MEMBER ALERT Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., Manager One Battery Park Plaza 31 st Fl., New York, NY 10004 USA Tel: +1 212 847 4500 Fax: +1 212 847 4599 https://www.american-club.com American Club Member Alert – March 4, 2022 1 MARCH 4, 2022 LOSS PREVENTION: CARGO HOLD BILGE SYSTEMS The Club has recently experienced cargo claims arising from damage caused by water originating from cargo hold bilge systems where: • debris lodges in the non-return valves fitted in the hold bilge pumping systems, preventing them from operating as designed to ensure that water cannot flow back via the bilge line, into the hold bilge wells and thereafter into the cargo hold; and • manually operated valves in the interconnected bilge, ballast and fire lines are left open following completion of operations, allowing water to enter the bilge line and into the bilge wells/cargo hold in the event of non-return valve failure. Vessel crews are urged to adopt the following preventative measures to ensure that the bilge system is functioning properly so as to prevent such incidents. Management  A significant share of incidents has resulted from a lack of familiarity with the bilge system. The vessel’s crew should be familiar with the unique characteristics of the vessel’s bilge system. This includes understanding the schematic layout of the bilge system, mimic boards, remote actuators, any cross functionality with such systems as the ballast management system, emergency firefighting system, etc.  Inspection and testing of cargo hold bilge system non-return valves should be included in routine pre-loading checks of the holds.  Bilge system valves and pipework require to be periodically checked and maintained as part of the planned maintenance system.  Rigorous procedures should be in place to prevent valves being left open when not in use. Cleaning of cargo holds in preparation for cargo  After washing down, any residual cargo should be removed from bilge system intake suctions to keep solid materials from entering and clogging the bilge system.  The perforated plate bilge well covers should be cleaned of debris that could prevent water from flowing into the bilge wells.  If dry cargoes in bulk are to be loaded, plate covers should be covered with burlap and secured with marine tape prior to loading cargo. The burlap will help to prevent coarse size particles from entering and blocking the bilge system. MEMBER ALERT Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., Manager One Battery Park Plaza 31 st Fl., New York, NY 10004 USA Tel: +1 212 847 4500 Fax: +1 212 847 4599 https://www.american-club.com American Club Member Alert – March 4, 2022 2  Bilge well suction pipes should be fitted with removable strainer baskets (e.g., strum or rose box) and/or equipped with a mud box to capture debris while washing cargo holds. These should be cleaned as regularly as necessary during the washing period.  Upon completion of washing cargo holds, any remaining water and residual solid materials should be cleared from the bilge well. Inspection & testing  Bilge wells should be cleaned and dry for inspection before loading cargo.  Records should be maintained in the deck log of inspections and tests of the bilge system.  Bilge system sounding pipes should be inspected as they can become filled with cargo residues in bilge wells that dry and solidify resulting in blockage. This can be prevented by hosing the sounding pipes with water from deck level or by using a pressured airline to clear t