NEWS

1. Cargo displacement

cargo displacement has always been one of the biggest safety hazards on bulk carriers, especially for bulk carriers carrying grain. Food occupies 2% of the volume. Because of this arrangement, there will be small gaps on the surface of the grain, which cause the movement of the grain, and the free movement of the grain reduces the stability of the cargo on board. In addition, rolling will also cause the cargo to move from side to side, reducing the stability of the ship and eventually leading to capsizing. Appropriate adjustments are therefore required to reduce the risk of cargo movement.

2. Goods fall from high places
Some goods such as iron ore, quartz and scrap steel are high-density goods. They are very likely to fall from high places during operation. Goods may slip from the cargo conveyor belt or unloading deck. People working on the deck may be injured and killed if they are hit by bulk cargo. Cargo operations should be supervised by the relevant person in charge, and care should be taken that no redundant staff are present in the work area on the deck. The person performing the cargo operation should wear protective clothing, including safety helmets, safety boots and brightly colored vests.

3, cargo dust
cargo dust is one of the most common security risks in bulk carrier transportation. A lot of bulk cargo brings dust. Small dust particles are easily inhaled, but if inhaled, it will have a fatal impact on human health. Working on the deck will encounter more dust, dust can cause sneezing, eye irritation. Therefore, it is best to avoid contact with the dust caused by the goods, if it can not be avoided, should wear a protective mask. When dusty goods need to be loaded and unloaded through the deck, the staff should wear appropriate gas masks, and the filter should be replaced in time if it is dirty. Deck machinery should be properly maintained if affected by dust.

4. Cargo liquefaction
Cargo liquefaction is the conversion of solid bulk cargo from a solid dry state to a liquid state. Many common goods such as iron ore, nickel ore and other minerals may be liquefied. Liquefaction may occur due to ship host vibration, ship motion and wave rolling resulting in cargo agitation.
liquefaction causes the cargo to develop dynamically, allowing the cargo to flow in one direction reducing the ship's stability. Due to the frequent errors in the cargo declarations provided by the shipper, a thorough inspection of the cargo should be carried out by the first mate prior to bulk loading to ensure that the moisture content of the cargo does not exceed the transport moisture limit in order to avoid liquefaction of the cargo during the voyage. In addition, spot checks on the moisture content of the cargo on board are required when necessary.

5. Structural damage
refers to the potential safety hazard of "load structure" caused by placing heavy goods at high places. High-density goods occupy a small area-they have a very low stowage factor. Therefore, it is necessary for the cargo hold to have sufficient strength to carry heavy cargoes like iron ore, nickel ore and bauxite. Do not exceed the loading density of the cargo hold, which is provided by the Ship Stability Manual. Exceeding the maximum allowable cargo load factor will cause excessive pressure on the local structure of the ship. Overloading will cause severe pressure on double bottom, cross bulkhead, hatch cover, hatch coaming, main frame, etc. Poor distribution of goods can also have an impact on safety.

6. Oxygen consumption
like bulk transportation of wood, pulp and agricultural products may lead to rapid consumption of oxygen to form carbon dioxide. This means that harmless goods will also pose a potential security threat to life. Bulk carrier space containment "promotes" the development of toxic substances in the atmosphere. In this kind of unventilated place is likely to lead to fatal accidents. In the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo Code (IMSBC Code), there is a risk of oxygen consumption for the following goods: coal, direct reduced iron, sponge iron, sulphide concentrate, ammonium nitrate fertilizer, cotton seed, etc. These goods form carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbon. Personnel will only be able to enter the confined space if they are equipped with means to facilitate ventilation and will be equipped with a positive pressure breathing apparatus (SCBA). In addition, some cargo also consumes oxygen in the cargo hold, mainly rusty steel scrap cargo, and grain cargo also consumes the oxygen content in the cargo hold.

7, corrosion
Some goods such as coal, sulfur corrosion will cause serious damage to the ship. Sulphur is usually exposed to storage, which can cause an increase in moisture content when subjected to inclement weather. Wet sulfur is highly corrosive. When sulfur is loaded, the sea water in the voyage will react with sulfur, resulting in the release of sulfuric acid and corrosion of the ship. While coal that has been immersed in ponds usually contains high moisture and sulfur levels, this type of coal is also highly likely to react with water and cause ship corrosion.

8. Pollution
Preparation of cargo prior to loading is an important part of the bulk carrier business, and lack of proper preparation may lead to claims for cargo due to pollution, water ingress into the cargo, etc.

9. Fire
Bulk cargo is considered to be a significant fire hazard. Due to the thermal oxidation phenomenon that may occur during navigation, many bulk cargoes have a tendency to spontaneous combustion. General goods such as coal, sulfur, cotton, fish meal may be self-heating. Methane released from coal is a flammable gas that can form explosive mixtures when mixed with air. The dust brought by some goods may pose an explosion threat, among which sulfur dust is easy to cause an explosion, and the friction between cotton bales will generate heat to cause spontaneous combustion. Therefore, the fire prevention regulations for bulk carriers should be strictly observed.