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Monitoring hold bilges during loaded passage of a bulk carrier

Many cargoes contain moisture that may accumulate at the bottom of the cargo hold and drain towards the hold bilges, raising the bilge level and possibly triggering the high level bilge alarm if fitted. This can also occur if there is any leakage into the cargo holds through hatch covers or from elsewhere.



If the ship is loaded with the same cargo in all holds and all the bilges indicate increased soundings, then it can be said with certainty that the water in the bilges has drained from the cargo. For example, a cargo of coal may contain up to 1% of its weight as moisture, which will drain into the bilges. Otherwise, it may indicate a particular leaking hatch cover or other leakage, which should be investigated

It is important to pump out water accumulated in the bilges to avoid:


The bilges should be left nearly dry so that any other leakage into cargo holds can be detected by a rise in bilge level.

The handling of bilge water should be clarified in the charterparty or otherwise by charterer's instructions. As the moisture may amount to about 1% of the weight of the cargo, the quantity of cargo available for discharge would also be less. It is conceivable that charterers may try to forbid discharging of bilges, in which case advice should be sought from owners/ managers.

Bilges should be discharged overboard after keeping the pollution aspects in mind, ensuring that the quantity of water pumped from them is recorded in the sounding book or charterer's form. If bilges are discharged, a record should be kept in a format .

bilge-well
Always accessible bilge well

Bilge well – A sump to which bilge water drains. It is important to arrange bilge wells in the way enabling permanent access and possibility of cleaning even when holds are loaded.

Related Info:
  1. Procedure for cargo damage survey at discharging port

  2. Requirement for ballast exchange ar sea

  3. Risk of partially filled ballast tanks

  4. Causes of structural damage and countermeasures

  5. Deterioration of ships hull and consequences of hull damage /forward flooding

  6. Bulk carrier hull damage - causes and preventive measures

  7. How to avoid damage during cargo operation

  8. How to arrange repair of damage during cargo loading/unloading

  9. Bulk carrier water ingress problem




Related Information

  1. Additional cargo documents required for bulk cargo loading

  2. Suitability of Shore Terminals for handling bulk cargo

  3. Bulk carrier acceptability of loading regulation

  4. Preparation for ships carrying bulk cargo & standard loading condition

  5. Information to ship from terminal prior loading bulk cargo

  6. Local loading criteria defining maximum allowable cargo weight in each cargo hold

    Our detail pages illustrated many safety aspects of Bulk carrier

    Home page |||Bulk carrier types ||| Handling of bulk coal |||Cargo planning ||| Carriage of grain |||Risk of iron ores |||Self unloading bulk carriers |||Care of cargo & vessel |||Cargoes that may liquefy |||Suitability of ships |||Terminal guideline |||Hold cleaning |||Cargo cranes |||Ballast handling procedure |||Bulk carrier safety |||Fire fighting systems |||Bulk carrier General arrangement








Operation of sea going bulk carriers involved numerous hazards . Careful planning and exercising due caution for all critical shipboard matters are important . This site is a quick reference to international shipping community with guidance and information on the loading and discharging of modern bulk carriers so as to remain within the limitations as specified by the classification society.
It is vital to reduce the likelihood of over-stressing the ship's structure and also complying with all essential safety measures for a safe passage at sea. Our detail pages contain various bulk carrier related topics that might be useful for people working on board and those who working ashore in the terminal. For any remarks please Contact us

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