BULK CARRIER CODE

AIM:To highlight dangers of bulk cargoes,give

procedural guidance,list typical products and
advise on handling,test procedures for determining
cargo charecterestics
MAIN HAZARDS 1.structural damage due to
improper distribution
2.loss of stability due to dry shift or wet shift
3.chemical reactions

DEFINITIONS
Angle of Repose:is angle between a horizontal plane
and the cone slope of the cargo.
Flow moisture point:is percentage moisture content
at which flow state develops under prescribed
methods of test in a sample.
Flow state:state that occurs when a mass of granular
material is saturated with liquid such that due to
ships vibration,etc it loses its internal shear strength
and behaves as a liquid.
Moisture content:portion of a sample of a material
mixed with water expressed as percentage of total
mass of that sample.

DEFINITIONS
Moisture migration:movement of moisture contained
in a bulk cargo due to ships vibrations which may
result in some part of cargo developing a flow state.
Transportable moisture limit(TML) is max water
content of cargo considered safe for carriage in
ships(tml=90% of fmp)
Concentrates are materials which are obtained from a
natural ore by process of purification by physical or
chemical separation and removal of unwanted
constituents.Such cargoes are dusty and heavy and
have low SF between 0.33 and 0.57 cum/t.They are
similar to sponge and will absorb moisture till all
concentrate is wet .This affects stability .

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
Load density
Max cargo in any space<0.9LBD (where L
is hold length,B is breadth, D is summer
draft)
If cargo is untrimmed ht of cargo pile to be
less than 1.1 x D xSF
Avoid excessive high GM
High density cargo to load in lower hold

SAFETY TO PERSONNEL

POISONING
ASPHYXIATION
DUST HAZARD
DANGER OF FLAMMABLE
ATMOSPHERE

INFORMATION TO MASTER
BY SHIPPER

1.Chemical hazards
2.Flow moisture point
3.Stowage factor
4.Moisture content
5.Angle of Repose
6.A certificate containing relevant cargo
characterestics as above including TML and
chemical characterestics

SAMPLING PROCEDURES
Information is given in the code also factors to
take into account when obtaining samples such as
1.type of material
2.particle size distribution
3.composition of material and its variability
4.manner stowed eg stockpiles,railway wagons,etc
5.characterestics
6.weather conditions

TRIMMING PROCEDURES
For purpose of trimming bulk cargoes are placed
into two general categories,
1.Cargoes with angle of repose < 35 deg
This is more dangerous as it can liquify
Consists of small granules which shifts as vessel
rolls
Small granules absorb moisture easily and cargo
may become sludge which is detrimental to stability
Thus such cargoes to be well trimmed and fully
filled
Erect shifting board if necessary

Cargoes with angle of

repose>35deg
Consist of lumps 3 to 300mm which interlock and
are therefore stable
Major hazard is if cargo is left untrimmed and
vessel rolls ,cargo may fall on one side of holdand
produce a list
Do not liquify as liquid entering in the hold
remains in the unoccupied space between the lumps
and filters to bilges and can be pumped out
Cargo in lower hold and tween deck to be trimmed
level from side to side and bulkhead to bulkhead

Method of determining Angle of

repose
Either in lab or on sight
On site method requires angle subtended by
the surface of a stockpile with the ground to
be measured at a minimum of six points
around the circumference of the stock pile
and the mean taken

yshwanth:
yshwanth:

CARGOES WHICH LIQUIFY

1.this includes concentrates,certain coals,etc
2.dangers due to,wet shift,dry shift,spontaneous
combustion,chemical action
3.General precautions
a)trimmed level regardless of angle of repose
b)moisture content to be < TML
c)cargoes containing liquids not to be stowed in same
space
d)avoid contact of cargo with sea water
e)if required to cool the cargo water to be applied in the
form of spray to reduce possibility of flow state

Specially fitted ships

1.materials having moisture content>tml
can be carried in cargo ships which are
fitted with portable divisions
2.ship structure bounding such cargoes to
be strengthened
3.plan,design,stability to be approved by
administration