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5 Cargo

5.4.2 Tanker cargo claims5.4.3 Case Studies

Contamination is a major issue for chemical and product
tankers as it is both the most frequent and the most costly Contamination
Contamination case study 1
type of claim. The most expensive tanker claims over the
The tanker had loaded gasoil in Nigeria from a mother ship
past 10 years were contamination claims.
for transport ashore, essentially as a lightering vessel at

Shortage – mainly caused by:the port of Lagos. Upon testing of ‘irst foot’ samples it
was concluded that the lashpoint of the cargo indicated
• Loaded or unloaded cargo not properly calculated
• Incorrect cargo handling shipside or shore-sidepossible contamination with residues of previous cargo

gasoline. It was found that about 600 tonnes of cargo
were contaminated and the ship was rejected. It proved
Contamination – mainly caused by:
• Insuficienttankcleaningextremely dificult to dispose of the contaminated cargo in

• Mixingofcargoa part of the world largely unable to deal with the blending
issues. Liability does appear to rest with the ship, because
• Cargo contaminated prior to loading
tank cleaning was not performed to the standards required

Concerns on chemical/product tankersby the charter.

• Gaskets on tank hatches in poor condition.
• Incorrectcargocleaning.Causes:

• Failure to close valves after tank cleaning operationsThe problem was due to tank cleaning not being correctly
carried out on the vessel.
often causing contaminated cargo.
• No proper draining of old cargo.

• No proper loading plan addressing which valves and lines
Contamination case study 2
to be used.
• Poor sampling procedures.The tanker had loaded fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and

• Not following charterer’s instructions.according to the plan all lines were completely segregated
from the other piping system.
• Notmaintainingrequiredcargotemperature.
• Incorrectsoundings.At the discharge port it was agreed that the FAME

• Contaminationofpalm,vegetable,andcoconutoilscargo could be discharged on the common line as the last
cargo discharged on this line, in order to avoid shifting the
which have little value once contaminated and lead to
expensive claims.connection of the discharge arm/hose from the common line.

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