Ore cargoes from Indonesia *Update*

Intercargo has Issued a news release following the tragic loss of the 2005 built supramax bulk carrier Vinalines Queen first reported missing 25 December 2011. Allegedly carrying a cargo of Indonesian nickel ore, 22 crew members are feared lost.

Click here for the Intercargo news release.

Click here for a copy of the Association’s Liquefaction Hot Spot.

Click here for a copy of the Association’s Cargo Wise poster on Liquefaction.

6 December 2010: A further vessel, the Hong Wei, was lost late last week also carrying nickel ore from Indonesia. Intercargo have produced this news release in response to the situation. 

Following the recent loss of bulk carriers NASCO DIAMOND and JIAN FU STAR, members are reminded of the importance of ensuring that ore cargo is safe to load.

Although it has not been determined what caused the loss of these vessels with many crew unaccounted for, both ships were carrying Indonesian ore cargo.

Please click here for the Association’s circular on the carriage of nickel ore. 

Please click here to access our loss prevention briefings on liquefaction and nickel ore.

6 August 2010: It has come to our attention that cargoes being loaded from ports in Indonesia and described as “bulk iron ore” or “iron ore lumps” have given rise to problems with apparent cargo liquefaction.

It appears that the cargo being offered is in fact a relatively new cargo for export called lateritic iron ore which does not fit the description of iron ore under the IMSBC Code. This cargo can have a large proportion of fine particles combined with lumps and may liquefy if sufficiently moist. It would appear that in this respect it may prove difficult to test for flow moisture point in a similar way to nickel ore cargoes.

There have also been difficulties obtaining an appropriate shipper’s declaration for the cargo offered for shipment.

Members are reminded that, under the SOLAS and the IMSBC Code, for cargoes that may liquefy the shipper shall supply an appropriate shipper’s declaration before the cargo is loaded.

The declaration should properly identify the cargo, be contemporaneous, include particle size, state FMP, state moisture content and state TML. Even where the declaration is in order the vessel should continue to be vigilant as to the condition of the cargo being loaded.

Members are urged to exercise caution when fixing to load, or loading cargoes, described as iron ore or iron ore lumps in Indonesian ports.