Britannia P&I Club has released through its Vietnam correspondent, SPICA, an informative update on the difficulties of conducting dry bulk cargo operations in Vietnam.
The update outlines potential shortage disputes, especially when surveyors representing cargo interests go unchallenged. Moreover, it offers practical guidance on improving draught mark legibility, using a calibrated hydrometer and ensuring all sounding pipes are ready for use.
Manipulation of draft surveys:
SPICA states that surveyors acting for cargo interests will frequently attempt to manipulate the draft survey in favor of their principals and the cargo interests. The manipulation involves several technical elements that members, and in particular owners, need to be aware of.
- Cargo surveyors are often deliberately misreading the draft marks. As clubs and owners will be aware, a change of just a few centimeters in the draft reading of a handymax to panamax can change the displacement by up to 100 to 150 mts.
- The hydrometer, a device used to determine the salinity of the water the vessel floats in, is another source of disagreement between ship and cargo surveyors. In Vietnam, hydrometers must be certified and calibrated annually by local authorized workshops. Foreign vessels typically do not carry hydrometers certified to local standards.
- Lastly, in Vietnam, the local practice when conducting draft surveys is to sound all tanks that are not mechanically blinded off. Sounding pipes can become blocked over time due to rust or the accumulation of other foreign matter. A blocked sounding pipe means that the level in, for example, a ballast tank may not be ascertainable and/or correctly ascertained. This will be labeled as a vessel deficiency by the cargo surveyors.
Loss Prevention:
Members should ensure that their vessel is in every respect ready and capable of carrying out a draft survey in accordance with UN ECE guidelines.
- Draught marks are clear and readable.
- All sounding pipes are clear and free from blocking elements.
- Hydrostatic table/sounding table must be available onboard with proper classification society endorsement.
