Logs

Care must be taken by the crew to note in detail any damage to the Hull plating whilst loading round logs. If there is any damage, not only must the crew hold charterers / stevedores liable and protect their rights under the charterparty, it is especially important to determine whether the damage requires immediate repair. In many places where logs are loaded such as Papua New Guinea, there may not be immediately available a local Class Society surveyor, and the crew must have the experience and willingness to determine the extent of indentation which may necessitate plate renewal or temporary repairs.

Another problem with the carriage of logs is the vessel's safety is left to the sole experience of the master to determine the vessel's GM or stability. In view the logs are loaded wet from the sea, the actual weight of the cargo and its metracentric centre can easily be wrongly estimated by an inexperienced master.

In mid April 204, the MV 'Genius Star VI' sank enroute to Calcutta with a cargo of logs off Haldia in heavy seas with 9 Chinese crew missing. It was also reported the vessel sprank a leak through the ship side platings. Such leaks are usually the results of damage / indentation caused whilst loading logs.

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