SAFE T Y
Briefings Be vigilant when loading scrap metal is the warning
Following increases in the issues with the carriage of scrap metal cargo, NorthStandard P&I Club has highlighted the need for extra vigilance at loading.
The IMSBC Code states that scrap metal should be kept as dry as possible before loading and not loaded in the rain. The main reason for this is that when scrap metal is wet it will accelerate the oxidisation process. Should the cargo contain swarf, turnings, or other contaminants such as timber or rags, this can lead to fire.
From various recent incidents and reports, NorthStandard attributes the causes of these incidents are due to a combination of factors:
– The cargo is sprayed on loading: Stevedores or longshoremen may spray the cargo on load to reduce dust generation. – The cargo is loaded during rain: Sometimes there is a request to load the cargo in rain, with shippers/charterers offer to issue a ‘rain letter’ in exchange for owners agreeing to continue loading. This should be resisted as P&I cover is at risk where an owner loads or discharges a cargo in the rain in circumstances where it was entitled to refuse to do so. In such circumstances a rain letter, under which the issuer indemnifies the carrier against the consequences of loading or discharging in the rain may stand as an alternative to cover.
– The cargo contains swarf: Often there is a large proportion of swarf, cuttings, borings and shavings in the cargo which means that the cargo does not meet the requirements to be considered a Group C ‘SCRAP METAL’ cargo.
– The cargo contains contaminants: Typically, the cargo is contaminated with rags or timber. However, more recently in Ghent there have been more instances of lithium batteries being found in the cargo. The presence of these contaminants significantly increases the risk of fire once heated. On one occasion issues were caused by a scrap metal cargo containing gas canisters which still contained flammable gas.
NorthStandard advises that cargo should be closely monitored for swarf, contaminants and to avoid loading in rain.
Collision between a general cargo vessel and a split hopper investigation report The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch
(MAIB) has published its investigation report into the collision between the general cargo vessel Scot Carrier and the split hopper barge Karin Høj.
The collision resulted in the capsize of the barge with two fatalities in the Bornholmsgat traffic separation scheme. On 13 December 2021, the UK registered general cargo ship Scot Carrier and the Denmark registered split hopper barge Karin Høj collided in the precautionary area adjacent to the Bornholmsgat traffic separation scheme, Sweden.
As a result of the collision, Karin Høj capsized and its two crew lost their lives.
The vessels collided after the second officer on board Scot Carrier altered course at a planned waypoint without checking the traffic in the area or that it was safe to execute the manoeuvre. Following the collision, Scot Carrier’s second officer did not immediately call the master or raise the alarm, but returned the ship to its original course and speed.
Danish and Swedish coastguards were alerted to the incident following the activation of Karin Høj’s emergency beacon and determined that the two ships might have collided. The Swedish Coast Guard subsequently questioned the second officer about the track of Scot Carrier via very high frequency radio and, 17 minutes after the collision, the master was finally alerted to the situation and sounded the general alarm.
Investigation
The investigation found that neither vessel had posted a lookout during the hours of darkness. It further established that Scot Carrier’s second officer was distracted throughout his watch by the continual use of a tablet computer and had also consumed alcohol before taking over the watch. It was not possible to establish what actions were taken by the crew of Karin Høj because the vessel was not fitted with a voyage data recorder and there were no survivors.
Download the full report at
https://bit.ly/3RvoeDM. Or scan the QR code.
THE REPORT | DEC 2023 | ISSUE 106 | 27
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