Hold cleaning – preparing a ship for grain Surveyors inspection/


requirements


Prior to loading grain, all ships are usually subject to a survey by an approved independent surveyor. The surveyor will require the vessels particulars and details of at least the last three cargoes carried. He will then inspect the holds for cleanliness and infestation, or the presence of any material which could lead to infestation.


When the surveyor is satisfied with the condition of the hold, he will issue the ship with a certificate stating which holds are fit to load grain.


Purpose:


To ensure cargo holds are prepared to receive the next cargo.


Large claims have arisen when cargo holds have not been cleaned sufficiently to prevent cargo contamination.


The requirements for cleaning the holds are dependent upon the previous cargo carried, the next cargo to be carried, charterers’ requirements, the requirements of shippers and/or the authorities at the port of loading and the receivers.


It is becoming common practice for receivers to have an inspector at the load port.


General


Regardless of the previous cargo, all holds should be thoroughly cleaned by sweeping, scraping and high- pressure sea water washing to remove all previous cargo residues and any loose scale or paint, paying particular attention to any that may be trapped behind beams, ledges, pipe guards, or other fittings in the holds.


Cargo hold: coal sticking and discharging salt


If the ship has been carrying DRI (direct reduced iron), the dust created by this particular cargo during loading or discharging, will be carried to all areas of the ships structure and the reaction between iron, oxygen and salt will create an aggressive effect wherever the dust may settle. This is particularly noticeable on painted superstructures. (The IMO Bulk Cargo Code contains guidelines).


Whenever salt water washing is used to clean hatches, the relevant holds should always be rinsed with fresh water to minimise the effects of corrosion and to prevent salt contamination of future cargoes. In this respect, arrangements should be made in good time to ensure sufficient fresh water is available for this operation.


Before undertaking a fresh water rinse, the supply line (normally the deck fire main or similar) will need to be flushed through to remove any residual salt water. Accordingly, it is suggested that fresh water rinsing of the holds is left until the end of hold cleaning operations to minimise the amount of fresh water required.


Grain preparation and safe carriage


One of the most difficult hold cleaning tasks is to prepare a ship for a grain cargo after discharging a dirty or dusty cargo such as coal or iron ore, particularly if the last cargo has left ‘oily’ stains on the paintwork or other deposits stubbornly adhering to the steel surfaces. Greasy deposits which remain on the bulkheads will require a ‘degreasing chemical wash’ and a fresh water rinse in order to pass a grain inspection. The degreasing chemical used should be environmentally acceptable for marine use, and safe to apply by ships staff, who have had no special training and do not require any specialised protective equipment. Product safety data sheets of the chemical should be read, understood and followed by all persons involved with the environmentally friendly degreasing chemical.


To avoid taint problems, fresh paint should not to be used in the holds or under the hatch lids at anytime during the hold preparation, unless there is sufficient time for the paint to cure and be free of odour as per the


3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34