According to Eldib Pandi, Japan P&I Club’s local correspondent in Egypt, cargo shortage at Egyptian ports is among the most common claims.
As Japan Club explains, draft measurements and displacement calculations are the usual methods for ascertaining the cargo quantity. The draft survey is quite technical in nature, and any miscalculation would affect the reading and indicate a shortage when it is not present.
To avoid possible shortage claims, the following points should be taken into account:
- Although the water density is an important factor for draft calculations, often the sea water sample is erroneously taken from the surface of the sea water, which leads the reading wrong/faulty and causes a deficit in the quantity of cargo.
- In order to measure the density of sea water, the sample must be taken below the surface of the water with a distance of half the submersible draft, i.e. if the ship’s draft is 12m, the sample must be taken from a distance of 6m.
- Calibrating a hydrometer with fresh water is necessary in order to make sure that it works correctly.
