What are safety factor taken into account while loading Timber Cargo?

• The master should ensure that the ship condition complies with its stability booklet at all times.
• Since excessive GM values induce large accelerations, GM should preferably not exceed 3% of the breadth of the vessel.
• Ballast water exchange operations should be carried out in accordance with instructions in the Ballast Water Management Plan.
• When undertaking stability calculations, variation in displacement, centre of gravity and free surface moments due to the following factors should be considered:
• absorption of water in timber carried as timber deck cargo according to special instruction.
• ice accretion, if applicable;
• variations in consumables; and
• ballast water exchange operations, in accordance with approved procedures.

A lashing plan according to the ship’s Cargo Securing Manual (CSM) should be prepared and the following calculated:

• weight and height of stows per hatch;
• number of sections in longitudinal direction per hatch;
• required number of pieces of lashing equipment; and
• required number of uprights, if applicable.
• The certificates for the lashing equipment should be available in the ship’s Cargo Securing Manual.
• When the initial stability calculations and lashing plan have been satisfactorily completed, the maximum cargo intake should be confirmed.
• Pre-load, loading and pre-lashing plans should be distributed to all involved parties (i.e. supercargo, stevedores, agent, etc.).
• Weather report for loading period and forecasted weather for the sea voyage should be checked.