Tag: West of England Club

By the West of England P&I Club The West of England P&I Club issues New Guidelines for the Carriage of Bulk Blends of Petroleum Oil and Bio-Fuels as follows:The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee has recently approved the "2011 Guidelines for the Carriage of Blends of Petroleum Oil and Bio-Fuels". The new guidelines, contained in the Annex to MEPC.1/Circ.761, are effective from 1 September 2011, when they will replace the existing interim guidelines.The carriage provisions are based on the volumetric composition of the bio-fuel blend; products containing 75% or more petroleum oil are to be carried in accordance with the requirements of MARPOL Annex I, products containing more than 1% but less than 75% petroleum oil are to be carried in accordance with the requirements of MARPOL Annex II and the conditions detailed in the guidelines. Products containing 1% or less petroleum oil are to be carried under the requirements of MARPOL Annex II.Physical blending of petroleum oil and bio-fuel resulting in a single product must only be carried out whilst the vessel is within port limits. Prior to any such operation it is important that detailed instructions of exactly how such blending is to take place are obtained from ...

Information provided by the West of England P&I Club The West of England P&I Club has been advised by Ivory P&I, Abidjan, of alleged shortages of wheat discharged in Abidjan leading to the imposition of fines by the Customs Authorities.Inmost cases the draught survey figures will show either a small surplus or a small shortage of cargo, as would be expected, however, shore figures derived from the shore scales at the two principal wheat importers in Abidjan; Les Grands Moulins d'Abidjan and Les Moulins Modernes de Côte d'Ivoire, consistently show shortages of between 40 and 160 m.t.Discrepancies have also been found between the quantities recorded by the truck weighbridge operated by the stevedores and those obtained from a weighbridge operated by an independent third party; the Ivorian Chamber of Commerce. Therefore doubts exist as to the accuracy of the shore scales used by the principal wheat importers, and the weighbridge used by the stevedore company. In the event of a shortage the Customs Authorities impose a fine of 50,000 CFA Francs (approximately 76 Euros) per short-landed m.t.In order to protect Members' interests it is recommended that their Masters request a copy of the latest calibration certification for the weighbridge that ...

If shipped at a moisture content in excess of their transportable moisture limit The West of England P&I Club issues the following regarding the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code:Those who are familiar with the problems that have been experienced with particular cargoes classified as "Group A" in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code. "Group A" cargoes may liquefy if shipped at a moisture content in excess of their transportable moisture limit, and recent incidents involving nickel ore, Indian iron ore fines and Brazilian sinter feed have resulted in the International Group and the Club issuing various Notices and Alerts.Since many of the difficulties are derived from inaccurate test certificates provided by cargo interests, it is often necessary to instruct a surveyor to take samples and send them to a reliable laboratory for analysis and, in certain circumstances, to appoint an expert. However, experience has shown that shippers may hinder access to stockpiles, and charterers may try to prevent ship owners from using their surveyors, experts or laboratories of choice. The International Group has therefore drafted a clause which it recommends is used by ship owners as a standard template for inclusion in charter parties if "Group ...

By the West of England P&I Club Club correspondents Inchcape Shipping Services, Dubai, have advised of the introduction of new anchorage areas and regulations off the coast of the Emirate extending to the edge of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has issued a Maritime Bulletin announcing the introduction of the new requirements. The bulletin also states that ships that anchor outside the approved anchorages without authorisation, or which engage in unauthorised Ship to Ship (STS) transfer or bunkering operations, will be subject to arrest and criminal prosecution.Five new approved anchorages have been specified:Port Jebel Ali Anchorage (short term)Port Rashid Anchorage (Anchorage A) (short term)Long Term Anchorage (Anchorage B)STS and Bunkering Waiting Area Anchorage (Anchorage C)STS and Bunkering Operation Anchorage (Anchorage D)Vessels planning to anchor at either of the two short term anchorages for less than five days must obtain authorisation from the Harbour Masters office. Any vessel wishing to anchor in either of the short term anchorages for more than five days, in anchorages B, C or D, or in areas outside the designated anchorages must obtain authorisation from the DMCA.Vessels anchoring within anchorages B, C or D are liable for anchorage fees calculated in ...

Safety Alert issued by West of England P&I Club The West of England P&I Club issued a Safety Alert for the risk of scalding and serious injury when working on steam systems.There have been a number of recent incidents where crewmembers have been badly scalded while working on steam systems.Examples illustrate how personnel have been injured as a result of either not following the correct procedures or abiding by best practice, or where they were unaware of the work activities of other crewmembers, with disastrous consequences.For more details, click hereSource: West of England P&I Club

Sinter Feed from Ponta da Madeira A new Loss Prevention Safety Alert has justbeen published by west of England P&I club.To view it please click the link below.Brazil - Sinter Feed from Ponta da MadeiraSource: West of England P&I Club

Guidance on the hazards associated with hydrogen sulphide Personnel working in the oil tanker industry are generally familiar with the hazards associated with the presence of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in hydrocarbon products carried as cargo.However, the possibility that marine bunkers may also produce H2S gas is not always recognised so widely.The West of England P&I Club has issued a bulletin providing Guidance on the hazards associated with hydrogen sulphide gas evolvgd from marine bunkers.You may access the prevention bulletin hereSource: West of England P&I