Bulk loading preparation:
- Holds and tween decks thoroughly cleaned for cargo to be loaded
- All dunnage removed from cargo spaces or stowed one end and covered. Remove spar ceiling if cargo necessities removal i.e. coal
- Clean bilges or bilge wells, paying particular attention to strum boxes and test suctions, sweeten, tween deck scuppers should be covered with burlap and cement over
- Cement chocks at top of bilges examined for good condition and repaired, as required.
- Limber boards and bilges well should be covered with separation cloths or old tarpaulins to prevent sewage into bilges or well.
- All hatch beams in position
- Rig shifting boards, if required
- Test fire smothering system
- Blank off bottom ventilator grills
- Hold hatch survey.
Bulk loading precautions:
- The general fore and aft distribution by weight should not appreciably differ from that found satisfactory for general cargoes
- The maximum number of tonnes of cargo loaded in any lower hold should not exceed that specified in the code. This amount varies directly with the ship’s maximum moulded breath
- If cargo is untrimmed or is only partially trimmed the height of the cargo above the tanktop must not exceed a certain amount, which is specified in the code and which varies directly as the stowage factor of the cargo and the summer load draft.
- Precautions should be taken to minimise the extent to which dust may come into contact with the moving parts of deck machinery
- Ventilator system should be shutdown or screened during loading or discharge
- Bilges or hold wells should be sounded after the completion of loading
- Special care is necessary when loading high density cargoes which are normally loaded at a fast rate.
- Cargo space fitting need to be protected against damage. Soundings must be taken regularly to keep bilges dry and monitor cargo liquidation.
- Initial loading to be slow and if practicable dropped near the tank top and not releases from heights.
Stability aspect:
- Stresses.
- GM
- Stability adequate.
