Intercargo, the organization for owners of dry bulk ships, is issuing an alarm about carrying nickel ore and iron ore fines cargoes after three sinkings of ships carrying nickel ore in 39 days has resulted in 44 seafarers dying. Intercargo said last week it informed the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) about what it feels are the unacceptable hazards associated with iron ore fines loaded in wet weather conditions and nickel ore, A quick perusal of the Internet finds varying definitions of the exact size of fines, but they are cargoes consisting of small particles of ore. Intercargo is calling on shippers and cargo interests to conduct an urgent review into the testing and safety processes involved in shipping the cargoes, which are used in the steel industry and are exported from a number of countries including India, Indonesia and the Philippines. At the same time, it has also called on ship owners to consider the risks associated with these cargoes -- known officially as "cargoes which may liquefy," and for governments and authorities to recheck safety processes at loading ports before accepting the cargoes. "We know that all ship owners of quality care about the safety of their seafarers and what has occurred in the last 39 days is completely unacceptable" says Rob Lomas, Secretary General of Intercargo. Intercargo said three ships have sunk since in recent weeks: • Jian Fu Star on Oct. 27, resulting in 13 deaths. • Nasco Diamond on Nov. 10, 21 deaths. • Hong Wei on Dec. 3, 10 deaths. The organization said all three ships were reportedly carrying nickel ore loaded in Indonesia and bound for China for use in its steel industry. All three ships were Panamanian-flag vessels operated and manned by Chinese and sank broadly in the same location.

Intercargo, the organization for owners of dry bulk ships, is issuing an alarm about carrying nickel ore and iron ore fines cargoes after three sinkings of ships carrying nickel ore in 39 days has resulted in 44 seafarers dying.
Intercargo said last week it informed the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) about what it feels are the unacceptable hazards associated with iron ore fines loaded in wet weather conditions and nickel ore, A quick perusal of the Internet finds varying definitions of the exact size of fines, but they are cargoes consisting of small particles of ore.
Intercargo is calling on shippers and cargo interests to conduct an urgent review into the testing and safety processes involved in shipping the cargoes, which are used in the steel industry and are exported from a number of countries including India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
At the same time, it has also called on ship owners to consider the risks associated with these cargoes -- known officially as "cargoes which may liquefy," and for governments and authorities to recheck safety processes at loading ports before accepting the cargoes.
"We know that all ship owners of quality care about the safety of their seafarers and what has occurred in the last 39 days is completely unacceptable" says Rob Lomas, Secretary General of Intercargo.
Intercargo said three ships have sunk since in recent weeks:
• Jian Fu Star on Oct. 27, resulting in 13 deaths.
• Nasco Diamond on Nov. 10, 21 deaths.
• Hong Wei on Dec. 3, 10 deaths.
The organization said all three ships were reportedly carrying nickel ore loaded in Indonesia and bound for China for use in its steel industry. All three ships were Panamanian-flag vessels operated and manned by Chinese and sank broadly in the same location