The International Group of P&I Clubs together with The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) has published a new guide with advise on the safe carriage of charcoal and carbon cargoes.
According to data, the local production of wood charcoal and carbon for domestic and export markets is about 53 million tonnes per year. These cargoes need to comply with the IMDG Code compliance and the aim of the guide is to highlight additional precautions to enhance their safe carriage.
UK P&I Club says that it has seen an increase in refrigerated cargo claims for fresh fruit being shipped from South America to the United States due to cargo cold treatment failure. George Radu, Claims Executive at Thomas Miller Americas, comments on this increase and offers prevention solutions.
The process of cargo cold treatment is a more efficient way to exterminate fruit insects than fumigation, as it maintains a sufficient low temperature for a pre-determined period, in order to exterminate insects and larvae in perishable cargo. The period and temperature required are defined in protocols established by the relevant authorities of the importing countries.
Continue reading “UK P&I Club issues advice on cargo cold treatment failure”
Instructions from the Administration of Panama regarding IMO MSC.1/Circ. 1352/Rev.1 Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing – CSS Code Annex 14 – were announced in ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-1097 dated 28 December 2016. The Administration has updated MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR MMC-340, including their additional guidance on the application of relevant requirements to existing containerships, as attached.
This Technical Information supersedes the previous ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-1097 dated 28 December 2016.
Due to a recent increase in the incidence of deck cargoes shifting in heavy weather, the London P&I Club said it supports a recommendation to appoint a marine warranty surveyor to supervise high-risk marine construction and transportation project operations where appropriate and to reduce cargo shifting risk.
“In the past year, LOC has seen many deck cargoes shifting in heavy weather,” Paul Walton, a director with international marine consultant LOC (Hong Kong), said.
Following a number of incidents involving white powder deposits being found on food cargoes that have been transported in refrigerated containers, UK P&I Club has issues some advice. The presence of aluminium oxide/hydroxide, which appears as white powder deposits on food cargoes, can result in lost transportation revenues, customer rejections, insurance claims and even government mandated destruction of the food cargoes. George Radu, Claims Executive at UK P&I Club, comments on how this cargo loss can be prevented.
Continue reading “UK P&I Club advises on white powder deposits on food cargoes”
An MSC circular on Advice to Administrations, port State control authorities, companies, port terminals and masters regarding the SOLAS requirements for verified gross mass of packed containers has been agreed by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), following discussion on the pending entry into force of the requirements in SOLAS regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2/6 on the verification of the gross mass of packed containers on 1 July 2016.
Concerns were noted with regards to the application of the requirements to a container which was loaded before 1 July 2016 and then transhipped. The Committee, meeting for its 96th session (11-20 May), also noted delegations’ comments that, in the first few months after 1 July 2016, some leeway should be provided in order for any problems resulting from software updates, required for the electronic collection and transmittal of verified gross mass data, to be rectified without causing delays to containers being loaded.
The implementation of the new Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) container weighing rule is due to come into effect on 1 July 1 2016, yet there is still a lack of information on their application, which is causing terminal operators to request further clarity as a matter of urgency.
Private port federation FEPORT has called on national authorities to develop guidelines that protect the efficiency of the logistics chain and do not create competitive distortions between Member States.
Continue reading “Urgent clarity on container weighing sought by operators”
We have all heard stories of import cargo arriving with water or moisture damage and the Insured/Consignee complaining bitterly when their claim is denied, believing that they have paid a lot of money for insurance that is worthless. It is even more frustrating when we come across these claims with Insureds/Consignees that are regularly importing (or exporting) goods via containerised cargo.
Insured peril
So when is water moisture damage on containerised cargo covered by Insurance? Firstly, let’s make a few assumptions to keep this simple: we will consider the cargo as being a Full Container Load (FCL) and that the Policy coverage is Institute Cargo Clauses (A) [ICC (A)], which is All Risks.
Continue reading “The effect of water moisture damage on containerised cargo”
News has been announced by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd that the company has started demonstration tests on a new energy saving windshield for containerships, which has the potential to reduce wind resistance, save fuel, and reduce CO2 emissions. MOL jointly developed the device with MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd.
The new energy saving windshield was installed on the bow of the MOL operated containership MOL MARVEL. A demonstration test of its effectiveness in reducing CO2 emissions is under way.
Continue reading “New energy saving windshield on containership being tested”
On Saturday 18 April, a special event will take place in San Diego to to christen and launch the world’s first LNG powered containership built by General Dynamics NASSCO for TOTE.
The ship’s sponsor, Mrs Sophie Sacco, the wife of Michael Sacco, president of the Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL CIO will christen the ship with a traditional champagne bottle break over the ship’s hull. Fireworks will commence immediately upon the christening and launch of the ship. The name of the ship will also be revealed during the ceremony.
Continue reading “World’s first LNG powered containership set for launch”
The 399 metre long Munkebo Maersk, which weighs in at 195,000 tonnes and is 60 metre wide became the largest vessel ever to sail up the Thames. The Munkebo Maersk is one of the largest container vessels in the world. She was helped into port by pilots from the Port of London Authority.
Munkebo Maersk can carry 18,300 x 20 foot containers.
Simon Moore, chief executive of DP World London Gateway, said: “This is yet another record and landmark moment for DP World London Gateway.
Continue reading “Munkebo Maersk becomes the biggest ship to sail the Thames”
At the end of 2014, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) that will require every packed export container to have a verified container weight as a condition for loading aboard a vessel, as decided by The World Shipping Council. Below is the World Shipping Council advice post SOLAS.
This requirement will become legally binding on July 1, 2016. Continue reading “World Shipping Council advice post SOLAS”
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