties of petcoke, the environmental implications of its discharge or loss at sea, the properties and effects of petcoke cleaning agents and some of the national and international policies relating to its disposal.
The UK P&I Club recently held a webinar on the subject of Chemical Tanker Claims; it was a great success with about 1600 registrations from 63 countries, looking at three main aspects related to the preparation of cargo holds in bulk carriers
This press release highlights the new episode from the UK Club's 'Ask an Expert' video series, this time exploring the topic of grain contamination claims
The UK P&I Club's correspondents in Brazil, Representacoes Proinde Ltda, have published on their website a Practical Guidance entitled Loading Soya Beans in Brazil
The Club has recently been notified by New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) of a cargo hold fire caused by the lighting system in a vessel hold. Members are advised that alternative LED lighting should be considered, to reduce the potential risk to ship safety posed by lights that radiate high levels of heat.
The vessel loaded a full cargo of soya beans in North America for discharge in the Far East. The voyage was performed in the Northern Winter season during which orders were received to stem fuel oil bunkers at an intermediate port.
Members will be aware of the tragic sinking last week of the M/V Emerald Star in the Philippine Sea, with the loss of 10 crewmembers. The ship is believed to have been carrying a cargo of lateritic nickel ore at the time, although it is too early to say whether the cargo played any role in the ship's sinking.
The crew were instructed to clean the vessel's cargo holds in preparation for the next cargo. The vessel was underway with sea conditions recorded as slight with no ship movement. In order to gain better access to the upper areas of the hold, the crew arranged to position the high pressure washing equipment on top of portable staging erected on the tank top.
As discharge of a cargo of coal progressed, the level in one of the cargo holds had lowered to the point where stevedores needed to enter for cargo trimming operations using bulldozers.
The vessel was scheduled to call at two West African ports for cargo operations. At the first port of call, all operations took place without any untoward incident. However, shortly after berthing alongside at the second port of call as preparations were underway to commence cargo discharge, the crew found two stowaways who had been hiding inside the deck crane pedestals.
This was a very poorly planned bunkering operation from the outset with an almost complete neglect of the company SMS procedures. The bunkering checklist was ticked off but not in fact implemented.
