The Japan P&I Club has issued warning of wet Nickel Ore Cargoes in bulk from Surigao, Philippines because of the current frequent rain.
Specifically, during rainy season from November to April in the Philippines, it is required to take more precautious measures for the issues of liquefaction of nickel ore exported from the Philippines.
Nickel ore, when moisture content is above the Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) can liquefy with catastrophic results. The liquefaction of a nickel ore cargo is not like free-surface effect of a liquid but is when due to vibration and movement a solid now acts like a liquid, it is a dynamic shift.
Particularly, far more care should be taken for cargoes exported from Surigao located in the Southern Philippines, where is the most popular location for loading nickel ore as well as prominent rain-fall areas. As it is too risky to simply accept the cargo certificate for water contents issued by a mine’s individual standard, it is advisable for shipowners to obtain independent samples for analysis and results prior to the vessels’ arrival in order to ascertain that the cargo is fit for loading by judging from Flow Moisture Point and Transportable Moisture Limit governed by an international code, the IMSBC.
Further details may be found by reading the warning below
Source: Japan P&I Club
