Page 9 - INTERCARGO - Bulk Carrier Casualty Report 2021

Cargo failure and liquefaction

Moisture related failure mechanisms such as liquefaction and dynamic separation
remain a major concern of dry bulk shipping. On 17 December 2020, a general
cargo ship was reported missing off Phu Quy island, southern Vietnam, due
to suspected problems with the 7,800 tons of clay cargo carried. Among the
total 34 losses covered by this report, there were five casualties with suspected
cargo failure, resulting in the loss of 61 seafarer lives. These consisted of three
bulk carriers carrying nickel ore from Indonesia, one vessel with iron ore fines
(assumed to be laterite) loaded from Malaysia, with high moisture content, and
one vessel with bauxite from Malaysia.

Lessons to be learned
Learning lessons from incidents of this kind, and sharing of experience have
proven to be effective approaches to raise safety awareness and to deepen
the understanding and knowledge of the existing rules, regulations and skills.
Focused training will prepare the crew with adequate knowledge and skills
to handle a specific cargo and voyage type and enhance effective teamwork
on board. Continued focus on safety awareness and understanding of safety
measures helps to close gaps in understanding and reduces the potential
for similar very serious marine casualties involving bulk and ore carriers. The
industry should not shy away from making bold changes to ship design in order
to further improve the safety and survivability of dry bulk vessels. Flag state
reports of casualties must question and strive to alter existing SOLAS, MARPOL,
LOADLINE and other conventions if crew lives are to be saved.

Sources of information

There are many sources of case studies, incident analysis and knowledge
bases, including P&I clubs, classification societies and Port State Control (PSC)
regimes. The IMO has built up and maintained the GISIS module on maritime
casualties and incidents at https://gisis.imo.org/Public/MCI/Default.aspx, which
holds incident investigation reports with analysis and lessons learned submitted
by IMO Member States (flag States). Other rich sources of casualty analysis are
the outcomes of deliberation at IMO’s Sub-committee on Implementation of IMO
Instruments (III). Every year IMO III issues a list of incident analysis developed
by an expert group. In June 2020, IMO III released findings of the analysis of 39
marine safety investigation reports, related to 38 marine casualties.
Shipowners and managers are encouraged to take full advantage of the
comprehensive knowledge that those sources and platforms contain in order to
help their crew and their superintendents prepare to achieve the highest safety
standards and levels of performance.

February, 2021

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