There are several considerations bulk carriers need to take into account if they want to carry containers – while the launch of new equipment will help with container carriage
The market for carrying containers on bulk carriers is rapidly growing on the back of record freight rates – but there are many considerations operators need to make before carrying these boxes.
This was one of the main themes of Riviera Maritime Media’s recent webinar A new market for carriage of containers on bulk carriers, supported by Intercargo and sponsored by Britannia P&I, which also unveiled a new solutions for securing containers on bulk carriers.
Panellist Britannia P&I associate director, loss prevention Jacob Damgaard kicked the webinar off. He said, “Carrying containers on bulk carriers has been going on for some time but recently we have had a lot of inquiries, so it is a new market. Containers can be carried on bulk carriers safely but there are considerations the shipowner needs to make before accepting such cargo.”
He said they need to do a thorough risk assessment on the ship to be used to see what gaps there might be and how they can mitigate risks identified in the risk assessment.
Mr Damgaard said, “Storage of containers is very different from grain or coal – they are stacked on top of each other, so securing is extremely important, containers need to be lashed to prevent them from storage collapse or from being lost overboard.”
Stability calculations are also an issue. Mr Damgaard pointed out the onboard manual may need to be adapted to show how to calculate containers. Furthermore, it must be ensured that hatch covers can withstand the load, as they may not be built for this, as bulk carriers do not carry cargo on deck.
Other major considerations include fire protection, crew training, ensuring lashing equipment is used correctly and correct declaration of containerised cargo.
Mr Damgaard summed up, “We would like members to consider and assess before accepting such cargo. They need to consult class societies and flag states. They should notify the P&I club early on so they can assist with liabilities associated with this and how stop it having an impact on cover.
“It is the owner who is responsible to make sure that the ship is seaworthy and everything is fit for purpose.”
Elsewhere, panellist LIberian Registry senior vice president, maritime operations Cedric D’Souza said using bulk carriers to carry containers was “Quite a hot topic these days, demand is exceeding supply and such an operation is permitted”.
He pointed out it is acceptable from a regulatory standpoint – CSS Code Annex 1/Cargo Securing Manual. Major areas to consider include assessing the ship and hatch cover structural strength. There are, he said, two options for this:
Mr D’Souza added that stability assessment needs to be looked at and the wind lateral area of deck containers needs to be taken into account. “There is a lot of planning and a lot of work and it is possible, but it needs risk assessment planning,” he summed up.
Final panellist MacGregor manager Dirk Höflic unveiled the company’s new container securing system for retrofitting current bulk carriers: the Stack Beam.
Options currently include chains, wire and stoppers and a whole dunnage under the container which requires planning, time and can have safety issues. Or fixed container fittings can be retrofitted, with sockets and lashing eye plates, lashing the containers with regular lashing equipment. Mr Höflic commented, “This is quite costly and requires a lot of work and a few weeks in the dockyard.
“MacGregor asked if it could be made easier and instead of the complex and time-consuming lashing system, we looked at the Stack Beam solution, which is a standardised and more simple interface between the hatch cover and containers and allows the container to be lashed with a twistlock only.”
Explaining how it works, he said the beam is fixed on the hatchcovers on both sides and lashed down on both sides, while the middle beam rests on supports, which are positioned right above the strong beams in the structure. Mr Höflic explained, “The function of the Stack Beam is to bring the forces from the container corners into the strong beams of the hatchcover. It allows you to secure containers with twistlocks and lashing parts only. The Stack Beams are removed when taking bulk cargo again and they are able to be positioned for any size of container.”
The major benefits are that using standard lashing equipment allows for safe and efficient working in any container port, while the design can be adapted to any hatchcover design very quickly so the lead time is very quick. The Stack Beam is adaptable to project cargo.
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