Dry Bulk Cargoes Flashcards
What are the 3 groups of solid cargo?
A - Cargo that may liquify
B - Chemical hazards
C - Not A or B
Could a cargo be both A and B?
Yes
What documents are required to carry solid bulk cargo?
- Bill of lading
- Shippers declaration
- Doc of authorisation from Flag (only for carriage of grain)
- Dangerous goods List (if carrying hazardous cargo listed under IMDG)
Can a vessel carry grain without a Doc of Authorisation?
Yes, if stability meets grain code and limited to 1/3 of DWT
What information would you find in a shippers declaration?
- Shipping name (of cargo)
- Group (A,B,C)
-Shipper - Consignee
- DEP + ARR Port
- Weight
- Stowage factor
- Angle of Repose
- Trimming procedures
- Chemical properties (e.g. class and UN Number)
- Transport moisture limit
- Moisture content on DEP
- If it’s harmful to the marine environment
- Any other relevant information
What is liquefaction and Flow Moisture Point (FMP)?
- Liquefaction is a hazard of certain solid bulk cargoes.
- It is when a cargo changes state from solid to liquid. This is bad for ships because of free surface affect.
- Liquefaction occurs when the cargo reaches its FMP.
How does transportable moisture limit (TML) help to reduce risk of liquefaction?
- Shipper must test cargo to obtain the FMP and Moisture content of the cargo.
- These certs are presented the Master.
- TML is 90% of FMP.
- If Moisture Content is greater than the TML. Then the cargo should not be loaded.
How far in advance can the cargo be tested to find the TML?
No more then 6 months before loading
How far in advance can the cargoes moisture content be tested?
No more then 7 days before loading
What factors would included in a loading plan?
- What, where and how much cargo is being loaded
- Expected conditions for intermediate stages of loading e.g. Trim, SF, BF, ballast and de-ballast, time rqd.
What instructions would you give your junior officer during a period of loading?
- Carry out the agreed plan.
- Monitor stability to ensure there are no excessive stresses on the ships structure.
- Monitor safety of operation
- Frequent reading of draft marks
- If in any doubt stop operation
- Call C/O or Master
How would you prepare a hold for loading?
The 3 tasks before ALL jobs:
1. Prepare a plan
2. RA
3. Toolbox talk
- Permit to work, is area ventilated?
- PPE
- Sweep out
- Clean out bilges and check for obstructions
- Wash (salt water the fresh water then dry)
- Removal of last cargo and hull residue
- Check for damage to hold
- Check hatch cover
- Check CO2 system
- Keep written record
Does the discharge of bulk cargo residues need to be recorded?
- Yes, in the Garbage record book part 2.
- They are categorised into harmful and none harmful residues
What are the hazards of Coal?
- Liquefaction
- Self heating (max temp before loading 55°C)
- Produces flammable gas (methane)
- Oxygen depleting
- Corrosive to steel work
What are some other hazards of solid bulk cargo
- Cargo shift
- Structural damage (High density cargoes, important they are trimmed)
- Gas producing (toxic and or flammable)
- Dust (can be explosive or harmful e.g. grain)
What is an indication of self heating?
Rise in carbon monoxide levels
Coal, What is the procedure for controlling methane concentration levels?
- Ventilate for first 24hrs.
- After 24hrs reassess and ventilate as rqd.
Why should coal be trimmed?
- To avoid formation of gas pockets
Coal, what should be regularly measured the cargo hold?
- Methane
- Oxygen
- Carbon monoxide
- pH of cargo hold bilge
What is an important MGN for the safe carriage of coal?
MGN 60
Coal, if methane is in excess of 20% of the Lower Explosion Limit (LEL) what extra precautions should be taken?
- Maintain surface ventilation.
- Any accumulated gases vented before unloading and care taken not to produce any sparks.
- No entry by crew until area is ventilated and within limits.
- Any enclosed working spaces should be monitored for presence of methane.
If shipper advises the Master that this coal is liable to self heating what extra precautions should be taken?
- Hatches closed immediately after loading.
- Ventilation limited to absolute minimum
- No entry made into hold unless absolutely necessary and only with correct BA equipment.
Coal fire in the hold what are your actions?
- Stop all ventilation.
- Boundary cool with water.
- Distress call.
- Head for nearest safe port.
What is a bad angle of repose and why is it bad?
- Angle of repose less then 30° (e.g. grain) is bad because it is more likely to shift.
How to control the hazard of cargo shifting?
- Trim the cargo
- Grain cargo should be trimmed as per Grain Code.
