自2010年10月起，由于装货设备的缺少或有限以及旱季与雨季之间界限弱化等原因，镍矿液化问题已导致了许多船舶沉没和多名船员遇难，国际保赔协会集团亟需采取有效强制防损措施。
镍矿是一种含水量超过适运水分限量（TML）就会发生液化的货物，而且其液化会导致船舶失去稳定性，甚至倾覆。由于《国际海运固体散装货物规则》（下称 “规则” ）需对运输镍矿安全作进一步修改和完善，国际保赔协会集团已经与其他行业实体甚至印尼雅加达当地政府官员就主管当局对托运人根据 “规则” 中有关对拟装船货物的可靠检测以及提供准确证书的义务的监督责任进行了积极地讨论，虽该讨论尚未有结果，国际保赔协会集团要求会员应严格履行通知义务从而避免损害保单利益的情形发生。
除了会员应按照 “规则” 要求确保镍矿的安全运输外，在计划租船从印尼和菲律宾港口装载镍矿，或在现有租约下要求船舶装载此类货物时，会员仍须在第一时间与协会联系从而履行强制通知义务，并提供以下信息：
- 船名
- 装运港/锚地及预计到港时间
- 拟装运日期
- 租家/托运人详细信息
- 代理人详细信息
- 托运人货物声明及支持证书副本
通常情况下，协会会向会员提供管理运输风险的相关信息，也可能指派当地检验员协助船长，并在必要时联络一名独立第三方专家，从而确保实验室检测结果严格符合 “规则” 要求。此外，如果船长对于装运货物的适运性有质疑并担心该货物可能会造成危险时，会员应及时与协会取得联系，由协会指派当地检验员来协助船长，但这并不意味对托运人按照 “规则” 或者当地法律法规承担货物责任的义务有所免除。
为了能够更好的识别那些可能发生包括不准确申报在内的特殊困难的装运地区、港口和托运人，协会强调在计划租船从印尼和菲律宾港口装载镍矿或已指定船舶运输镍矿时，会员们不仅需要通过在约定合同时订入适当的条款来保护自身利益，还需要向协会履行通知义务从而更好的了解货物的危险性。即使协会要求的防损措施不能作为航运安全的最终保障，但是若未向协会管理人履行通知义务进行控制风险的，则会带来损害保单利益的后果，即会员只能自行承担在装货和航运中的费用和风险。
以上由 ANDREW LIU & CO.,LTD 编译，应以英文为准！
详细信息请参阅附件。
Dangers of carrying Nickel Ore from Indonesia and the Philippines – Mandatory Notification Requirements
Since October 2010, due to the causes like the non-existent or limited loading equipment methods and eroded demarcation between the dry season and rainfall season, the liquefaction of nickel ore has led to the number of vessels sunk and loss of many lives, which International Group urges the mandatory measures to be taken as soon as possible.
Nickel ore is a cargo which may liquefy if the moisture content of the material exceeds its Transportable Moisture Limit (TML), and its liquefaction will lead to the loss of stability and the ship may even capsize. Considering the amendments to improve safe carriage of nickel ore in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, the International Group has been involved into the discussions with the other industries and the Indonesian Administration in Jakarta regarding the compliance with the duty of a competent authority to oversee compliance by shippers of their obligations under the Code in respect of reliable testing and accurate certification of the cargo to be shipped. In absence of an early resolution to these discussions, the International Group has required the Members to mandatory notification to get rid of possibly prejudicing the Club cover.
Apart from the remaining responsibility for the member to ensure the safe carriage of nickel ore cargo in compliance with the IMSBC Code, when planning to fix or charter a ship for loading nickel ore from ports in the Indonesia and the Philippines, here is the compulsory obligation for the member to notify the club at the earliest opportunity regarding the following information:
- Ship name
- Port/anchorage of loading and estimated time of arrival
- Date of intended loading
- Charterer/shipper’s details
- Agent’s details
- Copy of the shipper’s cargo declaration and supporting certificates
In general consequences, the club could provide the relevant information to the Members to take the precaution measures so as to reduce the risk. There would be a local surveyor to be appointed to assist the Master, and liaise with an independent expert if necessary to ensure that the laboratory conducts its tests in accordance with the Code. Furthermore, if the master is in any doubt as regards the suitability of the cargo for loading, considering that the problems is likely to arise owing to the permitted unsafe cargo, the Member should contact the club in due course to appoint a surveyor in assistance with the master, which does not mean the obligation of the shippers to conduct under the Code or local regulations could be relieved.
In consideration of being a better position to identify those areas, ports and shippers which present particular difficulties, including inaccurate cargo declarations, the club emphasizes that when planning to fix or charter a ship, or the ship having been ordered, to load nickel ore from a port in Indonesia or the Philippines, the members not only should consider how they might protect themselves contractually before agreeing to carry such cargoes e.g. including an appropriate clause in any charter party, but it also requires the compulsory notification for the Members in order to make aware of the dangers. Even if the measures to reduce the risk taken with the club could not be treated as a guarantee of safety, however, without such notification procedure to the club’s managers for risk mitigation, there is the consequence to prejudice the Club cover such as the members themselves may even bear the costs and risk which incur during the loading and navigation.
See attached file : ALCO20120042 Dangers of carrying Nickel Ore from Indonesia and the Philippines – Mandatory Notification Requirements.pdf
