25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

HOME NEWS VIDEOS MARINETECH NAVIGATION SAFETY CAREER LIFEATSEA NAVALARCH

MORE SearchInMarineInsight

9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOn
Ships
ByParomitaMukherjee|In:MarineSafety|LastUpdatedonMarch17,2017

o 6.8K j
SHARES
6.6K s 14 f 109 h 3

Themarineindustryisanessentiallinkininternationaltrade,withoceangoingvessels
representingthemostefficientandoftentheonlymethodoftransportinglargevolumesofbasic
commoditiesandfinishedproducts.

Bulkcarriersplayamajorroleintheglobaleconomy.Drybulkcargoescoverawiderangeof
products.Someofthemostcommonlyhandleddrybulkmaterialsarecoal,cement,grain,sulphur,
fertilizers,ironoreandsugar.Theseproductsaregenerallynotpackagedseparatelybut
transportedinlargequantitiesintheholdofaship.

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 1/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

Credits:imo.org

Manydrybulkcargoesarealsoclassifiedasdangerousgoodsrequiringspecialattentionduring
loading,transportationanddischarging.Thecarriageofsolidbulkcargoespossesspotential
hazardsandthusrequireefficientandsafestowageandshipment.

Someofthemostcommonhazardsofbulkcargoesonboardshipsarementionedbelow:

1.Cargoshift:Cargoshifthasalwaysremainedasoneofthegreatestdangersonbulkcarriers.
Thisproblemisgreaterforshipscarryinggraincargoes.Grainsettlesbyabout2%ofitsvolume.
Becauseofthissettling,smallvoidspacesexistonthetopofgrainsurface.Thesevoidspaces
permitthegraintoshift.Thefreeflowingcharacteristicsofgrainreducethestabilityofanyship
carryingit.Trimmingisundertakentoreducethedangerofcargoshifting.Rollingcanalsocause
shiftingofcargofromonesidetotheotherandreduceherpositivestabilityresultinginthevessel
tocapsize.

2.Cargofallingfromheight:Cargoeslikeironore,quartzandsteelscrapsarehighdensity
cargo.Thereisapossibilityofcargofallingfromheightduringcargooperations.Cargomayeither
fallfromtheconveyorbeltoftheshiploaderorfromthedischarginggrabontothedeckofthe
ship.Peopleworkingondeckcangetinjuredbadlyifhitbythesizeablelumpsofthebulkcargo.It
canbeasbadasdeath.Cargooperationshouldalwaysbemonitoredbyresponsibleofficersand
careshouldbetakenthatnounwantedpersonnelarepresentontheworkingareaofthedeck.
Personswhoareinvolvedinthecargooperationshouldwearprotectiveclothingincludinghard
hats,safetyshoesandhighlyvisiblevests.

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 2/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

3.Dustfromworkingcargo:Dustisoneofthemostcommonhazardsinbulkcarriers.Many
bulkcargoesaredustybynature.Dustparticlesaresmallenoughtobeinhaledandifinhaledcan
havedisastrouseffectsonhealth.Anyoneworkingonthedeckcanbeexposedtohighlevelsof
dust.Dustcancausesneezingandirritationoftheeyes.Wherepossibleitisalwaysbesttoavoid
exposuretocargodusthoweverifexposurecannotbeavoidedprotectivefacemasksshouldbe
worn.Thoseinvolvedincargooperationandneedtobepresentondeckwhenadustycargois
beingloadedordischargedandanyonesweepingcargowithabrushorwithairshouldweara
suitablerespirator.Filtersshouldberenewedwhensoiled.Deckmachineryshouldbeproperly
protectedastheycanbeadverselyaffectedbydust.

4.CargoLiquefaction:Liquefactionisaphenomenoninwhichsolidbulkcargoesareabruptly
transformedfromasoliddrystatetoanalmostfluidstate.Manycommonbulkcargoessuchas
ironorefines,nickeloreandvariousmineralconcentratesareexamplesofmaterialsthatmay
liquefy.Liquefactionoccursasaresultofcompactionofthecargowhichresultsfromengine
vibrations,shipsmotionandrollingandwaveimpactthatfurthercausescargoagitation.

Liquefactionresultsinaflowstatetodevelop.Thispermitsthecargotoslideandshiftinone
directionthuscreatingfreesurfaceeffectandreducingtheGMtherebyreducingstability.Shippers
declarationshouldbethoroughlyexaminedbythechiefofficerbeforeloadinganybulkcargo.He
mustmakesurethatthemoisturecontentofthecargotobeloadedshouldnotexceedthe
transportablemoisturelimittoavoidliquefactionduringthevoyage.Oftenshippersdeclaration
turnouttobefaulty.Spotcheckscanalsobecarriedonboardshipstocheckthemoisture
content.

5.Structuraldamage:Heavycargoesplacehighloadsonthestructureandstructuralfailureis
thereforeprobable.Highdensitycargoesoccupyasmallareaforalargeweightthatistheyhave
alowstowagefactor.Itisthereforeimportantthatthetanktophassufficientstrengthtocarry
heavycargoeslikeironore,nickelore,bauxiteetc.Theloaddensityofthetanktopshouldnever
beexceeded.Tanktopstrengthisprovidedintheshipsstabilitybooklet.Exceedingthemaximum
permissiblecargoloadinanyoftheholdsofashipwillleadtooverstressingoflocalstructure.
Overloadingwillinducegreaterstressesinthedoublebottom,transversebulkheads,hatch
coamings,hatchcovers,mainframesandassociatedbracketsofindividualcargoholds.Poor
distributionofand/orinadequatetrimmingofcertaincargoescanresultinexcessivebendingand
sheerforces.

6.Oxygendepletion:Seatransportationofbulkcargoesofanorganicnaturesuchaswood,
paperpulpandagriculturalproductsmayresultinrapidandsevereoxygendepletionand
http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 3/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

formationofcarbondioxide.Thusapparentlyharmlesscargoesmaycreatepotentiallylife
threateningconditions.Thecargoholdsandcommunicatingspacesinbulkcarriersareexamples
ofconfinedspaceswheresuchtoxicatmospheresmaydevelop.Severalfatalaccidentscanoccur
whenpeopleenterunventilatedspaces.TheIMSBCcodeliststhefollowingcargoesaspotentially
oxygendepleting:coal,directreducediron,spongeiron,sulphideconcentrates,ammoniumnitrate
basedfertilisers,lintedcottonseed.Variousgaseousproductsareformedincludingcarbon
monoxide,carbondioxide,hydrogensulphideandhydrocarbons.Entryofpersonnelintoenclosed
spacesshouldbepermittedonlywhenadequateventilationandtestingoftheatmosphereisdone
withappropriateinstruments.EmergencyentrymaybeundertakenwithSCBA.Somecargoes
alsouseupoxygenwithinthecargospace.Themainexamplesarerustingofsteelswarfcargoes.
Somegraincargoesmayalsodepletetheoxygencontentinthecargospace.

7.Corrosion:Somecargoeslikecoalandsulphurcancauseseveredamageduetocorrosion.
Cargoesofsulphurinbulkarenormallysubjectedtoexposedstorageandarethussubjectedto
inclementweathertherebyresultingintheincreaseofmoisturecontentofthecargo.Wetsulphur
ispotentiallyhighlycorrosive.Whensulphurisloaded,anyretainedfreewaterfilterstothebottom
oftheholdsduringthevoyage,fromwhereitispumpedoutviathebilges.Somewaterremainson
thetanktopandreactswithsulphur.Thisleadstothereleaseofsulphuricacidresultinginthe
corrosionoftheshipsholds.Pondcoalwhichisreclaimedafterhavingbeenabandonedand
dumpedinfreshwaterpondsusuallyhavehighmoisturecontentandsulphurcontent.Thistypeof
coalmaybeliabletoreactwithwaterandproduceacidswhichmaycorrodepartsoftheship.

8.Contamination:Preparationofcargoholdsforthenextintendedcarriageisacriticalelement
ofbulkcarrieroperations.Alackofproperpreparationcanleadtoclaimsrelatedtocargoquality
suchascontamination,wateringressorcargoloss.Residuesanddustofpreviouscargocan
contaminatethepresentlyloadedbulkcargoandcancausecargostainsthatarenotacceptable.
Cementwhencontaminatedbyresiduesofpreviouscargoreducesitsbindingcapacity.Unrefined
sugarifstorednearorabovedry,refinedsugarcandamageitbythedrainingsyrup.Water
ingressmayresultfromleakinghatchcovers,backflowthroughbilgesystems,leakingmanhole
lidsandinadequatemonitoring.Cargoeslikesaltcanabsorbmoistureanddissolveintoaliquid.
Sugarcanfermentinthepresenceofmoisture.Thebilgesshouldbepumpedoutregularlyduring
thevoyage.

9.Fire:Bulkcargoesaredeemedtopresentagreatdealoffirehazards.Manybulkcargoeshave
atendencytoheatduetotheoxidationprocesstakingplaceduringthevoyage.Commoncargoes
likecoal,sulphur,cotton,fishmealareliabletospontaneousheating.Coalalsoemitsmethane
whichisaflammablegas.Whenmixedwithairitcanformanexplosivemixture.Dustcreatedby
certaincargoesmayconstituteanexplosionhazard.Sulphurdustcanreadilyignitecausingan
explosion.Frictionbetweencottonbalescancausespontaneouscombustionandproduceheat.
Fireprecautionsshouldbestrictlyobservedonbulkcarriers.

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 4/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

Theshipascarrierisobligedtocareforthecargoinanexpertmannertoensureitisdischarged
inthesamestateinwhichitwasloaded.TheIMSBCcodeshouldbeconsultedforthesafe
stowageandshipmentofsolidbulkcargoes.Suitableprecautionsandgoodseamanshipshould
beadoptedtominimiseandovercomethehazardsofbulkcargoes.

Note:Thisisnotanexhaustivelistofhazardsofbulkcargo,butenumeratesthemostcommon
ones.

Doyouknowanyothermajorhazardsofbulkcargotobeaddedtothelist?

Letsknowinthecommentsbelow.

ReportanError

Tags: BulkCargo bulkcarriers generalsafety hazardsofbulkcarriers

Wanttoshareyourtipsandadvice?Gotquestions?Visitthecommunityforumtoaskquestions,
getanswers,meetpeople,andshareyourtips!

YOUMAYALSOLIKE

MOREPOSTSFROMTHEAUTHOR

ImportantPilotTransfer Daily,MonthlyAndWeekly HowtoOrderElectronic

ArrangementsAndSOLAS TestsOfGMDSSEquipment NavigationChartsandKeep
RequirementsForShips OnBoardShips ThemUpdatedOnShips?

WHATAREYOULOOKINGFOR?

SearchInMarineInsight

JOIN839,243MARINERS

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 5/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

721K+ Fans 23.1K+ Followers

1,993 Members 9.2K+ Subscribers

23.2K Followers 59.8K+ Readers

COMBOPACKSAT40%DISCOUNT

EngineRoom DryDock DeckDepartment

ComboPack ComboPack ComboPack

SUBSCRIBETOOURNEWSLETTER
GetFreeNewsUpdatesDeliveredDirectlyToYourInbox

EnterYourEmail KEEPMEUPDATED

AboutParomitaMukherjee
ParomitahascompletedgraduationinNauticalScienceandispresentlypreparingfor2nd
mateexams.Besidessailing,shelovetoreadbooksandtotravel.Shehasalsowon

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 6/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

manyawardsinmusic.

LATESTNEWS

KongsbergAwardedThe2016 InnovativeModularBarrierAnd ORBCOMM,PoleStarAnd

ITSPrizeForDigitalisation, PerimeterProtectionSystem WeatherdockLaunchTriMode
AutomationAndRobotisation DFENCELaunched ClassBVesselTracking
Solution

IncatCrowtherSuccessfully CMACGMToLaunchAUnique AdvancedPolar

DeliversFirstPairOf20m OfferBetweenAsiaAndWest OceanographicResearch
CatamaranPassengerFerries CoastSouthAmerica VesselDeliveredToDNVGL

MoreLatestNews

LATESTFEATUREDPOSTS

20PointsToConsiderFor UnderstandingBoiler FightingFireInShipsCargo

HandlingandTakingCareof RefractoryAndItsTypes HoldAtPort
BatteriesOnShips

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 7/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

WhyCargoTankAtmosphere WhatToExpectFromShipping UnderstandingShipModel

EvaluationisDoneonTanker IndustryIn2017Infographic TestingConstruction&Types
Ships? OfFacilities

LeaveaReply
Youremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*

Comment

Name*

Email*

Website

POSTCOMMENT

POPULARNOW

MaerskTankerRobbedDuringAnchorageOff
Indonesia

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 8/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

UnderstandingBoilerRefractoryAndItsTypes

WhyCargoTankAtmosphereEvaluationisDoneon
TankerShips?

DigitalResourcesforDeckCadetsandOfficers

ShippingConfidenceHoldsSteadyDespiteIndustry
AndPoliticalPressures

20PointsToConsiderForHandlingandTakingCare
ofBatteriesOnShips

PracticaleBooksforMarineEngineers

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 9/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

Download12FreeeBooks
forSeafarers

EnterYourEmail

DOWNLOADYOUREBOOKS

WerespectyourprivacyandhaveZeroTolerancefor
spam.YourInformationisSafe&Securewithus.

LATESTFORUMSPOSTS

Hi,cananyoneheretellmewhatisthe
answerforthisquestion.

Anybodyherewhohasgotselectedto
JoinGMEatAngloeasternthi

maritimelabourconvention2006all
manningcompaniesarerequi

maritimelabourconvention2006MLC
2006Certificationisrequi

HiAll,Iamverynewtothisforum.Ineed
toknowwhatareArtif

ClickHEREToAskAQuestion

MARITIMEEVENTS

CoastsandMarineStructures2017
20thMar,Brisbane

14thAnnualGreenShipTechnology
22ndMar,Copenhagen

FujairahBunkering&FuelOilForum
27thMar,Fujairah

ViewallEvents
http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 10/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

NEWSFROMNASDAQ

HuntingtonIngallsIndustriesDeliversNational
SecurityCutterMunrototheU.S.CoastGuard

VroonExtends140plusVesselContractforKVH
miniVSATBroadbandSolution

BoskalisawardedEUR120milliondredging
contractforoilterminalexpansioninBrazil

TRENDINGONSOCIALMEDIA

MaerskTankerRobbedDuring
AnchorageOffIndonesia

TwoNYKVesselsReceive
PanamaCanalsGreen
ConnectionAward

ExpandedPanamaCanal
Welcomes1000th
NeopanamaxVessel

CMACGMToLaunchAUnique
OfferBetweenAsiaAndWest
CoastSouthAmerica

RoyalAustralianNavy
ConscriptsMANToPower
Newbuildings

RollsRoyceAndStenaLine
JoinHandsToDevelop
IntelligentAwarenessFor
Ships
Watch:SOVBibby
Wavemaster1LaunchedAt
DamenShipyardsGalati

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 11/12
25/3/2017 9CommonHazardsOfBulkCargoOnShips

PrivacyPolicy|RefundPolicy|ContactUs|Disclaimer|AboutUs|Team|Advertise|SendUsNews

Copyright2017MarineInsightAllRightsReserved

http://www.marineinsight.com/marinesafety/9commonhazardsofdrybulkcargoonships/ 12/12