THE International Association of Dry Cargo Ship owners (Intercargo) has urged extreme caution when dealing with cargo that has the potential to liquefy at sea after the sinking of the Bulk Jupiter off Vietnam with the loss of 18 seafarers.
The Bulk Jupiter was carrying a cargo of bauxite loaded in Kantian, Malaysia, which is believed to have liquefied due to the heavy monsoon rains in December, caused the vessel to capsize and sink.
On January 2, the Bahamian 56,000-dwt Bulk Jupiter sank off the coast of Bung Tao, Vietnam, having loaded 46,400 tons of bauxite. In monsoon rains before loading the cargo took the properties of a liquid, sloshed to one side and caused the ship to capsize and sink. The ship's cook survived, according to Wikipedia.
"The recent capsize and sinking of the Bulk Jupiter in the opening days of January, with the loss of 18 of its 19 crew, may again prove to be yet another casualty statistic in the long list of bulk carrier losses caused by cargo liquefaction," said Intercargo.
The association said some shipowners had suspended the loading of bauxite cargoes from Kuantan with tests indicating cargoes were unsafe to load, and that one cargo that was carried was discharged at port in a liquefied condition, reported UK's SeaTrade Global.
Last week saw many P&I insurers issue warnings on bauxite liquefaction following the Bulk Jupiter casualty.
"Port states have an obligation to ensure that the condition of cargoes they permit to be loaded in their ports are safe for carriage," said Intercargo secretary general David Tongue.
"There is no doubt that if this obligation was strictly adhered to by all port states through consistent implementation by competent authorities, the risk to bulk shipping would be greatly reduced," he said.
The warning was issued after a meeting earlier this month of International Group of P&I Clubs met with representatives of Malaysia to the UN's International Maritime Organization, for talks to help ensure solid bulk cargoes from Malaysian ports were safe to ship.
WORLD SHIPPING
19 January 2015 - 22:20
Intercargo warns of taking on cargo with liquefaction risk at sea
THE International Association of Dry Cargo Ship owners (Intercargo) has urged extreme caution when dealing with cargo that has the potential to liquefy at sea after the sinking of the Bulk Jupiter off Vietnam with the loss of 18 seafarers.
WORLD SHIPPING
19 January 2015 - 22:20
Intercargo warns of taking on cargo with liquefaction risk at sea
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