LOSS PREVENTION
As important as responding to Members’ claims is the Club’s capacity to avoid losses. The shipment of iron ore and nickel ore fines from India and Indonesia respectively has presented unique challenges in that regard.
The past two years have seen a number of instances where these cargoes have been loaded onto ships with a moisture content that exceeds the limit that is safe for carriage at sea. Following departure from the load port, these cargoes have been prone to liquefaction, which can seriously compromise a ship’s stability. At least four ships are reported to have capsized within the last year whilst carrying nickel ore cargoes, with a loss of 48 lives. There have also been a number of “near
HEAVY WEATHER INCIDENTS
On occasions however, there are reminders that the best preparations can be no match for the weather. In December 2010 there was a particularly violent storm in the eastern Mediterranean. A large cruise ship entered in the Club was approaching Alexandria in the early hours of the morning, when it encountered a series of very large waves which caused the ship’s speed to drop rapidly. Making little headway, the ship took a series of heavy rolls, peaking up to what was thought to be a 32 degree roll to starboard. Some 120 passengers reported injuries, however had the incident occurred during the day the consequences could have been far more severe.
The same weather system produced far more grave consequences for the JOLLY AMARANTO, which suffered an engine failure during the storm causing the ship to broach. The ship was towed to Alexandria. However, whilst attempting to berth the continuing strong winds caused a towline to part, as a result of which the ship ran aground in shallow water on
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the edge of the approach channel to the port. The ship took on an immediate list, and water flooded the lower cargo hold, the vehicle deck and the engine room. A salvage operation was initiated, but later suspended during the civil unrest in Egypt. Over the course of the next few weeks, further heavy weather caused a significant increase in the list with the resulting loss of all of the remaining cargo. The ship is now a total loss and subject to a complex wreck removal operation.
misses” with iron ore fines loaded in India following on from two well documented losses in previous years.
The Club has assumed a leading role in investigating these incidents and implementing measures which can be taken to reduce the risk of dangerous cargoes being loaded. These include detailed guidance for owners on the enquiries that should be made into these cargoes prior to shipment, and procedures for sampling and testing cargoes. These measures have not always been welcomed by the shippers of the cargoes who have frequently sought to circumvent the proper testing procedures. However the inescapable fact is that no ships have been lost where these procedures have been followed.
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