The increasing iron ore fines trade from India to China arouse Club’s concerns regarding the possibility of capsize of the vessel by carrying iron ore fines as two accidents were reported already. Meanwhile, iron ore fine is acknowledged with possibility of liquefied according to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code).

The IMSBC Code states the responsibility of the Shippers as follows:

• Provide the master / his representative sufficient information prior loading for proper stowage & safe carriage
• Written cargo information, appropriate shipping documents, cargo moisture content and transportable moisture limit (TML) certificates in case of concentrate or cargo which may liquefy are available prior loading
• Provide a signed certificate of the TML & a signed certificate / declaration of the moisture content for shipment of concentrate / or cargo which may liquefy. The TML certificate shall contain / be accompanied by test result for determining TML
• Moisture content sampling & testing shall be conducted as near as practicable. Check tests should be carried out less than 7 days before loading if there is significant rain / snow between testing & loading to make sure the moisture content is less than its TML

Club’s recommendations for members:

• Inform the Club with the loading of iron ore fines from India to have the surveyors attended in checking the information provided by the shippers & provide the necessary support to the master
• Surveys should be carried out in accordance with IMSBC code’s provisions
• Identify from the stockpile as which cargo is to be taken by contacting & liaising with shippers to ensure cargo is sampled correctly according to Sampling Procedures
• Own samples testing in an independent laboratory
• Ensure that the independent laboratory conducts its test in accordance with Appendix 2 of the IMSBC Code
• Compare shippers’ certificate with own test results
• Monitor the weather conditions & decide weather check test (IMSBC code 4.5.2)
• Make sure that the loaded cargo does not originated from the designated & tested stockpiles by monitoring the stockpiles
• Regular reporting to the master by assisting & advising the master

铁矿粉装载问题——印度

中国跟印度的铁矿粉贸易持续升温，协会在以往的防损公告546-10/07，647-7/09和660-10/09曾告诫在印度港口装船运输的铁矿粉有关的严重风险，去年已有两艘船舶在装载印度铁矿粉后倾覆的严重报告。为确保会员在装载此种货物时的安全。会员应意识到，一旦货物装船，遇到问题时就很难把货物从船舶卸下来。

《国际海运固体散货安全操作规则》现有的2004年版《散装固体货物安全操作规则》（简称”BC规则”），虽然未把铁矿粉列入其中，但它是公认的可液化产品。情况既然如此，余下的公告将会参考并引用《散货规则》，但会员应注意到《散货规则》在目的和意图上实际上与BC规则的内容相一致的。

《散货规则》规定:

— 托运人的责任

• 有责任提供安全装运的货物和文件。
• 有义务严格检验且保证货物适合装船。
• 必须在装船前充分地向船长/其代表提供有关货物的适当信息，从而采取实现货物适当贮藏和安全装运所必需的预防措施。
• 货物信息必须在装船前以书面形式并通过适当的运输单据加以确认。货物信息应包括：在浓缩或可液化货物的情况下，应以货物水分含量及其适运水分限量证明的形式提供额外信息。在装运浓缩物或者其他可液化货物时，必须向船长/其代表提供已签名的适运水分限量（TML）证明（必须包括或附有确定适运水分限量的检测结果）以及有关含水量的签字证明或声明（必须包括或附有托运人对货物水分含量的说明，声明就他所知所信，该水分含量是向船长提交声明时的货物平均含水量）各一份。
• 应在尽量靠近装船的时间对货物水分含量进行取样和检验。如果在检验后装船前出现大雨或大雪天气，需要再进行一次检验以确保货物的水分含量仍然低于适运水分限量。取样/检验时间与装船时间的间隔不能超过七天。

给会员的建议

无论在什么季节，当要在印度港口装运铁矿粉货物时要通知协会，从而提前安排验船师按要求核对托运人提供的相关信息以及协助船长。会员必须确保其船长熟悉《散货规则》的要求并且参考协会以往关于该货物的防损公告。如果船长对货物有任何疑问，他可以进行”圆盒测试”。另外，船长必须清楚知道提供给验船师的所有说明指示。

协会给验船师的指示:

• 提醒获得指示的验船师所进行的检验工作皆依照《散货规则》的所有条款。
• 接触和联络托运人以确定取出货物的库存并确保货物取样正确。验船师要特别注意《散货规则》4.4 条”取样程序” 。
• 要自取样本和要在独立的实验室作检测。
• 确保独立实验室依照《散货规则》附件2进行检测。
• 提供的证明与检验的结果进行比对。
• 监测气象情况，判断是否需要进行复查检验（《散货规则》4.5.2）。
• 监测库存，确保装船的货物来源于已检测的指定库存。
• 监测货物装船的全过程,参照装船时所有货物情况的相关建议并定期进行圆盒检测（《散货规则》第8节）。
• 协助和通知船长并定期地向船长汇报。