Loading Rice in Thailand

Ship agents have warned owners recently about the hazards of using bamboo as dunnage when loading rice cargoes in Thailand. Normal dunnage consists of 2-3 layers of bamboo sticks laid in a criss-cross pattern, with a cover of bamboo matting next to the tank tops and additional bamboo matting applied to the ship’s side. However, if the bamboo sticks utilized are too fresh, mould can result from the extra humidity; also, their sharp points can pierce rice bags, causing spillage of cargo. Crew members and/or surveyors are therefore recommended to reject any unsuitable material when using bamboo sticks as dunnage.