Tag: dry bulk shipping

Workshop focuses on raising awareness The London-based International Maritime Organization (IMO), in partnership with SPC, is running a workshop this week in Suva to assist Pacific Island member governments to meet their obligations with regard to national regulations concerning the safe transportation of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes by sea.Delivering his opening remarks to the delegates, Alfredo Parroquín-Ohlson of IMO said, 'As the world becomes increasingly industrialised and the industry itself becomes ever more complex, the transport by sea of dangerous cargoes will continue to rise and the lists of products classified as 'dangerous' will grow, too. It is essential, if shipping within the global world trade is to improve its safety record, that these cargoes are handled, transported and stored with the greatest possible care.'Accidents caused by inadequate stowage and carriage for the rigour of a sea voyage are not only costly in terms of loss of life and damage to the environment and property, but they also tarnish the image of shipping,' he added.The workshop focuses on raising awareness on the IMO-developed International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code.The latest edition of the IMDG Code (Amendment 34-08) entered into force ...

BIMCO's Documentary Committee approved POOLCON BIMCO's Documentary Committee, which met in Singapore on 23 April, has approved for publication a new standard pooling agreement for dry and liquid bulk cargoes, called POOLCON.According to BIMCO's Chief Officer for Legal and Contractual Affairs, Grant Hunter, "POOLCON is a voluntary and negotiable standard agreement for establishing tramp shipping pools and is based on the pool managers time chartering in ships in their own name from the pool participants. We have had a lot of requests to develop a tramp pooling agreement in recent years and I am delighted that we can now meet that demand with the new POOLCON. We also plan to develop and publish later this year an "agency based" version of POOLCON where the pool manager manages the pool fleet."Given the highly sensitive nature of pooling agreements in relation to EU competition regulations, BIMCO is liaising with the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) to set up a meeting with the European Commission's competition directorate DGCOMP to discuss the key principles of the agreement prior to publication.POOLCON will be published along with detailed explanatory notes during the summer.Source: BIMCO

The Gard P&I Club issues Alert The Gard P&I Club issues Alert regarding IMSBC Code- Charterparty clause for solid bulk cargoes as follows:Introduction and backgroundReference is made to various circulars and articles published by the Association on the liquefaction of solid bulk cargoe.The Association has seen various charterparty clauses that attempt to weaken, avoid, and/or restrain owners from taking the necessary precautions with regard to cargoes that may liquefy, as set out in theIMSBC Code (which is mandatory under the provisions of SOLAS). With a view to preserving a Member's rights, protecting their interests and to assist in achieving contract certainty on this important safety matter, the International Group of P&I Clubs ("IG") has produced a standard charterparty clause.For more details, click here.Source: The Gard P&I Club

Information provided by the North of Engalnd P&I Club The North of England P&I Club issues circular rgarding IG charter party clause for bulk cargoes that may liquefy as follows:As part of the IG's response to the continuing problems faced by members when fixing to carry IMSBC Code Group A cargoes (thosewith a propensity to liquefy), the Claims Co-op SC has produced a comprehensivecharter partyclause that it considers suitable to protect the interests of members.Solid bulk cargoes are to be presented for carriage, loaded, (and where necessary trimmed) only so far as lawful and harmless, and always in compliance with all applicable international regulations, including IMSBC Code 2009 (as may be amended from time to time).All time taken in complying with such regulations, or as a result of non-compliance shall be for Charterer's sole time and expense (whether as hire or as laytime/demurrage as applicable). Charterers shall be responsible for any and all additional costs, expenses and liabilities whatsoever incurred in such compliance or as a result of any non-compliance. The Charterers are to provide certificate(s) of test from a laboratory which must be approved in advance by Owners at Owner's absolute discretion, and such certificate(s) of test must show ...

The liquefaction of some bulk cargoes on passage is an old problem The liquefaction of some bulk cargoes on passage is an old problem that has regrettably not gone away. The loss of three modern ships, with heavy loss of life in 2010, was a brutal reminder of this. All were carrying Indonesian nickel ore; cargo, which by its very nature and the fact that it is mined in an area of excessively high rainfall, is recognised as hazardous and highly prone to hygroscopic effects.It would be easy to suggest that it was inadequate testing to determine the water content that was the problem, or that prudent operators should reject such charters out of hand. But the fact is that these cargoes are of increasing value, so that the demand for them by steelmakers is high and growing.It is also a fact that there is a distinct lack of expert advice available in many of these areas, and a notable shortage of science in the determination of water content. There is also often a great deal of commercial pressure on shipmasters to accept the assurances given by the cargo owner, anxious only to get the cargo loaded and the ship ...

764,000 tonnes of cargo in May - the largest volume of cargo handled since port began operations The Port of Salalah general cargo terminal (GCT) handled a record 764,000 tonnes of cargo in May this year. This is the largest volume of cargo handled in any month since the port began operations in 1998.The GCT has seen double digit growth every year for over a decade and the record volume of May is 31 per cent higher than the same month of the previous year.The general cargo terminalprimarily handles local cargo and has seen little effect from the recession over the past few years with volumes continuing to grow.The largest growing exports from the terminal are limestone and gypsum which now account for 58 per cent of exports.This growth in business is due to an increasing demand for minerals from the subcontinent and Oman has some of the highest grade minerals as a natural resource. Cargo handled at the container terminal during May was 267,000 TEU (twenty-foot container equivalent units)Peter Ford, chief executive of Port of Salalah, said The year-on-year growth of bulk cargo serves to demonstrate the strength of the national economy and its resilience to the recession as ...

Increase in steaming coal imports Malaysian Bulker Carriers (MBC) is anticipating the dry bulk market to recover over the medium-term with an increase in steaming coal imports in place of Japan's decommissioned nuclear power plants.The reconstruction of Japan's devastated areas are also likely to spur demand in the dry bulk sector, it added. In the short-term, the dry bulk sector will be adversely affected by the Japanese disaster as cargo volumes are taken off the market due to plant shutdowns and logistical slowdowns, the company said in a statement.As with many other dry bulk owners, MBC has experienced weak charter rates that have affected its bottomline. The Kuala Lumpur-listed firm managed to post a marginal increase in net profit in the first quarter while revenue dipped due to a 28% fall in the hire rates. MBC recorded net profit RM52.7m in the quarter ended 31 March 2011, edging up from RM51.4m in the same quarter last year as operating expenses were reduced. Revenue declined by 25.8% to RM84.9m compared to RM114.4m in the previous year's quarter.The company raised concerns over an over-tonnage market as newbuildings continue to flood the market. Managing overcapacity will remain a challenge in coming years, it ...

Amendments to SOLAS Chapter VI The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 89) this week considered the draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter VI regarding the prohibition of the blending of bulk liquid cargoes during the sea voyage.These amendments were developed by the Sub-committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) to mandate the circular developed to prohibit the blending of bulk liquid cargoes onboard during the sea voyage.During its discussions, MSC also considered a proposal from the Netherlands to develop and approve an additional regulation specifically to prohibit production processes onboard ships that result in new products.The importance of this issue was acknowledged by the Committee. However, noting the technical aspects of developing such regulations, the Committee decided to refer this to the next session of BLG (BLG 16) for further consideration and subsequent advice to the next session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 90).The draft amendment to SOLAS Chapter VI, which the Committee has approved, will be circulated in accordance with SOLAS article VIII with a view to adoption at MSC 90.The proposal by Netherlands can be accessed hereSource: Intertanko