Ship Grain in Bulk Break Cargoes Holds Condition Survey/Inspection

Ship Grain in Bulk Break Cargoes Holds Condition Survey/Inspection: (Part I)

Break / Bulk Cargoes Holds Condition Survey/Inspection procedure of AIM Control (AIM Group®) is aimed at helping masters, ships’ cargo officers, shore superintendents and chartering managers understand the requirements of hold preparation before loading bulk cargoes. Such awareness will assist in preventing claims for cargo loss, cargo contamination, additional survey costs, delay to ships, and in preventing disputes over on-hire, off-hire and charterparty issues.

AIM Control (AIM Group®) Break / Bulk Cargoes Holds Condition Survey/Inspection of a cargo hold is not just a question of sweeping, cleaning odors the hold. There are a number of matters to consider, and failing to adhere to good practice can result in substantial claims. A lack of knowledge, often originating in chartering or commercial departments, can also be the underlying cause of major claims.

Hold cleaning:

a. Cargo contamination problems

b. Problems stemming from previous cargo

c. Cargo stain

d. Rust, rust scale and paint flaking

e. Unsanitary conditions

f. Wetness

g. Odours

h. infestation

i. Safe

Various cargoes – hold cleaning requirements:

• Coke – general

• Green delayed petcoke

• Met coke

• Bulk cement and clinker

• Anthracite coal

• Bituminous coal

• Bauxite

• Manganese ore

• Salt

• Soda ash

• Sulphur

• Fertiliser

• Woodchips

• After loading

• Before arrival

• Other cargoes

Hold structure:

The conventional bulk carrier has a box construction with Tank top, internal shell plating, wing tank plating, coating, frames, bulkheads, top brackets, foot brackets, u/side cross deck, ladders, platforms, sounding pipes (dark sides), air pipes ( dark sides ), pipe protections, bilges and suctions, lighting, manhole covers, fire detectors, electrical cables, electrical connections, electrical switches, co2 pipelines, co2 discharge heads, ventilation, ventilation trunks/grills, booby hatches.

These frames can retain traces of old cargo: corrosion, scale and residues of previous cargo can collect and fall, and contaminate the next cargo.

Some bulk carriers, including many smaller coastal-type ships, are built with box holds. This means that the hold sides are ‘boxed’ in with smooth steel sides, making discharge and cleaning much easier as there are no frames.

Cargo contamination problems:

Whatever the previous cargo, all holds should be swept clean, and loose scale and rust removed. When reloading the same cargo commodity, there is a tendency to leave the holds un-swept. In general terms, this is not good practice since the residual cargo can hide damage to the hold or tank top. Traces of previous cargoes, such as sulphur, sulphur traces in coal cargoes and some fertilizer cargoes may corrode bare steel plate.

It is recommended that holds are swept clean after every cargo and the residues removed or, if reloading the same cargo type, placed to one side so that a tank top and hold inspection can be carried out. Large amounts of cargo remaining onboard may not only cause outturn problems, but hide damage to the tank top plate.

The level of cleanliness of the hold required will vary from port to port, and shipper to shipper. As a general rule, if nothing specific is stated, a double sweep, with a saltwater wash followed by freshwater wash, is a sensible option

In order to avoid delays or off-hire of the ship, hold cleaning requires proper planning.

See next Part II

Dr Capt. Nguyen Te Nhan / G.D
Agriculture - Industry - Marine Survey & Inspection Group
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Written : @AIMGroup®