Novorossiysk - Heavy Steel Coils

This article is based on a notice circulated by Novorossiysk Marine Company Limited on 21 March 2002 and is published here with their permission:

Warning! Port Novorossiysk. Frequency of incidents resulting from violation of P&I Clubs instructions on stowage of heavy steel coils. 

In the last year there have been an increasing number of incidents involving heavy steel coils where, at the Charterer’s request, the Master or Shipowner agrees to have the vessel loaded in a manner which disregards requirements for safe cargo stowage/lashing and carriage. This occurs under pressure from Charterers who otherwise threaten to declare dead freight or even refuse to charter a vessel at all if Owners will not comply.

             Recently, notwithstanding the recommendations of the P&I surveyor to have the heavy steel coils stowed not more than in 2 tiers, at the Charterer’s request a vessel loaded the coils in three tiers. In spite of the Master’s demand to insert his remark “All the coils in the lower tier ovalised” into the Bill of Lading, such remark was rejected by the port and not included into the B/L as the damage was caused on board the vessel after loading. Consequently, the vessel faced a cargo damage claim in the port of discharging.

            In another case involving heavy steel coils of more than 20 tons, while the coils were being loaded in a third tier, again done contrary to the P&I surveyor’s recommendations, nine coils from the third tier dropped down onto the tank top from heights of between 2.6 - 3.8 m. This resulted in major damage to those 9 coils in numerous places and to the tank top plates/frames/beams. 

- All strapping bands broken/missing

- Inner/outer edges dented/buckled in numerous places (up to 20 windings)

- Up to 3 in/outer windings nicked, in 1 place to a depth in excess of 50 mm

- Inner edges dented (up to 35 windings)

- Tank top plating indented by falling heavy steel coil (20 tons) from the upper tier (4 m approx.)

During this incident six stevedores were inside the hold and serviced the loading operations. It was only BY CHANCE that nobody was injured.  

The aim of this article is to put Shipowners on their guard and also to draw attention to the possible consequences of violating recommended stowage practice, which could  result in any of the following (this list is intended to be illustrative and is not exhaustive):

•      heavy damage to the lower tier of the steel cargo 

•      heavy damage to the steel cargo which may fall from the 3rd tier during cargo handling operations, 

•      heavy damage to hull  

•      injury (or death) to the service personal and/or crew members involved in cargo handling operations in the hold. 

Click here to view Steamship article on Loading of Heavy Steel Coils in Ship's Holds.