Incidents of self-heating of coals shipped out of Paradip India, emphasizing the lack of knowledge from some local shippers on the dangers of coal and IMSBC code requirements, coupled with a lack resources in the region to cope with any issues that arise.
On one occasion the coal was mis-declared as GROUP C, with no reference to whether the coal was liable to self-heating or to emitting methane. No instructions for carriage were offered to the master for the cargo as required by the IMSBC code.
Immediately after load the cargo showed serious signs of self-heating with smoke visible and there were signs of heating (steam and/or smoke) from the stockpile. There were no means of removing the burning cargo from the vessel at the berth.
After having to deal with a fire in the hold for some time at anchorage, the vessel was subsequently allowed access to a berth with cranes to discharge the coal.
- All coal should be declared in strict accordance with the IMSBC code. Declarations should be checked and no cargo loaded until correct.
- You should not rely on stockpile temperatures presented by the shipper. Temperatures should also be taken immediately before load and at multiple times during the loading process as more of the coal is exposed.
- For the avoidance of doubt, any steam or smoke being emitted from the coal is a sign of heating and that coal should not be loaded until it has been cooled below 55°C.
- The most accurate temperatures of the stockpile are generally achieved using solid thermocouple probes, because any hot coal is likely to be beneath the surface.
- If only infrared thermometers are available, these should be used in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations to keep the measurement area as small as possible. In any event this should be done at a distance no further than 3 to 5m away from the cargo presented for shipment. Any further and temperatures can be unreliable.
- Temperatures should be taken at multiple spots on the cargo to check for hot spots.
- Cargo should never be loaded at temperatures in excess of 55°C.
- All surveyors and vessels should have appropriate gas detection equipment available so monitoring of holds can begin as soon as the hold is closed. Surveyors and crew should be familiar with how to use the detectors correctly. Vessels are urged to consider redundancy and have an adequate number of detectors in case of malfunction or damage.
- Span gas should be available to calibrate and confirm the accuracy of the detectors, should this be required.