Risk Bulletins

The latest IMSBC Code 2022 Edition, at Appendix 1, lists and provides shipping risk categories for just over 350 bulk cargoes. ... This Risk Bulletin provides advice to Members and their masters regarding ‘unlisted bulk cargo’ risks and the precautions required to avoid the sudden and deadly capsize dangers of Group A cargo liquefaction or dynamic separation.

This Risk Bulletin seeks to raise Member awareness of ER fuel spray leaks onto hot surface risks and provide practical loss prevention recommendations.

Ship-to-Ship (STS) cargo transfer operations in both the tanker and dry bulk trades are a common occurrence. Regrettably, it is also common for hull contact damage, crew injury and pollution to occur during STS operations.... This Risk Bulletin is intended to raise Member awareness of STS risks and provide loss prevention recommendations to minimise costly repairs, crew injury or death, oil pollution liabilities and lost voyage revenue.

‘Snap-Back’ is the marine industry term used to describe the potentially deadly recoil of a mooring line, towing hawser or fishing gear which breaks - suddenly and without warning - due to overload and/or pre-existing fibre or wire rope damage ... This Risk Bulletin is intended to highlight Snap-Back dangers and provide recommendations to minimise this ever-present and potentially deadly risk to crew.

Virtually all maritime nation states have a MARPOL encouraged and nationally legislated entitlement to impose fines on ships, their masters and their owners if they cause marine pollution in a state’s internal and/or territorial waters. In some states, the fines levied are extraordinarily high. Turkiye is one of them and its pollution fines have, over the years, increased substantially. This Risk Bulletin highlights the Turkish waters marine pollution risks to Members and the special loss prevention steps required to minimise extraordinary loss exposure and disruptive delays.

Globally, bulk coal cargo shipments by sea currently amount to over 1.2 billion tons annually. Most of this massive quantity is delivered without incident. However, there are circumstances in which it can all go dangerously wrong. This Risk Bulletin is designed to raise Member awareness of the IMSBC Code 2022 Edition mandated requirements for the safe loading and carriage of coal by sea, with a special reference to the IMO’s heightened awareness of the potential for bulk coal cargoes to liquefy and the carrying vessel to capsize.

The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, which amplifies the requirements of SOLAS Chapter VI, Part B Special Provisions for Solid Bulk Cargoes, continues to be updated as new cargo properties and dangers are discovered. The most recent update, which includes important new controls for Ammonium Nitrate Fertiliser cargoes that may ignite and explode, is incorporated into the recently released IMSBC Code Edition 2022. This update, their ship and crew safety importance and its impact on Members who operate bulk carriers are highlighted in this Risk Bulletin.

BLC shortage claims are costly and disruptive. Control and minimisation require consistent application of both industry best practice measurement standards in conjunction with legal and contract knowledge. This Risk Bulletin highlights the supporting legal and contractual terms knowledge needed by a Member’s chartering department before ‘fixing’ a tanker under charterparty (CP) terms.

Bulk Liquid Cargo (BLC) shortage claims for alleged short delivery continue to present a costly risk challenge for tanker Members. Effective shortage control and loss prevention demands close attention to both ship and shore BLC measurement accuracy. This Risk Bulletin reviews the BLC measurement process for petroleum and chemical cargoes and makes recommendations to Members on the utilisation of industry ‘best practice’ standards.