BULK MINERAL CARGO LIQUEFACTION

As it is required by SOLAS, each ship must comply with the requirements of the IMSBC Code, as applicable - the purpose of the subject Code is to provide necessary technical guidance on the procedures that have to be adopted during the transportation of various solid bulk cargoes, and it applies to all solid bulk cargoes, with the sole exception of grain. Nowadays, the cargoes falling in the category of liquefaction risk continue to be transported.

Liquefaction related accidents cost the marine insurance industry more than hundred million dollars in the period 2010-2013. All details of the mineral cargoes are listed in the Appendix 1 to the above stated Code together with the info related to their properties and handling and carriage peculiarities. The Code draws the attention of the shippers to the hazards that are associated with the transportation of damp/wet mineral cargoes.

Such cargoes often have high density - thus, their distribution in the cargo holds of the vessel must be specifically considered since any error may inevitably lead to the structural damage of the ship. In addition to that, these cargoes are often loaded at a quite fast pace and such loading may stress the plating of the cargo hold.