Dangerous and Difficult Bulk Cargoes

24 February 2012

The danger of cargo liquefaction is a constant threat - are your crews fully trained in every aspect?

Author: Videotel

YESTERDAY’S NEWS BUT STILL TODAY’S PROBLEM: THE CHALLENGES OF CARRYING DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS CARGOES

 
Stories about the hazards of carrying dangerous cargoes hit the headlines and then, like all news, tend to dissipate. Yet vessels around the world - and around the clock - continue to carry dangerous cargoes, often without proper crew training, resulting in more lives lost - be it through cargo liquefaction, dangerous gases, spillage or combustion.

Videotel’s new training programme Dangerous and Difficult Bulk Cargoes – Minerals and Man-Made Derivatives targets this vitally important topic and sets out clearly how to safely deal with potentially hazardous mineral based cargoes.

“The loss of several ships over recent months due to unsafe cargo sends out a clear message to the industry,” explains Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel Marine International. “There is a perfectly good set of regulations laid down in the IMSBC Code. However, these need greater enforcement and, most importantly, training for both shipowners and crew so they can take effective steps to ensure they are not carrying an unsafe cargo. Ultimately, vessel safety is in the hands of ship’s personnel be it accepting, rejecting or carrying cargo.”

Videotel’s new programme is aimed at those who regularly transport dangerous cargoes and provides a graphic and realistic depiction of what can go wrong on board ship if correct procedures are not followed. Available as a DVD with supporting booklet and an interactive CD-ROM, it uses the IMSBC Code as reference and includes in-depth analysis and interviews with leading experts discussing the problems and solutions relating to a range of dangerous cargoes. 

In particular, the training emphasises that ship’s personnel can greatly reduce the chances of loading an unsafe cargo by verifying the documentation of the shipper and figures given for temperature or moisture content. It also impresses on all crew the necessity of regular monitoring of the cargo condition within the hold while under passage, which is essential to controlling atmospheres and/or maintaining stability.