A set of best practices regarding the loading of assorted breakbulk cargoes in China, emphasizing the need to carefully consider the stowage intentions throughout the process.
Breakbulk cargoes, which can include steel, trucks, trailers, and bagged goods, often require careful planning and coordination to ensure safe stowage and transport. The guidelines emphasize the importance of early preparation, attention to cargo weight limits, and clear communication between the crew, stevedores, and surveyors.
Recommendations aim to minimize risks and ensure compliance with relevant regulations throughout the loading process. General concepts for masters and shipowners to remain aware of include:
- Obtaining the stowage plan as early as possible.
- Scrutinising the draft stowage plan as soon as possible. If there is anything inappropriate with the stowage arrangement, make enquiries to see if adjustments are needed.
- Envisaging the stow as it builds. Consider and question any areas of potential non-compliance with the ship’s approved cargo securing manual.
- Ensuring cargo weight compliance with both the ship’s tank top and hatch cover weight limits to prevent structural damage.
- Requesting additional lashings, if needed.
- Welding additional lashing points before loading adjacent cargo, avoiding welding on bunker tank perimeters. Take maximum precautions to prevent heat damage or fire when performing hot work, and ensure new lashing points are approved by the ship’s flag state.
- Avoiding high, inadequately supported “cliff faces” of cargo that might collapse into void spaces. Consider where the cargo is being discharged and port rotation.
- Confirming that vehicles’ fuel tanks are empty and electrical batteries disconnected before loading. If not, treat them as dangerous goods and ensure compliance with the IMDG Code.
Typically, it is easier to adjust or improve a stow during the cargo loading process, rather than after, when stevedores may be reluctant to revisit earlier items and access to already stowed cargoes can be challenging. Ask questions in a timely manner if in doubt.
Maintaining respectful conversations with stevedores and charterer’s representatives can also help to achieve a mutually acceptable stowage outcome.
Remember that the surveyor may not be fully familiar with all details in the ship’s cargo securing manual, as these manuals are often ship-specific. The surveyor cannot fully take over loading supervision but is there to assist, particularly linguistically.
It is ultimately the ship master’s responsibility to ensure the cargo is safely handled, stowed, and secured in accordance with the relevant regulations.