Home News & Resources Circulars Circular 11/26 - Safe Carriage of Nickel Ore Cargoes in the south-western Pacific Ocean Mark Beare Regional Claims Director Date 15 June 2026 Share this article Introduction Since 2024 there has been a significant increase in the volume of nickel ore exports from both the Philippines and the Solomon Islands located in the south-western Pacific Ocean. This surge in exports corresponds with heightened mining investments in these regions, driven by global demand for nickel in applications such as electric vehicle battery production and new processing facilities in Indonesia and China. However, this growth has raised substantial concerns about the suitability of some export materials for safe shipment. The exports from both regions are expected to increase as investment has been diverted into alternative supply sources. Without improved practices, the frequency of nickel ore cargo incidents is likely to continue to occur . This Circular has been prepared by the International Group of P&I Clubs in conjunction with INTERCARGO and Roxburgh. It aims to highlight the challenges associated with the export of nickel ore from this region and to provide recommendations to Members to help mitigate the associated risk. Regional Geology and Material Characteristics Nickel ore from the Philippines (e.g. Surigao, Dinagat) and Solomon Islands is typically direct-shipped ore (DSO) with minimal processing on shore prior to loading, leading to variability in appearance, composition, and particle size. Cargoes presented for loading mainly consist of finer materials, such as soil and clay. The presence and proportions of these finer fractions (silt and clay) in a consignment is vitally important as they typically dominate how the material will behave. The underlying geology of the nickel export products is dominated by high proportions of mineral clays and fine particles resulting in cohesive and low-drainage characteristics that retain moisture. It