The West of England P&I Club reminds of the mandatory notification requirements regarding the dangers of carrying nickel ore from Indonesia and the Philippines to highlight once more the related safety measures in compliance with the IMSBC Code requirements. The Club further covers related implications and it informs that all operators are to be provided with information on measures available to mitigate these risks, even if they cannot be entirely excluded.
”In accordance with the Club’s bye-laws, Members are required to notify the Managers before agreeing to carry a cargo of nickel ore to ensure that they are fully acquainted with the risks beforehand and so that any concerns regarding the contractual terms of carriage may be addressed. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Managers, Members are also required to appoint a surveyor at the load port to provide assistance to the Master. Failure to fulfil these requirements may prejudice cover.” The Club says in a statement.
In particular, the Club advises operators who plan to fix or charter a ship to load nickel ore from ports in Indonesia and the Philippines, or where under an existing fixture a ship is ordered to load such cargo, that they are obliged to contact the Managers at the earliest opportunity and, where possible, provide the following information:
- Ship name
- Port/anchorage of loading and estimated time of arrival
- Date of intended loading
- Charterer/shipper’s details
- Agent’s details
- Copy of the shipper’s cargo declaration and supporting certificates
This will enable the Managers to provide operators with relevant information on measures that might be taken to reduce the risk as set out in the attached summary, such as the appointment of a local surveyor to assist the Master, the testing of cargo samples by a reliable independent laboratory and the appointment of an expert, not necessarily to attend in person, but to liaise and supervise the local surveyor throughout.
These measures may reduce the risks inherent in the carriage of nickel ore cargoes but are not a guarantee of safety.
Further information regarding the safe carriage of nickel ore cargoes may be found by reading a circular issued by the International Group of P&I Club.
There have been instances where surveyors in Indonesia especially, acting on behalf of owners’ have been threatened with their lives for ‘advising’ Masters against loading nickle ore cargoes that fail compliance with IMSBC.
Who would want to go there from overseas to represent ship owners under these conditions? As for the local surveyors, that’s another story altogether. In practice, they appear to be hand-in-glove with the mine owners, otherwise why have there been so many sinkings of vessels laden with ores from Indonesia?
“Members are also required to appoint a surveyor at the load port to provide assistance to the Master.” Finding the right surveyor, who will do exactly what is required of him, as per the IMSBC Code, has been an uphill task.