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5 Cargo

5.3.2 Container vessel cargo claims• Crews ignoring bilge alarms in the cargo holds

Catastrophic navigational claims have a large impact on the • Bilge alarms not maintained and tested properly
• Notavoidingheavyweather
cost for cargo claims on container vessels. The frequency for
collisions and groundings are around 3% of the cargo claims • Excessive speed in heavy weather

but the cost is more than 20% and 15% of the total cost

respectively.
For more information about preventative measures regarding 5.3.3 Case studies

navigational claims please refer to our Navigational Claims
Wet damage
publication.
Two of the most common container claims are physical The average claim cost for wet damage on container vessels

damage and wet damage to the container cargo and these is signiicantly higher than the average cargo claim. As we
can see below, the usual causes are leaking – pipes, valves
claims are usually caused by the following:
and manholes – but also ballast lines, which have become

Physical damage – mainly caused by: corroded, cracks in ballast tanks and cases where bilge
alarms have been ignored causing water to enter the cargo
• Incorrect cargo handling shore-side
• Heavyweatherhold. These issues occur mainly because crew members have

ignored procedures or they have not carried out proper
maintenance on pipes, valves and pumps. There are other
Wet damage – mainly caused by:
• Leakycargohatchesoccasions when the bilge pumps have been full of debris,

• Flooding of holdsindicating that the systems have not been properly tested
and maintained.
• Pipes and valves in poor condition
Leaking manholes from either ballast or bunker tanks are

Concerns on container vesselsalso a recurring problem, causing cargo hold looding. This
is common after a yard visit or scheduled tank inspection,
• Not securing containers as per the cargo manual
• Charterers’loadingplanisnotasperthevessel’scargoplanwhen tank inspections have been carried out. It is essential

• Cargo manifest is not correct and does not includethat crews are aware of this greater risk and ensure that all
manholes are secured.
all cargo covered under the International Maritime
Dangerous Goods CodeIt is essential that the company reviews its cargo

• Reefercontainersneedtobemonitoredduringthevoyageprocedures and addresses these issues.

because small changes in the temperature can ruin the cargo

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