Cargo shortage control and damage claims investigation at Vietnam

Surveyors and tally clerks of AIM Control (AIM Group®) who have experience over 50 years in Controlling commodity shortages and investigating damage claims at Vietnam. 

Recommendation have informed the Clubs of an increase in the number of claims for shortage and damage to cargoes, arising during the loading and discharge of agricultural products and grain cargo at Vietnamese ports.

• What is a loss and damage prevention?

• What are a claim and dispute?

• What is a claim investigation?

• What is an insurance claims investigator of AIM?

• How long does an insurance company have to investigate a claim?

• Do insurance companies investigate claims?

• Why do customers need the cargo shortage control and damage claims investigation services of AIM?

P&I correspondents in Vietnam informed that local receivers often determine cargo outturn quantities on the basis of draft survey results, and that there appears to be a particular risk of shortage allegations in circumstances where the surveys have been performed unilaterally by surveyors acting on their behalf. (Contact us via email: SURVEY@aimcontrolgroup.com)

The club suggests that the danger of shortage claims should be minimised by independent surveyors of AIM Control (AIM Group®) to conduct joint draft surveys at the load port and discharge port with the shippers’ and receivers’ and insurer's surveyors, before and on completion of cargo operations.

Moreover, the correspondents report a high level of instances of cargo damage occurring as a consequence of rainfall during discharge and loading of grain due to delay in closing of vessel hatchcovers. They advises that there is a local  susceptibility to the sudden onset of heavy rain showers. Crews should be particularly vigilant for signs of approaching rainfall, to enable a prompt response in the event that closure of the hatchcovers becomes necessary.

Maintaining comprehensive records of draft surveys and suspension of cargo operations due to rain etc in vessel files and log-books should assist in supporting the vessel’s position in relation to cargo outturn figures and condition.

Regarding to quantity of shipment loaded, weight of consignment discharged/unloaded not only the ship-owners, operators, charterers, PNI clubs, marine ship & cargo insurance parties not also buyers, shippers and other always claim on shortage of quantity (in bags) and weight (in bulk). The problems are the trust of tallying company actions during loading/ unloading and ship crews after loading.

We, AIM Control (AIM Group®) also consulted concerning parties that, the vessel's arrival to ports of Vietnam, when her voyage is from Pilot Station Position to port, it arisen the stolen by crew and others used the lighters run after to come along side her to take goods from her holds to these lighters (Some Pilot men confirmed us this).

After loading completed, the vessel's departed from ports of Vietnam to Pilot Station Position, it also arisen the stolen by crew and others used the lighters run after to come along side her to take goods from her holds to these lighters (Some Pilot men confirmed us this).

Noted: Her holds, Hatcher Covers and access of holds and others must be sealed at loading port after her loading completed, this action is also to prevent the loss of goods.

The following is one example of AIM Control’s recommendation before loading at Vietnam sea ports:

 To :      The Mater & Chief Officer of M/V “......................................................... “

RECOMMENDATION FOR LOADING RICE IN BAGS

Dear sir,

The purpose of this letter is to provide information of the loaded rice in bags standard for the safe goods, loading operation of the ship and for loss/damage prevention we would like the express the following recommendations for on loading rice in bags operation. 

We, AIM Control (AIM Group®) on behalf of our principal, carry out supervision/survey on the above mentioned vessel, which is going to load rice in bags at, Vietnam.

The ship’s technical, cargo holds/ hatch covers condition:

• They should be met pre-loading survey requirement that will be carried out.

Dunnage and stowage arrangement:

• The dunnage materials must be laid corrosive on the tank top, around the frames of bulkheads, ship-sides before loading with bam boo sticks and then covered by bamboo mats and must be free from dusty and strange odour or insects.
• Rice in bags must be orderly stowed with bag on bag in to cargo blocks with enough approved ventilation channels distance 25 cm to 30 cm, and then got a higher 05 bags by 05 bags each bag laid corrosive two cargo blocks 05 metres to separating from each other.
• Rice in bags must be loaded far away from engine-bulkhead to prevent any damage caused by heating, and from the top of coaming and hatch covers with enough distance 50 cm to 60 cm.
• On loading cargo should always be considered, taken care by Chief officer, crew to loaded cargo, closing the hatch covers in time (even when thick cloudy coming), prohibiting stevedore from drinking water in the ship’s holds, dropping of runner cable oil of cranes/derricks on the surface cargo, falling of the cargo blocks with each other and overall and close supervision of the loading process.
• Torn bags, damaged bags, shortage bags were rejected to give back to barges and/or lighters.    
• The main deck and access manholes must be kept in dry and clean condition during loading process.
• Ballast water pumping in or out should be not / if possible, operated to prevent any damage by

                                                                                        HOCHIMINH City, Vietnam on .............

Rep. of the Ship                                                   Surveyors Manager of AIM Control (AIM Group®)

  (signed)                                                                                   (signed)

 

AIM Control (AIM Group®) Loss Control during her loading at Ports of Vietnam for client is  Buyer's Louis Dreyfus Commodities B.V (for 42,000 mts of rice in bags loaded ship Clipper Polaris at Thuyen Lieng of Vietnam while her anchorage)

See AIM Control (AIM Group®) survey and inspection services regarding to prevention of loss and shortage

• The insurance claim damage investigation and loss survey services

• The quality investigation and approval for goods and cargo

• The outturn survey for cargo in discharging / unloading

• The claim investigation and loss adjusting services for the insured and insurance company

• The marine investigation and consultancy / cargo inspection services

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