Tag: dangerous cargo

IMO's Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC5), held on 10-14 September 2018, addressed safety issues related to dangerous cargo. Among the highlights was that it agreed amendments to IGF and IMSBC Code, as well as draft interim guidelines for the safety of ships powered by methanol. 

A 90-meter bulk carrier had been drifting in heavy weather, with hard winds and 4-meter-high waves, after it suffered a breakdown on the main engine off Marstrand, according to data provided by the Swedish Coast Guard. The bulk carrier was loaded with fertilizer.

Following  the investigation report of the 2012 built supramax bulk carrier M/V CHESHIRE which was issued by the  Isle of Man Ship Registry, INTERCARGO urges IMO to reconsider how Ammonium Nitrate Based Fertilizer should be designated in the IMSBC Code. Currently, the Ammonium Nitrate Based Fertilizer is listed as a group C cargo, however, the accident showed that this cargo, or at least some of the ammonium nitrate based fertilizers shipped as this cargo, should treated  differently under the IMSBC Code.

South Africa has detained the Russian-flagged freighter 'Lada', after being informed that it was allegedly carrying illegal cargo of weaponry onboard. Namely, local media report that the ship was carrying explosives and arms worth about $3.5 million.

Dangerous cargo hidden in just one container can destroy a whole ship if it burns or explodes at sea. Yves Vandenborn, loss prevention director of The Standard Club, says a more rigorous approach to container booking is needed if shipowners are to protect their ships, crews and reputations from the real risk of misdeclared box cargoes.

Having analyzed cyber threats for ship networks and ship electronic equipment, Capt. Gunter Schütze this time focuses on the aboard container ships threats which, as he points out, are much more problematic and in case such threats come real the effects are often infernos with extreme consequences

On the occasion of Denmark's ratification of the 2010 HNS Convention earlier this week, ECSA welcomed the move, noting however that the International liability and compensation regime covering pollution damage caused by ships needs to be swiftly ratified by all Member States.

Denmark has officially become the fourth state to accede to the global regime on compensation for damage caused by the carriage by sea of hazardous and noxious substances of the 2010 HNS convention. The Danish minister of business has requested the DMA to enforce the rules of the convention in Denmark.

As Capt. Akshat Arora, Senior Surveyor at the Standard P&I said, the Club regularly receives questions regarding the carriage of dangerous cargoes in packaged form. As of 1 January 2018, the 2016 edition of the IMDG code is in effect, and Mr. Arora reminds the requirements of this code.

With the growing size of container vessels, misdeclaration of cargo together with insufficient firefighting capabilities are currently two of the main challenges related to container ship safety.