Bauxite Cargo Carriage from Guinea Publications Steamship Mutual Published: February 03, 2022 Contact author Download article pdf Introduction Intelligence recently received from Roxburgh in Boffa, advises of a possible issue for vessels visiting Guinea where there has been strike action at a bauxite mining facility based in Boffa. This dispute has been ongoing for several weeks and shippers may subsequently present older supplies of bauxite for shipment that have potentially been exposed to wet conditions. Alert The Club wishes to remind Members of the  dangers of liquefaction  associated with the carriage of Bauxite, and that certificates showing the actual moisture content and transportable moisture limit are essential in assessing the hazard of the cargo that is presented for shipment. Appropriate certificates should be included in the information that shippers present to the Master in line with the shippers’ obligations set out in the IMSBC Code. Liquefaction Liquefaction may take place when cargo, even when it does not obviously appear wet, has moisture between particles. Ship movement may compact cargo and release moisture and therefore cause liquefaction. This generates a free surface effect leading to a loss of stability and cargo shift, a situation that can develop rapidly with little or no time to take corrective action. If the Master is concerned about the quality of the cargo, or if there is any inconsistency with the shipper’s declaration, then loading should be stopped until the cargo properties can be verified. Casualties The loss of the vessel  Bulk Jupiter  due to suspected liquefaction of bauxite loaded out of Malaysia in early 2015 resulted in 18 fatalities. The vessel loaded 46,400 tonnes of bauxite which was declared as a Group C cargo under the IMSBC Code. Information from the  Flag State (Bahamas) casualty investigation  determined that loss of the vessel was due to liquefaction of the cargo on board, which