Cargo separation & segregation

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A) CARGO SEGREGATION
Reason for segregation
The reasons for segregation are that one type of cargo will damage other cargos if stowed in the same compartment.
Examples for the need to segregate cargo:-
1.Segregation between the incompatible classes of dangerous goods is shown in the IMDG Code segregation table.
2.Segregation between cargo emitting strong odour and other cargo sensitive to these
odours.
3.Segregation between clean cargo (food) and dusty cargo (cement).
4.Segregation between cargo require ventilation and other cargo damaged by ventilation.
5.Segregation between heavy cargo and fragile cargo.

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Segregation is obtained by maintaining certain distances between incompatible hazardous materials or by requiring the
presence of one or more steel bulkheads or decks between them or a combination thereof.
Intervening spaces between such sensitive or hazardous materials may be filled with other cargo which is not
incompatible with the sensitive or hazardous materials.
Segregation is achieved by:-
Under-deck: Cargo can be segregated by stowing different types in different compartments.
On Deck: cargo can be segregated by separating different types with at least 12 meters of horizontal distance.

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B) CARGO SEPARATIONS Reason for separation
An efficient system of cargo separation is necessary
to prevent mix-up of different
shipments.

Examples for the need to separate cargo:-

1.Different grade of goods (identical packing for different quality of goods such as Cotton).
2.Different receivers. (same cargo for two receivers)
3.Different destinations (same cargo for two ports).

Chief Officer and officers shall always consider that:-

The stevedores in some discharge ports may be illiterate.
Separations are made to aid discharge, so that cargo for different ports, or different consignees, can be readily
identified.
At the discharge port, the OOW should ensure that the stevedores take note of the separations, and do not mix
the cargoes, as this could lead to expensive resorting ashore.

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Separation is achieved by:-
Marking one shipment with distinctive mark.
Using coloured separation nets.
Ropes (different colours are available).
Marking with paint (water-soluble if it may damage the cargo—e.g., timber)
Using layers of dunnage (flatboard or plywood).
Using tarpaulins (canvas).
Using coloured adhesive tape or paint.
Leaving horizontal distance between different shipments.
Natural separation (cargo of different form, shape, or packing).

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INSPECTION AND PREPARATION OF HOLDS

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 Ventilation and hold smell
After cargo discharge and complete hold cleaning , washing, it is required to clear any smells
inside the hold that may be causing damage for next cargo to be loaded.
May subject to reject vessel specially reefer vessels if the discharged cargo was fish and next
beef or butter , it may be allow to using some approved sprays to clear such smells and keep
hold sufficiently ready to load.

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 Weathertightness of Hatch Covers
The most common methods of leak detection are the Chalk Test,
Water Hose Test and Ultrasonic Test.

The latest and most accurate way of testing hatch covers is by

using an ultrasonic apparatus. A unit emitting ultrasound is placed
inside the cargo hold and the operator registers “leakages” of
ultrasound through the hatch covers using a handled detector.
 METHOD ADVANTAGES
1. can see exactly where the
problem is.
Chalk Test 2. It is clearly seen from the chalk
marks if the lands off-centre on
the compression bar.
1. It is easy to carry out, and the 2. can not be used if temperatures fall below zero.
Water Hose Test crew can do the job.
2. It is inexpensive.
1. It can also be used on loaded
vessels
Ultrasonic Test 2. It can be used in cold weather
3. Available in all major ports
DISADVANTAGES
1. Needs quite a bit of chalk, which is normally
not found on board.
2. Time-consuming.
3. It can only be used in dry weather.
1. It requires two persons and hatch cover to be
tested must be empty.
3. Sometimes becomes just a lot of messing
around with water
4. If a hard water jet is not aimed directly at the
hatch cover joints, the test may be worthless.
1. It is not always much liked by all ship
managers, as “too many leakages” are
detected
 Dunnage

It is cheap kind of wood, light, swift and flexible with

lot of and different sizes according to kind of cargo ,
the common size is 1in.x 6in.x 16 fee.

The required quantity for using on board

independent on nature of cargo and position inside
the vessel and other elements.

The weight of the dunnage should be consider with

ships tonnage , and ordered through stevedore by
cubic meter or ton.

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Dunnage may serve the following purpose :

1. To protect cargo from contact with water from the

bilges, leakage from other cargo, form ship’s side or from
double bottom tank.
2. To protect cargo from moisture or sweat which condenses
on the ship’s sides, frames, bulkheads,etc, and run down
into the bilges.
3. To protect cargo from contact with condensed moisture,
which is collected and retained on side stringers, bulkhead
brackets, etc.

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4. To provide air courses for the heated moisture laden air to travel to the sides and bulkheads along
which it ascends towards the uptakes, etc.
5. To prevent chafe as well as to chock off and secure cargo by filling in broken stowage,
6. To evenly spread the compression load for deep stowage
7. To provide working levels and protection for the cargo on which labour can operate and serve as a
form of separation.
8. Provide access for cooled air round or through the cargo for temperature controlled requirements.

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 Types of Dunnage
1) Permanent Dunnage :
a) Side Battens:
 Spar Ceiling or Cargo Batten consists of timber of about
150mm x 50mm fitted over the ship’s side frame.
 Purpose to prevent packages of cargo protruding beyond the inner
edges of the frames and so becoming damaged by moisture.
 IMPROVE Ventilation.
b) Permanent wooden hold floors:
Some ships are fitted with wooden floors for her holds
2) Temporary dunnage :

Temporary Dunnage may be used depending upon the nature of cargo

carried :
 Matting (Bamboo etc)
 Battens
 Hardwood, chipboards
 Air filled Dunnage Bags
 Boards
 Bundles of sticks
 Coir
 Paper
 Disposable paper bags with plastic linings
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Reasons and Importance for Hold Inspection
Cargo Hold must be inspected by the Cargo Officer (Chief Officer) before
commencing loading operation
1. to ensure that the hold is suitable for the next cargo, and
2. to eliminate the possibility of cargo damage due to contamination,
3. to ensure that all fittings are in good order (Bilge, Ventilation, Lighting, Fire
and Hatch covers)

Items to be inspected
1) General cleanliness (No Rust or loose rust).
2) Spar ceiling.
3) Tween Deck draining holes.
4) Bilge system (Bilge well, strum box & non-return valve).
5) Sounding Pipes (Bilge & Double Bottom Tanks).
6) Air Vent. Pipes.
7) Electric cables, Lighting and connections.
8) General condition of side shell, bulkheads, frames and beams.
9) Double Bottom Tanks manholes Ventilation ducts.
10)Fire detection and fixed fire extinguishing systems.
11)Hatch cover, check for water tightness (any damaged rubber must be
changed) (grease all moving parts including wheels, hinges and
cleats).
12)Fixed hold ladders (Repair as necessary or place temporary ladders).
13)Hold manholes on the weather deck.
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 Hold Cleaning
Reasons and Importance for cleaning holds
Generally, it is the ship’s responsibility to deliver the cargo (at the Port of discharge) as received (at the
Port of loading), cargo damage claim is one of the main concerns of the shipping companies, shipping
companies entrust the cargo care to the ship’s Master and crew.
Cargo damage can be caused by contamination from the previous
cargo, so it is a must to clean the hold thoroughly (from top to
bottom) after every cargo.
It is a common practice with some types of cargo (expensive
and delicate cargo) to hire a surveyor to inspect the ship’s holds
before commencing loading, unclean holds will result in
refusing to load till it is cleaned or re-cleaned; time lost will be
on the owner account.

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 Hold cleaning procedure
Cleaning: The amount of cleaning with a cargo space will depend upon the nature of the
cargo which has been discharged and that which is to be loaded; hold which is
ready to receive cargo should be clean and dry, well ventilated and free from any odour.

1. When discharging is finished, Collect and stack all serviceable dunnage.

2. Unsuitable dunnage must be sent up on deck to be disposed of. It is a common practice in
two deck vessels to shift a quantity of the lower hold dunnage up to the tween deck, to be
passed down again as required in the lower hold. This saves unnecessary shifting of dunnage
when stowing the lower hold.
3. The hold is then thoroughly swept down and all rubbish is sent up on deck.
4. The Bilge covers are lifted and the bilges thoroughly cleaned out.

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 Hold cleaning
procedure

5. Hold must be wiped down (washed) with fresh water to remove any salt residues.
6. To clean a hold from which a coal cargo (Or any dusty bulk cargo) has just been discharged it is necessary
first to sweep it down and then to wash it down with a hose. The bilge suctions must be attended to so that
the water can be pumped away.
7. Ventilate the hold by mechanical ventilation (leaving the hatch cover opened will help accelerate
dryness.). Sawdust sprinkled on all ironwork and on the tank top (or ceiling) will help to absorb the damp
and may be swept up after a short interval.
8. Bilge suction must be tested to ensure its functionality.
9. If necessary, the bilges may be cement or lime washed or coated with bitumastic; this tends to prevent
corrosion and also disinfects them.

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 Bilges or (drain wells)
1. The bilges (bilge well) are small collecting space for any
water in the hold, there are two bilges in each hold located
in the aft end of the hold, one to the port side and one to the
starboard
2. Any water accidentally enters the hold or as a result of
sweat, will drain to the bilges carrying with it dust,
cargo residues and cargo odour.

3. Over time (in the long run) dust and cargo residues
will form solid mass blocking bilge suction pipes, so
piping out bilge water will be impossible, over flow of
the bilge water will occur contaminating the cargo.

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4. The cargo residue especially if it was Hygroscopic
Cargo in contact with water will start
decomposing (rotting-decay) giving terrible odour
(smell); this smell will be transferred to odour
contracting cargo such as coffee, resulting in
contaminated cargo which will be refused by the
receiver resulting on cargo damage claim on the
vessel.
5. Some examples for the cargoes which taint easily are
tea, flour, tobacco and coffee.

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