Solid Bulk Cargoes

Bulk cargo is the commodity in unpacked form & transported in large quantity cargo. It can be solid or fluid (liquid or gas). The solid bulk cargoes are also known as dry bulk cargoes or dry trades. Most common solid bulk cargoes transported are coal, iron, cement, grain, fertilizers, dry edibles (e.g. refined sugar, livestock feed), bulk minerals etc. Liquid bulk cargoes, also known as wet trades can be broadly classified into edible and non-edible category. Sometimes they can be classified into hazardous or non- hazardous category as well. The examples of hazardous liquid bulk cargoes transported in bulk include petroleum, LPG, LNG, & chemicals. The non-hazardous category includes vegetable oil, cooking oil, fruit juices, milk etc. Safety of life at Sea, SOLAS defines solid bulk cargoes as Any cargo, other than liquid or gas, consisting of a combination of particles, granules or any larger pieces of material generally uniform in composition, which is loaded directly into the cargo spaces of a ship without any intermediate form of containment Hence we can say that solid bulk cargoes are:  Homogeneous, uniform in composition.  Any cargo other than liquid or gas. This literally includes wide number of cargoes & possibility to include further cargo.  Loaded directly into cargo holds.  Do not have any intermediate form of containment for carriage. It simply means that solid bulk cargoes are loaded directly. Additionally, there is no means to stop spreading or no system designed to stop accidental release e.g. radioactive material from reactor have a system of containment. IMO has adopted new regulations for the carriage of solid bulk cargoes in the form of a code known as International maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code or IMSBC Code which has replaced the Solid Bulk Cargo Code or BC Code from 1st January 2011. All ships carrying solid bulk cargoes in general and dangerous solid bulk cargoes in particular will be required to comply with the new IMSBC Code. Some of the main features of the IMSBC code are given as follows: y y y The format of the IMSBC Code is similar to that of the existing BC Code. Like the BC Code, the IMSBC Code categorizes cargoes into three groups - A, B and C: Detailed requirements relating to each type of cargo are stated in the Code's individual schedules. A new section containing information concerning "Security provisions" has been added.

An added supplement is provided in which some IMO documents related to the IMSBC Code are given.

Hazards associated with the carriage of bulk cargoes The prime hazards associated with the shipment of solid bulk cargoes are as follows: 1. Structural hazards related to structural damage due to improper cargo distribution 2. Loss or reduction of stability during a voyage 3. Chemical reactions of cargoes. IMO has addressed the above issues by various regulations and IMSBC code is one of those instruments. AIM of IMSBC Code The primary aim of this Code is to facilitate the safe stowage and shipment of solid bulk cargoes by a)providing information on the dangers associated with the shipment of certain types of solid bulk cargoes, and; b) instructions on the procedures to be adopted when the shipment of solid bulk cargoes is expected. It should be noted that requirements for the transport of grain are covered by the separate code called International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk (International Grain Code) as grain has the highest shifting hazard. Maritime Safety Committee of IMO has adopted amendments to There is a possibility that Chapter XII Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) (Additional Safety all the requirements might Measures for Bulk Carriers) which came into force in July 2004, be synchronized under affecting all bulk carriers regardless of their date of construction. one code in future. Bulk These amendments include the fitting of dry space, water level Carriers A bulk carrier or bulker is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement etc. in its cargo holds
detectors and alarm monitors, as well as means of draining and pumping, and dry space bilges located forward of the collision bulkhead . Further recommendations for bulk carriers over 150 m in length to require double-hulls has been agreed (but not yet ratified)

SOLAS defines Bulk carrier as a ship which is constructed generally with single deck, top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces, and is intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, and includes such types as ore carriers and combination carriers.

It should be noted from the definition that ore carriers and combination carriers also fall into this category. However most classification societies use broader term where bulk carrier is any ship which carries dry unpackaged cargo. Adjacent picture shows a handy size geared bulk carrier carrying out cargo operation in the port with all the hatches opened. Type of Bulk Carriers Typical classification of bulk carriers can be done as per the size. However they can be classed as per the gear e.g. gearless or geared or depending upon the usage e.g. combined carrier, self unloader etc. There are special ships designed to pass through great lakes called Lakers. Classification as per size Name Mini-Bulkers DWT Less than 10,000 Remark Generally designed for river transport & often built to be able to pass under bridges Handy Size Handymax 10,000-35,000 35,000-59,000 General purpose in nature Typically, 150 200 m in length and 52,000 58,000 DWT with five cargo holds and four cranes. Both Handy size & Handymax have highest growth and represent more than 70% of the fleet Size limited by Panama Canal s lock Chambers which can accommodate, Beam-32.31m, LOA294.13m & draft=12.04m Too large for panama canal & must round cape horn to navigate between Atlantic and Pacific ocean. These are specialized ships and main cargo is coal and iron ores.

Panamax

60,000-80,000

Capsize

80,000 & Over

Definitions and terminologies associated with the carriage of bulk cargoes Angle of Repose ( AOR) This is maximum slope angle of non-cohesive (i.e., free-flowing) granular material. It is measured as the angle between a horizontal plane and the cone slope of such material. The angle of repose will be in the range of 0o- 90o. Free flowing liquids will have zero AOR. Whereas materials with high density & high coefficient of friction will have the tendency to make large AOR. Materials with large angle of repose will form large piles while with less angle of repose will tend to flatten up, making it more liable to shift and slide during transport. As far as solid bulk cargoes are concerned, the angle repose is required for non- cohesive substances only. For cohesive substances (which may stick together) , the value of AOR is not applicable. Appendix 3 of IMSBC code list the substances which are non- cohesive when dry and substances other than listed are considered as cohesive substances. Non-cohesive material means dry materials that readily shift due to sliding during transport, as listed in appendix 3 of IMSBC code. Bulk Cargo Shipping Name (BCSN) It identifies a bulk cargo during transport by sea. When a cargo is listed in IMSBC Code, the Bulk Cargo Shipping Name of the cargo is identified by capital letters in the individual schedules or in the index. When the cargo is a dangerous good as per IMDG code, Proper Shipping Name of that cargo is the Bulk Cargo Shipping Name. Each solid bulk cargo in this Code has been assigned a Bulk Cargo Shipping Name (BCSN). When a solid bulk cargo is carried by sea it shall be identified in the transport documentation by the BCSN. The BCSN shall be supplemented with the United Nations (UN) number when the cargo is dangerous goods. Bulk density means the weight of solids, air and water per unit volume. Bulk density is expressed in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3), in general. It should be noted that the void spaces in the cargo may be filled with air and water. Cargo space means any space in a ship designated for carriage of cargoes. Cargoes which may liquefy means cargoes which contain a certain proportion of fine particles and a certain amount of moisture. They may liquefy if shipped with moisture content in excess of their transportable moisture limit.

Cohesive material means materials other than non-cohesive materials. Competent Authority means any national regulatory body or authority designated or otherwise recognized as such for any purpose in connection with IMSBC Code. Concentrates means materials obtained from a natural ore by a process of enrichment or beneficiation by physical or chemical separation and removal of unwanted constituents. Consignment means a solid bulk cargo presented by a shipper for transport. Flow moisture point (FMP) means the percentage moisture content (wet mass basis) at which a flow state develops under the prescribed method of test in a representative sample of the material Flow state means a state occurring when a mass of granular material is saturated with liquid to an extent that, under the influence of prevailing external forces such as vibration, impaction or ships motion, it loses its internal shear strength and behaves as a liquid. Group A consists of cargoes which may liquefy if shipped at moisture content in excess of their transportable moisture limit. Group B consists of cargoes which possess chemical hazard which could give rise to a dangerous situation on a ship. Group C consists of cargoes which are neither liable to liquefy (Group A) nor to possess chemical hazards (Group B). High-density solid bulk cargo means a solid bulk cargo with a stowage factor of 0.56 m3/t or less. Incompatible materials means materials that may react dangerously when mixed. They are subject to the segregation requirements and the schedules for individual cargoes classified in Group B. Materials hazardous only in bulk (MHB) means materials which may possess chemical hazards when carried in bulk other than materials classified as dangerous goods in the IMDG Code. Moisture content ( MC) means that portion of a representative sample consisting of water, ice or other liquid expressed as a percentage of the total wet mass of that sample. Moisture migration means the movement of moisture contained in a cargo by settling and consolidation of the cargo due to vibration and ship s motion. Water is progressively displaced, which may result in some portions or all of the cargo developing a flow state. Representative test sample means a sample of sufficient quantity for the purpose of testing the physical and chemical properties of the consignment to meet specified requirements.

Shipper means any person by whom or in whose name, or on whose behalf, a contract of carriage of goods by sea has been concluded with a carrier or any person by whom or in whose name, or on whose behalf, the goods are actually delivered to the carrier in relation to the contract of carriage by sea. Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) of a cargo which may liquefy means the maximum moisture content of the cargo which is considered safe for carriage in ships not complying with the special provisions of subsection 7.3.2. It is determined by the test procedures, approved by a competent authority, such as those specified in paragraph 1 of appendix 2. Trimming means any leveling of a cargo within a cargo space, either partial or total. Trimming the cargo means making the surface if the cargo as level as possible. Trimming a cargo reduces the likelihood of the cargo shifting and minimizes the air entering the cargo, which could lead to spontaneous heating. To minimize these risks, cargoes shall be trimmed reasonably level, as necessary. Hazards associated with un-trimmed Bulk cargo a) A peaked cargo may settle during the voyage, which can produce a list if it settles more to one side than the other. b) If a bulk cargo is not trimmed so that its top surface is level, there is a risk that the weight of the peaks of the cargo may overload the tank-top, causing structural damage. c) A peaked cargo (un-trimmed) means that there is more surface area of cargo, which means that more air is in contact with more cargo; with cargoes such as coal this means more oxidization and higher risk of spontaneous combustion. Cargo spaces shall be as full as practicable without resulting in excessive loading on the bottom structure or tween-deck to prevent sliding of a solid bulk cargo. Due consideration shall be given to the amount of a solid bulk cargo in each cargo space, taking into account the possibility of shifting and longitudinal moments and forces of the ship. Cargo shall be spread as widely as practicable to the boundary of the cargo space. Alternate hold loading restrictions, as required by SOLAS chapter XII, may also need to be taken into account. Methods of trimming 1) MANUAL highly labour-intensive and slow.

2) MECHANICAL use of bulldozers quick and reasonably effective. There is a danger that cargo may be compressed and this may make it difficult to discharge. 3) SPOUT the end of the loading spout is moved athwart-ships and fore-and-aft in order to ensure the cargo fills the space and the surface is as flat as the skill and attention of the operator permits. 4) CHUTE a deflector plate or similar device is used on the end of the spout to shoot the cargo into the far corners of the hold. These devices can be spun through 360, and with a skilled operator can produce an extremely level stow.

Ventilation means exchange of air from outside to inside a cargo space. .1 Continuous Ventilation means ventilation that is operating at all times. .2 Mechanical Ventilation means power-generated ventilation.

.4 Surface Ventilation means ventilation of the space above the cargo.

Coal Cargoes Properties and characteristics

Coal is considered one of the high-risk cargos. Whenever coal is shipped from any place, the history of previous shipment must be known so as to be aware of the hazards of that particular coal. Hazards associated with Coal cargo transportation 1)Spontaneous heating Coal is a combustible material, if exposed to naked fire will catch fire. It is very liable to spontaneous heating. 2)Emission of Methane Coals may emit methane, a flammable gas. When mixed with air, methane forms an explosive mixture. Methane is lighter than air and may, therefore, accumulate in the upper region of the cargo space or other enclosed spaces. If the cargo space boundaries are not tight, methane can seep through into spaces adjacent to the cargo space. 3) Corrosion Some coals may be liable to react with water and produce acids which may cause corrosion. 4)Liquefaction Liquefaction is the process where moisture in the cargo migrates to the surface due to compaction and vibration resulting in flow state. This kind of coal is slurry, coal duff and mud coal. The surface of the cargo behaves like a liquid and causes stability issues.

General Precautions The risk of explosion becomes greater with broken coal especially during loading, so general precautions associated with the coal cargo shall be: a) b) Keep as cool as possible. Only surface ventilation.

In considering the carriage of a coal cargo, the outstanding question is of the gases which are given off by the coal as from the introduction of quantities of air into the bulk, of the cargo which promotes spontaneous combustion. It should, therefore, be appreciated that only surface ventilation be given to any mass of coal. Ventilation into a mass of coal is dangerous. Where it is possible to use ventilators which project well above the upper deck, as for example, those which are fitted through deck houses, these should be devoted to coal ventilation. These ventilators are less liable to damage from heavy seas which might fracture less protected coamings and so allow water to enter the holds. Masts and derrick posts fitted as ventilators are ideal in this respect. Each compartment in which coal is stowed should be provided with at least two ventilators, one at each end of the compartment. These shall be so arranged that one shall be an 'inlet' and the other an 'outlet' so that a continuous and unrestricted flow of air passes over the surface of the coal. During fine weather it is advisable to open up hatch coverings in order to facilitate the 'surface ventilation'.