What are General Precaution with Bulk Cargo ?

Bulk cargo must be properly distributed throughout the ship in order that the structure will never be over stressed.

• Where above information is not available , the following precautions should be observed :
• A general cargo vessel is normally constructed to carry cargoes of about 50 – 6Oft³/ton (1.39 to 1.67m³/tonne) when loaded to full bale and deadweight capacity. In such cases, the ship master should be provided with comprehensive loading information so that the ship may not be over stressed.
• When loading a high density bulk cargo with a S.F. of about 2Oft³/ton (0.56m³/tonne) or lower, the loaded condition are different from normal and particular attention should be paid to the distribution of weights to avoid excessive stresses.
• An excessively stiff ship may roll very violently, resulting in damage to the ship. However, a vessel with a relatively large GM is better able to resist the tendency to list, if a shift of cargo should occur.
• A stability booklet provided giving relevant information pertaining to loading, precautions and any necessary data should be provided to the Master. Prior to sailing, the Master should calculate the stability for the anticipated worst conditions during the voyage as well as that on departure and ensure they are satisfactory.
• The general fore and aft distribution of weight should not differ appreciably from that found satisfactory for general cargo.
• The maximum number of tonnes of cargo loaded in any space should not exceed : 9 x L x B x D (tonnes)
• If cargo is untrimmed, the height of the cargo pile above the floor (in Metres) should not exceed :

 1.1 x D x Stowage Factor (m)

        where L=L of hold(m), B=Av breadth of hold(m), D=Summer Load Draft(m), stowage factor in m3/tonne.