99003 Bulk Cargoes Ship/Shore Checklist
Bulk Cargoes Ship/Shore Check List
Report No. 99003
In spite of amendments to SOLAS Chapter VI and the introduction of Ship/Shore Check Lists, not all loading terminals around the world are complying with these regulations. Very often the ship's staff and particularly the master are put under tremendous pressure to ignore these regulations and surrender to the demands of the loading terminal and the shipper.
On a recent voyage, we checked the loading rate prior to arrival at the next port and prepared our loading sequence and the pre-loading plan according to the advice we were given. The plan was sent to the agents well in advance and it was understood that all parties had agreed to this plan.
On arrival, the ship/shore check list was completed and the terminal foreman signed it. The agreed rate of loading on the check list was 4,000 tonnes per hour which was the figure on which we had prepared the loading sequence. After all the paper work, draft survey etc. was completed, the vessel commenced loading. On completion of the second run of the sequence, the chief officer realised that the rate of loading was much higher than had been agreed. He estimated that it was about 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes per hour. This was immediately brought to the notice of the master and the terminal was asked to load at the agreed rate. In spite of earnest efforts by the master and chief officer, the loading terminal would not agree to reduce the loading rate. The master therefore informed all parties concerned and stopped the loading by closing the hatches.
In order to resolve the problem, a meeting was arranged between the master, chief officer, agents and the terminal supervisor. During this meeting, the terminal supervisor promptly showed the master the terminal regulations which clearly stated that a vessel loading more than 14,000 mt of cargo will be loaded at the rate of 10,000 mt/hr. He further threatened the master that in the case of non-compliance with the terminals rate of loading, the vessel would in future be blacklisted. The vessel had not been informed about the terminal regulations until this time.
The master and the chief officer found themselves in a very difficult situation and a lot of pressure was put on us to agree to the loading rate. However, the master stated that he would only agree to continue loading after re-working the loading sequence based on the higher rate of loading now demanded. After working out the new sequence, it was fortunately found that the stresses were within the permitted limits. A few amendments were made to the loading and deballasting plan and a revised loading sequence was submitted.
The vessel resumed loading and the entire load was completed within 24 hours. This episode shows however, that regulations concerning the safety of the vessel will never be successfully implemented until the terminal operators feel that they have the same duty to follow the regulations as the ship's staff. It would help if some of the personnel employed at the loading terminals had some marine background and therefore understood the master's problems in a better way and would try to help him out in such situations. In spite of the very best intentions, commercial reasons outweigh regulations particularly when the market is bad.