LR Statutory Alert on the carriage and testing of iron ore fines
Lloyd’s Register has issued a Statutory Alert regarding the early implementation of draft amendments to the IMSBC Code. These amendments are under development by the Carriage of Containers and Cargoes (CCC) Sub- Committee (formely the DSC Sub-Committee) and include the following:
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According to the relevant IMO Circular, taking into account that the mandatory entry intoforce date of these amendments would be 1 January 2017, the IMO Sub-Committee agreed to invite SOLASContracting Governments to voluntarily implement the draft schedules andtest procedure as soon as possible.
1. DRAFT INDIVIDUAL SCHEDULE FOR IRON ORE FINES
This schedule applies to iron ore cargoes containing both 10% or more of fine particles less than 1 mm and 50% or more of particles less than 10 mm. Iron ore fines where the total goethite contentis 35% or more by mass may be carried in accordance with the individual schedule for “IRONORE”, provided the master receives from the shipper a declaration of the goethite content ofthe cargo which has been determined according to internationally or nationally acceptedstandard procedures.
Hazards
- This cargo may liquefy if shipped at moisture content in excess of its transportable moisturelimit (TML)
- This cargo may affect magnetic compasses.
- This cargo is non-combustible or has a low fire risk.
Weather precautions
- the moisture content of the cargo shall be kept less than its TML duringloading operations and the voyage;
- unless expressly provided otherwise in this individual schedule, the cargoshall not be handled during precipitation;
- unless expressly provided otherwise in this individual schedule, duringhandling of the cargo, all non-working hatches of the cargo spaces intowhich the cargo is loaded or to be loaded shall be closed;
- the cargo may be handled during precipitation under the conditions statedin the procedures required in subsection 4.3.3 of this Code; and
- the cargo in a cargo space may be discharged during precipitation providedthat the total amount of the cargo in the cargo space is to be discharged inthe port
Loading
Trim in accordance with the relevant provisions required under sections 4 and 5 of the Code.As the density of the cargo is high, due consideration shall be given to ensure that tanktop isnot overstressed during voyage and during loading by a pile of the cargo.
Precautions
Loading rates of this cargo are normally very high. Due consideration shall be given to theballasting operation in developing the loading plan required by SOLAS regulation VI/7.3.Bilge wells shall be clean, dry and protected as appropriate to prevent ingress of the cargo.
Carriage
Cargo hold bilges shall be sounded at regular intervals and pumped out, as necessary. Theappearance of the surface of this cargo shall be checked regularly during voyage, as far aspracticable. If free water above the cargo or fluid state of the cargo is observed duringvoyage, the master shall take appropriate actions to prevent cargo shifting and potentialcapsize of the ship, and give consideration to seeking emergency entry into a place ofrefuge.
2. DRAFT REVISED INDIVIDUAL SCHEDULE FOR IRON ORE
This schedule applies to iron ore cargoes containing either less than 10% of fine particles less than 1 mm or less than 50% of particles less than 10 mm or both. Also iron ore fines where the total goethite content is 35% or more by mass,provided the master receives from the shipper a declaration of the goethitecontent of the cargo which has been determined according tointernationally or nationally accepted standard procedures.
Hazards
No special hazards.This cargo is non-combustible or has a low fire risk.Iron ore cargoes may affect magnetic compasses.
Loading
Trim in accordance with the relevant provisions required under sections 4 and 5 of the Code.As the density of the cargo is extremely high, the tanktop may be overstressed unless thecargo is evenly spread across the tanktop to equalize the weight distribution. Dueconsideration shall be paid to ensure that tanktop is not overstressed during voyage andduring loading by a pile of the cargo.
Precautions
Loading rates of this cargo are normally very high. Due consideration shall be given to theballasting operation to develop the loading plan required by SOLAS regulation VI/7.3. Bilgewells shall be clean, dry and protected as appropriate to prevent ingress of the cargo.
3. DRAFT NEW TEST PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING TML OF IRON ORE FINES
The test procedure specified in this test should onlybe used for determining transportable moisture limit (TML) of IronOre Fines.
Iron Ore Fines is iron ore containing both:
- 10% or more of fine particles less than 1 mm, and
- 50% or more of particles less than 10 mm.
- The TML of Iron Ore Fines is taken as equal to the criticalmoisture content at 80% degree of saturation according tothe modified Proctor/Fagerberg method test.
- The test procedure is applicable when the degree ofsaturation corresponding to Optimum Moisture Content(OMC) is 90% or higher.
Procedure – Establishment of a complete compaction curve
A representative sample according to a relevant standard ( section 4.7 of the IMSBC Code) of the test material is partiallydried at a temperature of approximately 60 C or less to reduce thesamples moisture to suitable starting moisture, if needed. Therepresentative sample for this test should not be fully dried, exceptin case of moisture content measurement.
The total quantity of the test material should be at least three timesas big as required for the complete test sequence. Compactiontests are executed for five to ten different moisture contents (five toten separate tests). The samples are adjusted in order thatpartially dry to almost saturated samples are obtained. Therequired quantity per compaction test is about 2,000 cm3.
At each compaction test a suitable amount of water is added to thesample of the test material. The sample material is gently mixedbefore being allowed to rest and equilibrate. Approximately onefifth of the mixed sample is filled into the mould and levelled andthen the increment is tamped uniformly over the surface of theincrement. Tamping is executed by dropping a 150 g hammer25 times through the guide pipe, 0.15 m each time. Theperformance is repeated for all five layers. When the last layer hasbeen tamped, the extension piece is removed and the sample islevelled off along the brim of the mould with care, ensuring to remove any large particles that may hinder levelling of the sample,replacing them with material contained in the extension piece andre-levelling.
When the weight of the cylinder with the tamped sample has beendetermined, the cylinder is emptied, the sample is dried at 105ºCand the weight is determined. Reference is made to ISO 3087:2011 “Iron ores — Determination of the moisture contentof a lot”. The test then is repeated for the other samples withdifferent moisture conten
For further information on the voluntary implementation of the Code, please read the IMO Circular DSC.1/Circ.71
