Shipping

Fuel consumed on board a ship requires heating to pump it from its storage to its settling or service tanks. However, some cargoes are extremely heat sensitive and therefore heating of tanks adjacent to cargo holds should be done with caution. The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC) identifies the following as heated ship structures and offers guidance on the carriage of grain and seed cargoes:

• steam pipes;
• heating coils;
• top or side walls  of heated fuel and  cargo tanks, and; bulkheads of  machinery spaces

Continue reading “Guidance on the carriage of grain and seed cargoes”

The Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) Charcoal Work Group has updated its “Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Charcoal in Containers”, reflecting the updated IMDG Code requirements, Britannia P&I Club has highlighted.

The 2024 edition of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code included changes in the requirements applying to charcoal. This edition, incorporating Amendment 42-24, became voluntary from 1 January 2025 and will become mandatory from 1 January 2026. According to Britannia Club, charcoal as a cargo presents unique stowage and handling requirements and requires strict safety protocols. In addition to the fire hazard, misdeclaration is known to result in the carrier being unaware of the risks. Continue reading “Safe carriage of charcoal in containers”

West P&I Club has issued a loss prevention bulletin in which they describe best practices and give guidelines on cargo tank cleaning and preparation onboard tankers. the Club highlights that product and chemical tankers carry a variety of commodities, often necessitating frequent tank cleaning to prevent a cross-subsequent, off-spec claim. Detailed planning of the tank cleaning is crucial, and the ship’s crew must be informed of the schedule. The extent of cleaning required depends on the properties of the previous cargo, the tank coating, the next cargo’s preloading specifications and the shipper’s requirements. Continue reading “Cargo tank cleaning and preparation onboard tankers: Best practices and guidelines”