The West of England P&I club- Safety Alert
The West of England P&I Club has experienced a number of cases recently where dry bulk products stowed inside barges made fast to the ship have been damaged by ballast water. Incidents of this type may lead to significant cargo claims and are almost always avoidable.
On two occasions the vessels concerned were discharging into barges and ballasting simultaneously. During the ballasting operation the double bottom tanks were flooded and water overflowed on to the main deck.
The water then drained away via the overboard scuppers and into the open holds of barges moored alongside. In another case, topside wing tank drop valves were opened without the operator recognising that the overboard discharge was situated above an uncovered barge.
Although shouting from the barge personnel resulted in the valves being closed again shortly afterwards, the damage had already been done.
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Source: The West Of England P&I Club