care of cargo during carrioage in merchant shipping

care of cargo during carrioage in merchant shipping

1. Care of Cargo during Carriage

2. Preparation of hold prior loading
clean/dirty cargoes
1. All holds should be inspected prior commencing loading this may be
done while the ship is en-route or just after completion of
discharging and prior loading at the same port.
2. A thorough cleaning of the hold is undertaken; the bilges are
cleaned and tried out with an amount of water. If required the hold is
hosed down, rinsed with fresh water and the water pumped to
holding tanks.
3. This ensures that there is no refuse lying within the holds and that
the bilges after loading would if necessary be capable of being
pumped out.
4. The bilges if with offensive smell have to be sweetened. They may
be lime or cement washed or coated with bitumastic paint.
5. This is again a necessity to prevent any food cargo from being
tainted.
6. All other lines in the hold are to be pressed up and checked for
leaks. Air pipes and sounding pipes passing through the hold
spaces are to be checked up with a head of water.

3. Preparation of hold prior loading
clean/dirty cargoes
7. The above ensures that ingress of water into the hold is minimized.
8. The hold bottom has to be inspected for any dents in the plating.
9. Some DB’s may be dedicated for fuel oil/ ballast as such this
inspection would give a fair idea if the plates have set in or if their
appears to be a deep indentation.
10.All spar dunnage at the ship sides are to be fitted and the frames at
the sides have to be inspected.
11.This is done so that if bale cargo is loaded the shipside steel does
not come in contact with the cargo.
12.The used lashing material has to be removed including all temporary
eyes, which had been made.
13.And if this is not done then the same eyes may be inadvertently be
used for new lashing -lashing wires are for one use only and the
risk of parted lashing arises by using old lashings.

4. Preparation of hold prior loading
clean/dirty cargoes
14.Additionally for highly sensitive or grain cargoes all loose rust/paint
should be removed.
15. The Ventilation system is to be tried out for proper and efficient
functioning.
16. The CO2 system if fitted is to be checked by blowing through with
compressed air.
17. Hatches are to be in a good condition, tested for weather tightness,
the track ways to be clear and the underside of the pontoons are to
free from any residues of previous cargoes.
18. Lighting in the hold must be checked for proper functioning.
19. Means of access (doorways, ladders etc) are to be clear and safe
from hazards.

5. Preparation of hold prior loading
clean/dirty cargoes
20.Ballast lines in to the Ballast Holds must be blanked if cargo is to
be loaded in these spaces.
21.Drain Channels on the coaming is to be Clear of rust scales and
residues of previous cargo.
22.Water Ingress Alarm Systems fitted in the holds should be
checked for proper functioning.
23.Bilges and bilge wells should be thoroughly cleaned prior loading
any cargo and especially if the previous cargo was oil cakes or
such other cargo.
24.These suction filters are very easily taken care of. Hessian is used
to form a pad comprising of a double layer and this is wrapped
around the loose filter covers of the drain bilge wells.

6. Preparations of Cargo tanks
prior loading.
•In product tankers all tanks should be
cleaned to the standards of the intended
cargo to be loaded and as per the
instructions of charterers.
•However in case of Crude oil tankers, all
tanks should be in inerted condition, i.e
Oxygen content of all tanks should be less
than 8%.

7. Hatch Cover Operation and testing
for weather tightness
Difference between Weathertightness and
Watertightness: A weather tight bulkhead
is generally accepted to prevent the
ingress of water from the weather side
only. A watertight bulkhead is designed to
prevent the passage of water from either
side under a pressure head and this is
normally provided as a rating eg 30 meters
or 3 bar. Access and egress must be
through equivalent rating doors.

8. Definition of Weathertightness
•Weathertight in relation to any part of a
ship other than a door in a bulkhead
means that the part is such that water will
not penetrate it and so enter the hull of a
ship in the worst sea and weather
conditions likely to be encountered by the
ship in service.

9. Hatch Cover Operation and testing
for weather tightness
1.The Hatch Covers should not be opened
at sea especially during rough sea
conditions.
2.The Hatch Covers has to be operated as
per the manufacturer’s instructions and the
operation should be carried out as per the
designed trim and heel conditions to avoid
Mechanical and Machinery damage.

10. Hatch Cover Operation and testing
for weather tightness
3. All Hatch cover fitting and machinery should be
maintained as per the instruction manual and
routine inspections to be carried out to ensure
weather tightness.
4. All Moving parts of the Hatch covers should be
well lubricated at routine intervals and as per the
operator’s manual.
5. Hatch Covers shall only be operated by trained
ship staff to avoid accidents during the
operation. Also the operation to be carefully
monitored by a responsible person.

11. Testing of Weather tightness of
Hatch covers
•Testing of Hatch Covers can be carried out by
following two common methods,
a.Hose test –By directing a jet of water at a steady
pressure on all the Hatch cover joints after the hatch
covers are well secured and battened down. The test
has to be monitored from the Hold inside for any water
ingress from the joints.
b.Chalk test –By applying chalk to the tip of the
compression bars in open condition and then closing
weather tight. Later the Hatch covers are opened and
the Chalk impression on the rubber packing resting on
the compression bar is noted for any suspect areas.

12. Precautions to be taken prior
entering cargo holds.
1.Bulk material may cause oxygen depletion in a cargo
space. Entry of personnel in to enclosed spaces
should not be permitted until adequate ventilation and
testing of atmosphere is done with appropriate
instruments. Emergency entry may be undertaken only
with self-contained breathing apparatus and protective
clothing.
2.Dust created by certain cargoes may constitute a
health as well as an explosion hazard. Use of dust
masks, ventilation and hosing down rather than
sweeping are methods to combat this problem.

13. Precautions to be taken prior
entering cargo holds.
3. Adequate lighting has to be rigged prior
entry of personnel in the closed holds or
carrying cargo.
4.Prior entry, the Company SMS Enclosed
space entry safety checklist has to be
complied with.
5. Only trained staff to enter in to the cargo
holds and under supervision of a
responsible person.

14. THANK YOU !!!!