Liquefaction – Potential Dangers of Bauxite
The recent total loss of the "Bulk Jupiter", which capsized and sank off Vietnam, prompted marine insurers to issue warnings about the risk of shipping bauxite in case excess moisture liquefies the cargo and makes it unstable.
At the time of the incident the ship was bound for China with a cargo of bauxite loaded in Kuantan, Malaysia. 18 men are feared to have lost their lives in the casualty. This has raised concerns among some ship owners about a systematic risk in bauxite processing from the region's mines.
Till this day the incident had caused only minor disruptions to Malaysian shipments from Kuantan port and was unlikely to derail a ramp-up in exports, says industry sources.
Recently, the Swedish Club has been alerted to the risk of liquefaction of bauxite cargoes that may originate from Malaysia and Indonesia. The Association urges Members to consider this issue if fixed or plan to fix a vessel for loading bauxite from any Malaysian or Indonesian port to consider the risk of liquefaction.
Johnny Wong, a director at Kuantan-based bauxite miner Ideal Mineral Resources Sdn Bhd said in a report in Reuters that there was no issue at all, at this moment. The vessels are lining up at the ports (in Kuantan), awaiting to load bauxite.
However, marine insurers have issued advisories to ship-owners warning of the risk of liquefaction - where a solid material turns to liquid - even though bauxite is not normally supposed to liquefy.
Marine insurer Skuld said it "has been alerted to the risk of possible liquefaction of cargoes of bauxite that may originate from Malaysia and Indonesia. Members are advised to urgently consider this issue if they are fixed or are planning to fix a vessel for such a voyage," in an advisory to members.
