Ukraine – Carriage of Iron Concentrate and Iron Ore Fines Cargoes 3 July 2013 No. 13-005 Download PDF (182KB) Members’ attention is drawn to recent reports received by the International Group of P&I Clubs that cargoes of iron ore concentrate/fines presented for loading at the port of Yuzhny, Ukraine, have been rejected because they exhibited moisture content in excess of theTransportable Moisture Limit (TML), as defined in the IMSBC Code. In some cases, following independent testing undertaken outside of Ukraine, it appears that the TML was found to be significantly lower than stated on the respective cargo declarations to the extent that the moisture content was above the retested TML and, as a result,the loaded cargoes were discharged back to shippers in port. Large quantities of iron concentrate and smaller quantities of iron ore fines are shipped in bulk from the port of Yuzhny, as well as from the Ukrainian ports ofOdessa, Ilyichevsk and Nikolayev.  These are Group A cargoes under the IMSBC Code and are therefore liable to liquefy if the moisture content exceeds the transportable moisture limit (TML). The IMSBC Code requires the shippers to provide the master or his representative with a cargo declaration prior to loading containing key information about the cargo including the correct Group, the TML and the moisture content. In addition, theTML and moisture content figures must be evidenced by certificate(s) issued by the laboratory that conducted the tests. In the Ukraine, shipper’s cargo declarations are usually supported by certificates issued by the Central Cargo Bureau (CCB). The International Group of P&I Clubs and other industry bodies are in the process of establishing a dialogue with the relevant authorities in the Ukraine in an effort to resolve this reported problem.  W hilst little is known about the laboratory process underlying the various test certificates issued locally, cargo samples sent for independent testing outside the U