Liquefaction and Lost Bulk Carriers: Is a Design Change Warranted?
A shocking number of bulk carriers (as well as a few OBOs – ore/bulk/oil carriers) have been suddenly and catastrophically lost at sea in the last 30 years. Following are the names of some of those vessels, in alphabetical order:- Asian Forest (2009); - Black Rose(2009); - Bulk Jupiter (2015); - Derbyshire (1980); - Emerald Star (2017); - Harita Bauxite (2013); - Hong Wei (2010); - Hui Long (2005); - Jian Fu Star (2010); - Nasco Diamond (2010); - Stella Daisy (2017); - Sun Spirits (2012); - Trans Summer (2013); and - Vinalines Queen (2011).
Nickel Ore Shipments: Lessons Learned from Losses
One of the most pressing problems for the bulk shipping industry is the safe carriage of nickel ore. The increasing demand for this commodity is fuelled by China’s thirst for nickel ore as it is the principal alloy component for stainless steel. Chinese nickel ore imports have spiraled from nearly 5m metric tons (mt) in 2006 to near 50m mt in 2011. The bulk of these imports come from Indonesia, with the Philippines now running very close behind. But this fast-expanding trade has been marred by the heavy price paid in terms of lives and vessels lost. In August, the 2012-built Trans Summer sank off Hong Kong, but all 21 crew were saved by rescue helicopters. All these vessels were carrying nickel ore from Indonesia to China.
Shipping's "Tin Ear"
Clay Maitland chastises industry as appearing to be uncaring in the face of the latest shipping casualty. In two months, the great, the good and the not-so-great-or-good will gather at the annual three-day Jamboree of the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA). One of the hardy perennial topics is sure to be “the image of shipping”. Although the present economic challenges facing the industry are likely to overshadow most worries about our reputation, it might be useful to examine the degree of damage done by cases like the sinking on Christmas day of the VINALINES QUEEN…
Videotel: Effective Training Will Avert Tregedy
VIDEOTEL Calls for effective training and regulation to avoid tragedy when shipping dangerous bulk cargoes. Whatever the cause of the recent loss of the Vinalines Queen and crew, the message for the industry is a stark one – greater enforcement of the regulations laid down in the IMSBC (International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo) code is essential, together with effective training for shipowners and crews to deal with what can be the catastrophic effects of an unsafe cargo. The tragedy has again raised issues relating to badly managed dangerous cargoes…
Another Hazardous Cargo, Another Ship Sinking
On Christmas day, the bulk carrier VINALINES QUEEN, carrying a cargo of nickel ore from Morowali, Indonesia to China, went missing. The ship and its crew of 22 must now be considered lost. Although it is certainly too soon to ascribe a known cause of sinking, it is probably fair to say, as an American judge did many years ago: “Sometimes circumstantial evidence can be very convincing, just as when you find a trout floating in the milk”. There continues to be a crying need for greater information, understanding and enforcement of regulations – as well as testing – of cargoes that may liquefy.
