99037 Scrap metal loading causes damage to vessel

Report No. 99037.

The vessel was loading heavy scrap metal and I became most concerned about the amount of damage that was being caused to the ship's structure from this type of cargo, particularly from the loose scrap. Several areas of the vessel were damaged, these included the deck fittings, hatches and coamings which were all affected by large and small bits which fell out of the crane grabs as they were being swung over the decks. The worst damage was caused to the ship's rails, a fire hydrant and the hatch coaming bars.

Quite often the crane driver's cab is too low down on the quayside for him to be able to see where he is dropping the load and as the cranes used tend to drop the heavy pieces of scrap into the hold, the tank top and shell plating can also get damaged.. This is very worrying to the people who have to maintain and go to sea in the vessel. We take what precautions we can by protecting vulnerable pipes with timber but this does not stop all the other damage. If a large piece of scrap did cause a hole in the ship's side just above the waterline, as the ship got deeper through loading more cargo, the water would start coming into the hold. It is quite possible that this would not be noticed until much later as it is too dangerous to take soundings whilst the scrap is being loaded.

Even more worrying for us is the fact that some pieces also fall from the grabs before they get over the deck and hit the ship's side. Some of them fall into the water which could cause us danger and pollute the water by protruding from the ground under the ship and piercing a hole in the bottom plating.

Thomas's Stowage has some advice on the subject of loading scrap metal. "Owing to the very rough, uneven character of this cargo it is entirely unsuitable for overstowing by other cargo and, of course, equally unsuitable for stowing on top of other goods. The scrap is dropped in the hatchway and allowed to pile up in pyramidal form until its sides are steep enough for the larger sections to roll down into the wings and ends. Before commencing to load scrap iron, the lower strakes of spar ceiling should be well protected from damage by covering with dunnage boards, that being preferable to unshipping the lower strakes as, if left in position, they protect the ship's side against severe battering by large sections of metal as it shoots down the sides of the steep pile. The weight accumulates in the hatchway and the load should be trimmed to the ends and sides to avoid undue strains on the ship's structure.