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 – Dec em ber 17 , 2024 1 DECEMBER 17, 2024 STEEL CARGOES STOWED WITH BREAK-BULK, CONTAINERS, OR PROJECT CARGOES ABOARD BULK CARRIERS It has come to the attention of your Managers that numerous bulk carriers have been loading finished and/or unfinished steel products along with break-bulk, containerized and project cargoes, in the same cargo hold. Break-bulk containerized and project cargoes include large, heavy, oversized items, machinery parts, crates, and heavy duty wheeled items such as trucks, cranes or pay loaders. Unlike vessels dedicated to carry break-bulk, containerized or project cargoes, bulk carriers are not fitted with suitable lashing and securing arrangements. The irregular sizes, shapes and weights of such non-pure-bulk cargoes are challenging to safely lash and secure, and typically require makeshift arrangements. Furthermore, such arrangements are challenging for crew to supervise for safety’s sake when a vessel is at sea. Wheeled cargoes pose a particular risk due to their higher propensity to shift. The stowage and securing of wheeled cargoes are addressed specifically in Annex 4 of the Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS) Code. Similarly, break-bulk or project cargoes are often stowed atop of steel cargoes. While specified finished and semi-finished steel cargoes are subject to a pre-load survey, as stipulated in the August 19, 2024, Club Circular No. 16/24, Steel Cargo Pre-Load Surveys, Members should also consider employing experienced surveyors who are familiar with the stowage and securing of break bulk, containerized and project cargoes intermixed with and/or over stowed on top of other cargoes, given the related risk of damage caused by the excessive weight or improper securing of such non-pure-bulk cargoes. The cost of utilizing an experienced surveyor outweighs the cost of losses to the cargo, vessel, or injuries to the crew, that may ensue from a lack of expert assistance at the time of loading. An expert surveyor is able to assist the Master and crew in protecting the interests of the Member and the safety of the voyage. The essential steps that should be in hand and approved by the Master prior to loading of cargo detailed above as follows: • the vessel’s stowage plan should be made available well in advance of loading; • upon receipt of the stowage plan, the Master should input the relevant data into the loadicator to ensure the vessel’ shear force bending moment (SFBM) and stability are within the applicable limits; and • it should be clear how the cargo is to be secured as per Cargo Securing Manual (CSM), and that relevant stowage and lashing materials and equipment are available aboard the vessel in compliance with the CSS Code. 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 – Dec em ber 17 , 2024 2 Some important points regarding stowing, improper stowage and improper securing of heavy cargoes, containers and project cargoes include: • vehicles and heavy project/break bulk cargo stowed on top of other cargo may not provide a firm surface for the over-stowed cargo; • cargo stowed atop of other cargoes may damage or deform the cargoes below d