Loss Prevention Advice
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The persistent risks of cargo damage in the carriage of grain and oil seed cargoes, emphasizing the critical importance of proper ventilation practices.
Common cargo claims in the carriage of grain and oil seed cargoes include wetting, mould, and caking damage. Lack of proper ventilation is often not the reason for such cargo damage; sometimes it is due to the inherent vice of the cargo or pre shipment damage and wetting. However, cargo interests often allege that improper ventilation caused the damage.
Therefore, it is paramount that ventilation of these cargoes is carried out properly and that accurate records are kept. The Insurer recommends using the three-degree rule of ventilation for grain and oil seed cargoes over dewpoint rule, due to the difficulty in measuring dew point within a laden cargo space.
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Over the past week, 2-8 December, no incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia.
Area of concern
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The risk of customs fines for vessels when landed cargo figures differ from declared quantities.
The customs authorities increasingly fine vessels when landed cargo differs from declared figures, often relying on shore-side measurements and applying minimal tolerance. Fines are usually based on unpaid duties or market value and can escalate quickly, especially for high-volume commodities like rice, wheat, sugar, and fertilizers.
Even small discrepancies can trigger penalties, and shipboard measurements are often disregarded, making accurate documentation and draft surveys critical. Ships may also need to post security deposits during investigations. Ports like Dakar are known for strict enforcement, though some authorities are showing cautious leniency toward minor variances.
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Lessons learned from an incident where a plastic pallet loaded with plastic lube oil drums fell while being hoisted.
What happened?
During transfer of lube oil drums via barge to a vessel in an anchorage, a plastic pallet loaded with plastic lube oil drums fell while being hoisted. The incident resulted in product damage (ruptured drums, oil spillage on deck). There was where no injuries nor structural damage.
What might have gone better?
- The pallet was inadequately secured before lifting, and when it was lifted, it was an out of balance load and tipped over.
- There could have been more adequate secondary securing of the load – straps or netting.
- There could have been more and better supervision of the barge crew during cargo lifting operations.
- There was perceived “time pressure” at work.
- There was unchallenged reliance on routine – “we’ve always done it this way”.