Safety Alert from the West of England P&I Club
The West of England P&I Club has issued a safety alert regarding a cargo liquefaction incident as follows:
An entered vessel recently loaded apart cargo of bulk fluorspar in twoholds at Huangpu, China. Heavyweather was encountered while onpassage causing the vessel to roll andpitch heavily.
Several hours later thevessel suddenly developed a 14˚ portlist and would not return to the uprightposition.After inspecting the cargo holdsinternally it became evident that thefluorspar in both holds had liquefiedand shifted bodily to port.
The cargowas also covered by a significantamount of free standing water. It wasclear that the situation was critical,therefore the master broadcast a”Pan” urgency message and alteredcourse towards the nearest coast,reaching a port of refuge the followingday.
Although only two of the vessel’sholds contained fluorspar, theliquefaction of part cargoes may stillbe catastrophic. It was thereforefortunate that the situation did notbecome a disaster.
Read more by at latest Loss Prevention Safety Alert issued by the West of England P&I Club here
