Hold Preparation for loading cargos susceptible to shipboard contamination
Vessels intending to load sensitive cargoes such as grain, alumina, mineral sands etc., in Australia are required to have a very high standard of hold cleanliness and these standards are rigorously implemented. However, some chartered vessel’s holds are in such a condition that they cannot be readily brought up to the required standard by the efforts of the ship’s crew during the ballast voyage and may require significant unproductive days and shore assistance in the load port to meet the criteria.
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When a vessel presents for survey on arrival at the load port and the holds are not in a suitable condition, it will fail surveys. Failure to pass can mean an extended stay in port for several days before the vessel can be loaded with its cargo, resulting in significant operational costs for the charterer, such as prolonged storage costs and cancellation of labour and high off-hire and cleaning costs for the owner/despondent owner.
Armada Maritime Services is able to assist you to avoid these potential problems through our proactive management of the whole process of preparation for and the loading of cargoes susceptible to shipboard contamination.
In regard to engaging suitable vessels for loading these cargoes in Australia, we develop a risk abatement strategy for our client that help cull ships whose holds may be in such a condition that they cannot be economically brought up to the standard required, and thus alleviate the consequential costs and problems involved.
We also provide expertise and sound advice to assist your vessel to pass hold surveys on first attempt. We will attend the vessel in the previous discharge port or an en-route bunkering port in order to assess the condition of the vessel’s holds. If they are in reasonable condition and it appears that the crew will be able to prepare the holds satisfactorily themselves, we give the vessel's Master our assessment and provide guidance and support to ensure that all the necessary cleaning and preparation work is carried out effectively.
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We also inspect the vessel on arrival in the load port to check the condition of the holds and ensure that they are ready for presentation. We will attend the hold inspections required for permission to load - for example by the Department of Agriculture in respect to grain cargoes - and be on hand to help with any problems that may be brought up at that time. Any issues arising are dealt with efficiently and in a timely manner.
