Annexes to COM(2000)179 - Requirements and harmonised procedures for the safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers

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dossier COM(2000)179 - Requirements and harmonised procedures for the safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers.
document COM(2000)179 EN
date December  4, 2001
ANNEX I


REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO THE OPERATIONAL SUITABILITY OF BULK CARRIERS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING SOLID BULK CARGOES

(as referred to in Article 4)

Bulk carriers calling in terminals in the Member States for the loading or unloading of solid bulk cargoes shall be checked for compliance with the following requirements.

1. They shall be provided with cargo holds and hatch openings of sufficient size and such a design to enable the solid bulk cargo to be loaded, stowed, trimmed and unloaded satisfactorily.

2. They shall be provided with the cargo hold hatch identification numbers as used in the loading or unloading plan. The location, size and colour of these numbers shall be clearly visible to and identifiable by the operator of the terminal loading or unloading equipment.

3. Their cargo hold hatches, hatch operating systems and safety devices shall be in good functional order and used only for their intended purpose.

4. List indicating lights, if fitted, shall be tested prior to loading or unloading and proved to be operational.

5. If required to have an approved loading instrument on board, this instrument shall be certified and operational to carry out stress calculations during loading or unloading.

6. Propulsion and auxiliary machinery shall be in good functional order.

7. Deck equipment related to mooring and berthing operations shall be operable and in good order and condition.


ANNEX II


REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO THE SUITABILITY OF TERMINALS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING SOLID BULK CARGOES

(as referred to in Article 5(1))

1. Terminals shall only accept bulk carriers for loading or unloading of solid bulk cargoes at their terminal that can safely berth alongside the loading or unloading installation, taking into consideration water depth at the berth, maximum size of the ship, mooring arrangements, fendering, safe access and possible obstructions to loading or unloading operations.

2. Terminal loading and unloading equipment shall be properly certified and maintained in good order, in compliance with the relevant regulations and standards, and only operated by duly qualified and, if appropriate, certified personnel.

3. Terminal personnel shall be trained in all aspects of safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers commensurate with their responsibilities. The training shall be designed to provide familiarity with the general hazards of loading and unloading of solid bulk cargoes and the adverse effect improper loading and unloading operations may have on the safety of the ship.

4. Terminal personnel involved in the loading and unloading operations shall be provided with and use personnel protective equipment and shall be duly rested to avoid accidents due to fatigue.


ANNEX III


INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED BY THE MASTER TO THE TERMINAL

(as referred to in Article 7(1)(b))

1. The ship's estimated time of arrival off the port as early as possible. This advice shall be updated as appropriate.

2. At the time of the initial time of arrival advice:

(a) name, call sign, IMO number, flag, port of registry;

(b) loading or unloading plan, stating the quantity of cargo, stowage by hatches, loading or unloading order and the quantity to be loaded in each pour or unloaded in each stage of the discharge;

(c) arrival and proposed departure draughts;

(d) time required for ballasting or de-ballasting;

(e) ship's length overall, beam, and length of the cargo area from the forward coaming of the forward-most hatch to the after coaming of the aft-most hatch into which cargo is to be loaded or from which cargo is to be unloaded;

(f) distance from the waterline to the first hatch to be loaded or unloaded and the distance from the ship's side to the hatch opening;

(g) location of the ship's accommodation ladder;

(h) air draught;

(i) details and capacities of ship's cargo-handling gear, if any;

(j) number and type of mooring lines;

(k) specific requests, such as for trimming or continuous measurement of the water content of the cargo;

(l) details of any necessary repairs which may delay berthing, the commencement of loading or unloading, or may delay the ship sailing on completion of loading or unloading;

(m) any other information related to the ship requested by the terminal.


ANNEX IV


DUTIES OF THE MASTER PRIOR TO AND DURING LOADING OR UNLOADING OPERATIONS

(as referred to in Article 7(1)(d))

Prior to and during loading or unloading operations the master shall ensure that:

1. the loading or unloading of cargo and the discharge or intake of ballast water is under the control of the ship's officer in charge;

2. the disposition of cargo and ballast water is monitored throughout the loading or unloading process to ensure that the ship's structure is not overstressed;

3. the ship shall be kept upright or, if a list is required for operational reasons, it shall be kept as small as possible;

4. the ship remains securely moored, taking due account of local weather conditions and forecasts;

5. sufficient officers and crew are retained on board to attend to the adjustment of the mooring lines or for any normal or emergency situation, having regard to the need of the crew to have sufficient rest periods to avoid fatigue;

6. the terminal representative is made aware of the cargo trimming requirements, which shall be in accordance with the procedures of the IMO Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes;

7. the terminal representative is made aware of the requirements for harmonisation between de-ballasting or ballasting and cargo loading or unloading rates for his ship and of any deviation from the de-ballasting or ballasting plan or any other matter which may affect cargo loading or unloading;

8. the ballast water is discharged at rates which conform to the agreed loading plan and does not result in flooding of the quay or of adjacent craft. Where it is not practical for the ship to completely discharge its ballast water prior to the trimming stage in the loading process, he agrees with the terminal representative on the times at which loading may need to be suspended and the duration of such suspensions;

9. there is agreement with the terminal representative as to the actions to be taken in the event of rain, or other change in the weather, when the nature of the cargo would pose a hazard in the event of such a change;

10. no hot work is carried out on board or in the vicinity of the ship while the ship is alongside the berth, except with the permission of the terminal representative and in accordance with any requirements of the competent authority;

11. close supervision of the loading or unloading operation and of the ship during final stages of the loading or unloading;

12. the terminal representative is warned immediately if the loading or unloading process has caused damage, has created a hazardous situation, or is likely to do so;

13. the terminal representative is advised when final trimming of the ship has to commence in order to allow for the conveyor system to run-off;

14. the unloading of the port side closely matches that of the starboard side in the same hold to avoid twisting the ship's structure;

15. when ballasting one or more holds, account is taken of the possibility of the discharge of flammable vapours from the holds and precautions are taken before any hot work is permitted adjacent to or above these holds.


ANNEX V


INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED BY THE TERMINAL TO THE MASTER

(as referred to in Article 7(2)(a))

1. The name of the berth at which loading or unloading will take place and the estimated times for berthing and completion of loading or unloading(1).

2. Characteristics of loading or unloading equipment, including the terminal's nominal loading or unloading rate and the number of loading or unloading heads to be used, as well as the estimated time required to complete each pour or - in the case of unloading - the estimated time required for each stage of the discharge.

3. Features on the berth or jetty the master may need to be aware of, including the position of fixed and mobile obstructions, fenders, bollards and mooring arrangements.

4. Minimum depth of water alongside the berth and in approach and departure channels(2).

5. Water density at the berth.

6. Maximum distance between the water line and the top of the cargo hatch covers or coamings, whichever is relevant to the loading or unloading operation, and the maximum air draught.

7. Arrangements for gangways and access.

8. Which side of the ship is to be alongside the berth.

9. Maximum allowable speed of approach to the jetty and availability of tugs, their type and bollard pull.

10. The loading sequence for different parcels of cargo, and any other restrictions if it is not possible to take the cargo in any order or any hold to suit the ship.

11. Any properties of the cargo to be loaded which may present a hazard when placed in contact with cargo or residues on board.

12. Advance information on the proposed loading or unloading operations or changes to existing plans for loading or unloading.

13. If the terminal's loading or unloading equipment is fixed, or has any limits to its movement.

14. Mooring lines required.

15. Warning of unusual mooring arrangements.

16. Any restrictions on ballasting or de-ballasting.

17. Maximum sailing draught permitted by the competent authority.

18. Any other item related to the terminal requested by the master.


(1) Information on estimated times for berthing and departure and on minimum water depth at the berth shall be progressively updated and passed to the master on receipt of successive ETA advice. Information on minimum water depth in approach and departure channels shall be provided by the terminal or the competent authority, as appropriate.

(2) Information on estimated times for berthing and departure and on minimum water depth at the berth shall be progressively updated and passed to the master on receipt of successive ETA advice. Information on minimum water depth in approach and departure channels shall be provided by the terminal or the competent authority, as appropriate.


ANNEX VI


DUTIES OF THE TERMINAL REPRESENTATIVE PRIOR TO AND DURING LOADING OR UNLOADING OPERATIONS

(as referred to in Article 7(2)(d))

Prior to the start of and during loading or unloading operations the terminal representative shall:

1. provide the master with the names and procedures for contacting the terminal personnel or shipper's agent who will have the responsibility for the loading or unloading operation and with whom the master will have contact.

2. take all precautionary measures to avoid damage to the ship by the loading or unloading equipment and inform the master if damage occurs.

3. ensure the ship is kept upright or, if a list is required for operational reasons, it shall be kept as small as possible.

4. ensure the unloading of the port side closely matches that of the starboard side in the same hold to avoid twisting the ship.

5. in the case of high density cargoes, or when the individual grab loads are large, alert the master that there may be high, localised impact loads on the ship's structure until the tank top is completely covered by cargo, especially when high free-fall drops are permitted and special care is taken at the start of the loading operation in each cargo holds.

6. ensure that there is agreement between the master and the terminal representative at all stages and in relation to all aspects of the loading or unloading operations and that the master is advised on any change to the agreed loading rate, and at the completion of each pour of the weight loaded.

7. maintain a record of the weight and disposition of the cargo loaded or unloaded and ensure that the weights in the holds do not deviate from the agreed loading or unloading plan.

8. ensure that the cargo is trimmed, when loading or unloading, to the master's requirements.

9. ensure that the quantities of cargo required to achieve the departure draft and trim shall allow for all cargo on the terminal's conveyor systems to be run off and empty on completion of a loading. For that purpose the terminal representative shall advise the master of the nominal tonnage contained on the terminal's conveyor system and any requirements for clearing the conveyor system on completion of the loading.

10. in the case of unloading, give the master the maximum warning when it is intended to increase, or to reduce, the number of unloading heads used and advise the master when unloading is considered to be completed from each hold.

11. ensure that no hot work is carried out on board or in the vicinity of the ship while the ship is alongside the berth, except with the permission of the master and in accordance with any requirements of the competent authority.