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5 Cargo

5.2.6 Prevention

To monitor if water enters any tank or cargo hold, bulk avoided. The clause “wet before shipment” should be

carriers have a Water Ingress Monitoring System (WIMS).inserted on the bills of lading if such goods are loaded.
However the WIMS is a safety requirement and not • Condensation must be considered when carrying

suitable for cargo monitoring purposes, and so it is certain cargo. Ventilate if the dew point in the air is

therefore important to install a proper bilge alarm in lower than the dew point in the cargo space.
every cargo hold.• Cargo classiied as Class A under the IMSBC code are

This is because the alarm panels for the WIMS are very capable of liquefaction. Before loading it is essential

often on the bridge and linked to the alarm monitoring that the moisture content of the cargo is tested.
system in the engine control room. If the WIMS alarm has • The crew should keep detailed records on board,

already been activated because a hold is already illed up recording;

it will not trigger the alarm in the engine control room, • Temperatures in cargo holds.
but will only trigger the alarm on the bridge. If the cargo • If the cargo holds have been ventilated and for how

operation is not being monitored on the bridge there islong.

a major risk that looding will not be discovered in time. • If bunker tanks have been heated - this
The SMS and PMS should require that the bilge system be information is often missing when the surveyor

inspected before cargo operations commence as per the tries to establish the cause of damage.

company’s SMS and PMS.• Temperature of all bunker tanks.
• Ifthevesseliscarryingheatsensitivecargo.This

Prevention for bulk carriershas to be considered when heating the bunker.

• Agree on a stowing plan.Proper planning and bunker management is the best
• Stow in accordance with the IMSBC code.prevention.

• Cargo holds should be clean, dry and odourless before• It is essential that all shut off valves, steam traps etc.

loading commences.for heating coils in fuel tanks are well maintained and
• Hatch covers and seals must be in a good andfully operational. Records of maintenance and tests

watertight condition.should be available in the vessels’ PMS systems.

• Ventilators and other means of entry into cargo holds• Maintenance of temperature sensors in bunker tanks
should be in good operating order and capable ofshould be carried out periodically and always be

being closed.fully operational and regularly tested. Records of

• If any damaged cargo is loaded, always clause the billmaintenance and tests should be available in the
of lading and mate’s receipts accordingly.vessel’s PMS system.

• Conduct a survey of the cargo condition throughout• A Master has some measure of control over the

the entire loading operation and take samples.loading of bulk cargo and can take steps to prevent
• Have your own surveyor carry out a draught surveyany ires. The most common causes of ire in

during loading and always insert “weight and quantity agricultural and general product cargo are the

unknown” in the bill of lading and mate’s receipts, if careless disposal of smokers’ materials, often by
not already stated.stevedores who are notorious for both open and

• Conduct a draught survey at the discharge port clandestine smoking, and problems with fumigants.

before opening the hatch.• It is important that a pressure test is carried out after
• Accurate and reliable tallying should be carried out any maintenance carried out on any pipes, otherwise

when loading bagged goods.this can cause leaks, which can damage the cargo.

• Refrain from loading during snow or rain.• The PMS and SMS should include procedures
• Install a proper bilge alarm in every cargo hold.ensuring that cargo lights are switched off after

• Wet cargo or snow/rain during loading will result incargo operation, because of the substantial risk of
high humidity levels inside the holds and should beoverheating

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