| Loading Rates Briefing |
 |
Issue Summary.Over recent years Intercargo members have been experiencing increased pressure to load vessels quickly. This problem has escalated with the increased demand for commodities and the commercial pressure to maximise terminal throughput. Intercargo conducted a survey of ships’ masters to determine the areas of concern, two main areas were identified:
Intercargo Policy.Intercargo will engage with all stakeholders including owners and operators, terminals, classification societies, shippers, flag administrations, and insurers to ensure a common understanding of this issue. The aim is to ensure that all bulk carriers are loaded safety in an appropriate manner, taking into account the capabilities of the ship, in accordance with international regulation Summary of Recent Developments.Intercargo commissioned a study to investigate the effects of ‘minimum ballast’ on manoeuvrability. The BMT SeaTech study provides objective evidence that the feedback from ships’ masters is correct and quantifies the effects of the minimum ballast condition – confirming that in most cases the safety margin is reduced when manoeuvring in a reduced ballast condition compared with the normal ballast condition. The study was subsequently expanded to include additional scenarios illustrating the consequences of a reduced safety margin. The concerns with regard to hull structure were investigated by ABS. The ABS study indicates that the identified issues, or a combination of these issues, increases the stress range experienced by a ship and may lead to a over stressing of the hull. Intercargo made a submission to MSC 84 concerning increasing pressure to load bulk carriers at high rates, bringing to the attention of the Committee the results of the Intercargo survey on loading rates. The paper was referred to the Sub-committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC) for consideration. The Sub-committee recommended that further guidance to supplement the Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers (BLU Code) should be developed and drafted the circular for approval by the parent Committee. The 87th Session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 87) (12-21 May 2010), approved the circular on "Additional Considerations for the Safe Loading of Bulk Carriers".The circular recognises it is a SOLAS requirement for the master and terminal representative to agree a loading plan which shall ensure the permissible forces and moments on the ship are not exceeded and that, while a terminal may have a high nominal loading rate, the time taken for loading will also be influenced by the steps required to safely load a ship in order to keep the structural stresses within permissible limits. Acknowledging the pressure to arrive with as little ballast as possible the circular also cautions that arrival in port in a very lightly ballasted state should be avoided as such conditions can have detrimental consequences on manoeuvrability. The core elements of loading, in accordance with the BLU Code, are reviewed including: the loading sequences that must take into account the safe operational limits of the ship and terminal; the need to ensure the plan is followed including ensuring de-ballasting operations are synchronized with loading and the whole operation is carried out in a controlled manner; the masters' right to suspend operations if at any time during loading the safe operational limits of the ship are exceeded, or are likely to become so if the loading continues. The consequences of failure to apply the BLU Code are discussed and reference is made to IACS Recommendation 46 - Guidance and Information on Bulk Cargo Loading and Discharge to Reduce the Likelihood of Over-stressing the Hull Structure. In the weeks following the conclusion of the MSC meeting the IMO Secretariat will draft and issue the official circular - in the interim please find below the draft copy as approved by the Committee. Members please login to read full article |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 08:56 |