The Brazilian authorities have introduced an inspection regime for all ships that are 18 years of age or more, visiting their ports.
Such ships that are foreign flagged and intending to load cargoes with a density of 1.78 t/m3 or more, eg, iron ore, bauxite and manganese will, upon arrival, be subject to port state inspection prior to commencement of loading. Brazilian flagged ships will also be inspected but by flag State surveyors.
Members are to note that the above-mentioned requirement is, in addition to the annual mandatory condition survey required to be conducted on bulk carriers, oil/ore (OOs) and oil/bulk/ore (OBOs) of 18 years or more of age (reference: NORMAM 04,Chapter 3).
The above inspection requirement has been imposed in the wake of the number of recent casualties involving bulk carriers. China has also initiated a similar regime.
Members calling at the Brazilian ports are to be guided accordingly of the foregoing requirements.
Members wishing to know whether their cargo fixtures or potential ones will be affected in terms of the density requirement can easily go to the BIMCO online solid cargo database for a quick verification.
Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.
The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.
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