The surge in popularity of container shipping stems from its convenience and fast turnaround time. This transportation method utilises standardised cargo transport units (CTUs) to facilitate seamless handling, transportation, and storage of cargo without direct handling, particularly regarding dangerous goods or fumigated cargoes. A fumigated CTU is a closed CTU, such as a multimodal freight … Continue reading CARGO FUMIGATION IN CONTAINERS

A ship to ship (STS) transfer operation is the transfer of cargo between two ships alongside each other, either while stationary or underway. Bringing two ships together and separating them while underway is an unusual occurrence for many ships and the crews onboard. Consequently, heightened risks are associated with these operations, where skill and experience … Continue reading SAFE SHIP TO SHIP (STS) TRANSFER OPERATIONS GUIDANCE

The Lymantria Dispar, also known as the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC), is a species of moths, native to China, far-East Russia, and other countries of the Asia-Pacific, such as Japan and Korea. Spongy refers to the characteristic of the moth eggs which resemble a sponge-like mass. FSMC is a highly destructive pest posing a … Continue reading FLIGHTED SPONGY MOTH COMPLEX (FSMC) SEASON 2024 – FORMERLY ASIAN GYPSY MOTH

The Philippines is one of the largest exporters of nickel ore. Concerns have been voiced by various industry bodies regarding the reliability of cargo declarations, certificates of Transportable Moisture Limit (TML), and Moisture Content (MC), for nickel ore cargoes originating from the Philippines.  The typhoon season, spanning from April to November, heightens the liquefaction risk … Continue reading NICKEL ORE LOADING IN THE PHILIPPINES – TYPHOON SEASON PRECAUTIONS

In the upcoming months, shipowners and masters are reminded of the anticipated surge in seaborne trade volumes, attributed to the seasonality of Brazilian soybean, wheat and fertiliser. This article aims to shed light on the expected increase in shipping activities and directs shipowners and masters to informative articles previously published by the Club, offering insights … Continue reading SEASONAL CARGOES: BRAZILIAN SOYBEAN, WHEAT AND FERTILISER

Loss prevention insight on the importance of inspection, maintenance, and certification of cranes on ships for safe and efficient operations.

The Britannia Loss Prevention team  hosted its latest webinar, Carriage of Steel Cargo. Carriage of Steel Cargo | Tuesday 30 January 2024 at 09.00 GMT The webinar was hosted by Shajed Khan, Loss Prevention Manager, Britannia P&I, and explored the complexities associated with steel carriage in the maritime industry, aiming to provide shipowners with valuable … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: CARRIAGE OF STEEL CARGO

Ensuring cargo holds are cleaned to appropriate standards is an essential for shipowners operating bulk carriers. Failure to meet these standards can lead to cargo damage, noncompliance with regulations, pollution, and significant delays in operations, all of which can lead to claims. Understanding the hold cleanliness requirements is often instrumental when analysing major claims. Typically, … Continue reading CARGO HOLD CLEANING STANDARDS: HOLD WASHING, INSPECTION AND POLLUTION PREVENTION

Draft surveys play a crucial role in determining the quantity of cargo loaded onto a ship. While based on the simple principle of Archimedes’ law of floatation, the calculation process can be complex due to the ship’s shape, non-linear changes in draft due to hog and sag, and external weather conditions. Simply put, the weight … Continue reading DRAFT SURVEY CALCULATION – PRACTICAL GUIDANCE

Lithium-Ion batteries have gained significant attention in recent years due to their pivotal role in the global shift towards sustainability, as well as their association with certain fire risks relating to thermal runaway, self-ignition, and the risk of an explosive and toxic atmosphere. Whilst these fire risks have predominately been discussed in connection with the … Continue reading SAFE CARRIAGE OF ENERGY STORAGE UNITS, CONTAINING LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES, ON BULK CARRIERS

Loss prevention Insight on fumigation in general, toxicity symptoms, fire and explosion risk and preventive measures

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 … Continue reading HEAT DAMAGE TO AGRICULTURAL CARGOES ON BOARD

The transport of liquids in flexitanks has become a common practice on board container carriers. However, the Club has seen several claims resulting from leaking of flexitanks which are mostly related to the loading, stuffing and filling of the flexitank within the container. Ensuring the secure transportation of flexitanks within containers on vessels requires strict … Continue reading SAFE CARRIAGE OF FLEXITANKS IN CONTAINERS GUIDANCE

Our correspondent in Brazil, Brazmar, has advised that the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply has opened to consultation, via Ordinance No. 532/2022, possible changes to the current official specifications for soy beans and its by-products which have been in place since 2007 (by way of Normative Instruction nº 11/2007). The proposed changes deal … Continue reading BRAZIL: UPDATE ON SOYBEAN SPECS FOR EXPORT 2023

The Club has seen an increase in the number of incidents relating to water ingress into holds, the consequences of which can prove costly and cause delays to vessels’ schedules. There are a number of ways in which water can enter the cargo hold of vessel, this article will focus on water ingress from cargo … Continue reading FLOODING OF CARGO HOLDS

The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code has been amended. The recent amendments include revisions to existing schedules for solid bulk cargoes and also some revised definitions. WHEN IS IT CHANGING? Voluntarily since 1 January 2023 Mandatory from 1 December 2023 DETAILS OF THE MAJOR CHANGES There is a revised definition for Group A … Continue reading IMSBC CODE AMENDMENTS 06-21 – WHAT IS CHANGING?

The Club frequently encounters cases where there is apparent moisture damage to cargo. This damage may be to agricultural products, or rust damage to steel, for example, due to the formation of ship or cargo sweat. The Club can have difficulty defending these claims due to poorly conducted ventilation and completion of the ventilation log. … Continue reading CARGO VENTILATION LOGS. THREE DEGREE RULE AND WHEN TO VENTILATE THE HOLD

The construction of offshore windmill farms has been a booming market over the last decade and expected to grow even further in the years to come as more and more countries are shifting to green energy.  There has, therefore, been an increased demand for bulk carriers and general cargo ships to transport the turbine blades … Continue reading WIND TURBINE BLADE TRANSPORT: CARGO CARE, CARGO OPERATIONS AND STOWAGE PLANS

CARRIAGE OF SCRAPS Recently the Club has seen several incidents involving scrap showing signs of self-heating during voyages. As these incidents were well managed by the crew, they did not result in immediate risks to the ships involved. However, these incidents do highlight the hazards surrounding the transport of scrap and the importance of knowing … Continue reading UNDERSTANDING SCRAP FIRES

The Britannia loss prevention team organised five webinars in 2022 with a combined audience of more than 1,000 attendees. The webinars were hosted by Captain Simon Rapley, Captain Slav Ostrowicki and Captain Shajed Khan of Britannia and covered several important topics as summarised below. Bridge Resources Management Under Pilotage Contamination Claims on Chemical Tankers Emergency … Continue reading WEBINAR RECORDINGS 2022

We have become aware that the above cargo (sometimes described as “Vegetable Residues” or “Olive Mill Waste Water (OMWW)”) is being offered for loading at ports in North Africa. Olive Margine is not listed as a cargo in the IMSBC Code but we have been informed by cargo experts that it is prone to liquefaction … Continue reading CARRIAGE OF OLIVE MARGINE

We are now in the last quarter of the year, which means that winter is approaching in the northern hemisphere, bringing with it the risk of severe cold in certain waters. Operating a ship in conditions of ice or extreme cold poses several challenges for the ship itself and for the crew – and if … Continue reading OPERATING A SHIP IN CONDITIONS OF ICE OR EXTREME COLD

When a vessel experiences adverse weather conditions, it is likely to face various kinds of dangerous phenomena that can lead to excessive rolling motions. For container vessels excessive rolling can result in stowage collapse and loss of containers which may endanger both the safety of the vessel and the environment – and potentially become very … Continue reading REDUCING CONTAINER LOSSES – OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE

The United Nations Joint Coordination Centre has issued detailed procedures for the safe export of grain, other foodstuffs and fertilizers; including ammonia, from the three Ukrainian ports covered by the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The guidelines contain navigational and operational rules, notifications and instructions for ship operators and ship owners and cover security elements which … Continue reading UKRAINE: EXPORT OF GRAIN

On 4 March 2022 a fire broke out in the terminal at the quay in San Pedro port at Long Beach, USA. The United States Coast Guard reported that the fire started in a container¹. The bill of lading for the container stated that the cargo inside was ‘synthetic resins,’ a non-hazardous material. However, the … Continue reading MISDECLARATION OF CARGOES IN CONTAINERS

Claims involving cargoes that are allegedly distressed upon receipt at a receiver’s premises, having been carried in a refrigerated container onboard a Member’s vessel, are commonplace. In the past two years, the Club has opened just over 250 claims files for allegedly damaged refrigerated containerised cargo carried on Members’ vessels, amounting to claims of just … Continue reading REFRIGERATED CONTAINER (REEFER CONTAINER) CARGO CARE & CLAIMS

As many readers will know, cargo temperature sensors can be a vital tool for assessing the suitability of certain dry bulk cargoes for loading and also for helping to determine how the cargo should be best cared for whilst on the vessel.  Depending on the cargo to be loaded, knowing its loading temperature may serve … Continue reading DRY BULK CARGO AND THE USE OF TEMPERATURE SENSORS

The Club has recently seen an increased number of enquiries regarding the carriage of containers on bulk carriers. Accepting such trade requires certain considerations to ensure associated risks are safely mitigated.

OVERVIEW Coal is an important, widely-used source of energy and a chemical raw material, which is transported globally in large quantities; more than a billion tonnes of coal per year are transported by sea (IEA – International Energy Agency, 2020). However, its carriage as a cargo is associated with a number of hazards and coal must … Continue reading GUIDANCE ON THE CARRIAGE OF COAL CARGO – LOADING, MONITORING, VENTILATION AND THE ISMBC CODE FOR COAL

Thank you to the 200 plus attendees at our Loss Prevention department webinar: Cargo Matters – Ventilation and Fumigation on Tuesday 29 September 2020. Hosted by Neale Rodrigues, the presenters were: Capt. Slav Ostrowicki – Loss Prevention Manager, Britannia P&I; Dr Stephanie Heard – Consultant and Food Scientist, CWA International Ltd; and Mr Mike Bowness … Continue reading BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: CARGO MATTERS – VENTILATION AND FUMIGATION

Britannia’s Loss Prevention department has in recent months noted a number of claims and potential near misses relating to the carriage of break-bulk and general cargoes, particularly in bulk carriers that are not designed for the carriage of such cargoes.  Stowage and carriage of break-bulk cargoes can only be performed if the ship has an … Continue reading THE CARRIAGE OF VEHICLES IN BULK CARRIERS

The Club has handled a case where a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) carrier was subject to a shortage claim at the discharge port despite the shore tanks being unable to receive further cargo. LPG is carried at pressure as it is liable to evaporate quickly at normal atmospheric temperatures and pressures.  While it is under … Continue reading LPG SHORTAGE CLAIMS : SHORE TANKS MAY BE UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF CARGO

With design and technology advances a new generation of gas carrier is being built that is capable of carrying segregated cargoes of gases, which may each require different cooling specifications.  Training in these cargo handling systems is essential to ensure that crews, even very competent ones, are fully familiar with the operation and procedures for … Continue reading GAS CARRIERS : MAKE SURE THAT THE CREW HAVE APPROPRIATE TRAINING

Tank inspections are an important part of the planned maintenance programme on board. Entering a tank involves many personal dangers which are well known for most seafarers and should never be ignored. In addition, there is also a risk of the cargo being damaged, especially when the manhole is left open, and this damage can … Continue reading TANK COVER – REMEMBER TO REPLACE…

With shipments of iron ore and bauxite on the increase, this article is intended to provide guidance on practical steps which should be taken when Members receive orders for loading IMSBC “Group A” cargoes (cargoes which may liquefy if shipped with a moisture content (“MC”) in excess of the transportable moisture limit (“TML”)). The MC … Continue reading LIQUEFACTION – CAUTION REMAINS THE WATCHWORD

Britannia Members have received several claims in recent years relating to heat damaged soyabean cargo. Claims of this nature can be relatively expensive because of the high value of a soyabean cargo. A review of the claims encountered gives some practical pointers for consideration by the crew. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? There are two main problems … Continue reading SOYABEANS GETTING HEAT DAMAGED

There has been a recent case of a Member finding a significant number of cockroaches on board a modular container ship which required all the cargo to be discharged and the cargo and the ship had to be fumigated at significant cost and causing significant delay. There are three types of cockroach commonly found as … Continue reading AVOID COCKROACHES

There have been recent incidents where stainless steel cargo tanks of chemical tankers have been damaged following the carriage of phosphoric acid cargoes from the east coast of India. The extent of the damage to the stainless steel cargo tanks ranges from mild pitting on the tank surface to more extensive corrosion, causing the tank … Continue reading PHOSPHORIC ACID CARGOES FROM INDIA

In a recent case reported to the Club, a consignment of pressure boiler parts was physically damaged during moderately heavy weather whilst en route from Hong Kong to Houston. The ship encountered high seas and winds of Beaufort scale 9. The master had adjusted speed and course so as to minimise rolling and pitching but … Continue reading CARGO DAMAGE: INADEQUATE PACKAGING

In a recent case reported to the Association, holds were flooded, despite the fact that the bilges were being properly monitored. In the case in question, hold no. 4 of a small container ship flooded to a depth which affected cargo in several containers loaded on the tank top. Sounding of the bilges indicated that … Continue reading HOLD FLOODING – RUBBISH BLOCKING BILGES

The Club is aware of a number of recent fires caused by activated and non–activated charcoal and charcoal products. In many cases, the charcoal was not correctly declared or not declared as being dangerous. Charcoal is a light black residue consisting of carbon and any remaining ash which is obtained by removing water and other … Continue reading CARRIAGE OF CHARCOAL AND OTHER CARBON CARGO: UN NUMBERS 1361 & 1362 AND PACKING GROUPS

The Club has had recent experience of several cases where inadequate monitoring of Indonesian coal before loading and during voyages has given rise to safety concerns. Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest exporters of coal.  Due to limitations in some ports, loading often occurs via barges  and it is known that there are a … Continue reading COAL : RISKS OF LOADING COAL FROM BARGES IN INDONESIA

INTRODUCTION The carriage of bagged rice cargo is a potentially hazardous undertaking, with claims running to millions of dollars when problems arise – particularly in the trade between South East Asia and West Africa. The loss prevention department has worked with CWA Food and Dry Commodities Group to identify the problems encountered in this trade … Continue reading CARRIAGE OF RICE

The Club continues to receive a significant number of claims which could have been reduced or avoided if the bilges had been properly monitored. A recent case involved wet damage to Australian peas and provides a good example of how such damage could have been avoided. The Member’s ship had loaded 44,000mt of grain in … Continue reading BILGES

This article continues our series highlighting good practices that can be shared with Members and looks at contamination claims from tankers. We have recently reviewed a number of tanker contamination claims with a total value of USD 4 million.  In this article we will highlight some common causes of these claims which can be traced … Continue reading TANKER CONTAMINATION CLAIMS

This article continues our series highlighting good practices that can be shared with Members and looks at shortage claims due to cargo residues remaining on board (ROB). Claims for short-landed cargo arise if an excessive residue of the cargo loaded remains on board after completion of the discharge.  To assist in defending such claims, the … Continue reading TANKER SHORTAGE CLAIMS : CARGO REMAINING ON BOARD (ROB)

Recently, the Club has experienced several incidents involving damage to break bulk cargo. These damage claims primarily fall into two categories: The first is inadequate loading, stowage and securing of break bulk cargoes which has resulted in cargo damage due to cargo shifting and stow collapsing. Additionally, it can cause stability problems for the ship.  … Continue reading CARRIAGE OF BREAK BULK AND PROJECT CARGOES GUIDANCE. LOADING, STOWAGE AND SECURING OF CARGOES

Since late 2009 dry bulk shipping has been plagued by the coincidence of a substantial downturn in earnings and the prevalence of cargoes being offered by charterers which are ultimately found to be unsafe for carriage, due to their propensity to liquefy. The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code became mandatory in January 2011. Since … Continue reading CARGO LIQUEFACTION: AN INTRODUCTION

On completion of discharge of dry bulk cargoes there are often allegations of shortlanding, the discharge port draught survey showing a substantially different cargo quantity than that at load port so that part of the cargo appears to have gone missing during the voyage. The resultant claims are accompanied by financial penalties or fines imposed … Continue reading THE IMPORTANCE OF BILGE PUMPING RECORDS

The carriage of bagged cargoes requires additional care to be exercised by the crew throughout all stages of the voyage in order to reduce the risk of claims relating to the condition and/or quantity of the cargo.  The precautionary steps outlined in this article serve as a reminder of good practice on board with an … Continue reading CARRIAGE OF BAGGED CARGOES : SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER

The lack of hatch cover maintenance and/or improper repairs to hatch covers has been shown to be the primary cause of water ingress into the cargo holds which can lead to cargo damage. In addition to the financial and insurance claims, there are other potentially more serious consequences that need to be considered: Fire – … Continue reading HATCH COVER MAINTENANCE – PROCEDURES, ROUTINES AND TESTING

Benzene is an organic chemical compound classed as a hydrocarbon. A constituent of crude oil, benzene is a basic petrochemical product usually extracted from mineral oils. The main use of benzene is as a solvent and as a constituent part of gasoline where its high octane characteristics are beneficial. Benzene is known for its carcinogenic … Continue reading CHEMICAL TANKERS: CARRIAGE AND SAMPLING OF CARGOES OF BENZENE