Coal Cargo Loading:
Characteristics of coal:
Emit Methane: Flammable Gas, Lighter than air, accumulate upper region.
Spontaneous Combustion: Absorb oxygen and produce heat.
Corrosion: Produce sulfuric acid that cause corrosion.
Precautions of coal cargo:
+ Get Cargo information form.
+ Get MSDS sheet.
+ If temperature more than 55 degrees, don’t load.
+ Ensure No Water on cargo.
+ Obtain TML certificate.
+ Cargo Trimmed.
+ Maybe, surface ventilation 24 hours after departure.
+ If Methane concentration is at low level within 24 hours, close ventilation.
+ If Carbon monoxide reaches 50 ppm or indication of self heating, master inform shipper.
+ If emit Methane, consult IMDG code.
+ Beware of Electrical cable and light.
+ No spark, check Hatch cover wheel, grease it.
+ Check adjacent Hot areas, Engine room bulkhead, heated Fuel tank.
+ No Smoke.
+ No Hot work.
+ Beware of adjacent Stores, mast house. Because gases may escape from the hold and can be accumulate there.
+ Regularly pump out bilge. Keep records of discharge bilge to justify any claims of cargo shortage.
If Fire in Cargo Hold due to Coal:
+ Close Hatch
+ Stop Ventilation
+ Sealed
+ Boundary cooling
+ Apply CO2
Carry instrument to measure:
+ Measure Methane, Oxygen, Carbon Monoxide levels in cargo hold.
+ Cargo Hold Temperature.
+ PH of Bilge Water.
IMSBC – sec9 , MHB (coal cargo)
IMSBC sec9:- Material poses chemical hazards when carried in bulk other than materials classified as
DG as per IMDG code.
MHB – Materials Hazards only in bulk.
Coal.
Coal shall be classified as group A and B unless classified as group B only by a test determined by the
appropriate authority or where it has the following particle size distribution:
Not more than 10% by weight of particles less than 1 mm (D10 > 1 mm); and
Not more than 50% by weight of particles less than 10 mm (D50 > 10 mm).
However, Bulk coal cargoes have therefore been listed in the IMSBC Code as a Class MHB (Material
Hazards only in Bulk) and a Group B for many years.
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