Home ||| Bulk Cargo ||| Planning ||| Care ||| Safety||| Self unloaders
Pig iron characteristics & bulk loading guideline
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel. Pig iron has a very high carbon content, typically 3.54.5%, which makes it very brittle and not useful directly as a material except for limited applications.
Merchant pig iron comprises three main types: BASIC PIG IRON, used mainly in electric arc steelmaking, HAEMATITE PIG IRON [also known as FOUNDRY PIG IRON], used in mainly in the manufacture of grey iron castings in cupola furnaces, and NODULAR PIG IRON, used in the manufacture of ductile [also known as nodular or spheroidal graphite - SG] iron castings. Pig iron contains at least 92% Fe. Other constituents are typically:
- BASIC PIG IRON 3.5-4.5% carbon, <1.5% silicon, 0.5-1.0% manganese, <0.05% sulphur, <0.12% phosphorus
- HAEMATITE PIG IRON 3.5-4.5% carbon, 1.5-3.5% silicon, 0.5-1.0% manganese, <0.05% sulphur, <0.12% phosphorus
- NODULAR PIG IRON 3.5-4.5% carbon, <0.05% manganese, <0.05% sulphur, <0.05% phosphorus
Foundry pig iron is cast in 28 grades into 20 kg pigs. In a random heap, pig iron occupies approximately 50% of the apparent volume
Hazard : No specific hazard This cargo is non-combustible or has a low fire risk
Ventilation : No special requirement
Stowage & segregation : No special requirement
Hold cleanliness : Clean and Dry as relevant to the hazards of the cargo.
Precautions : Use the wooden mat or ply wood on the top of tank top to avoid any damage/ check vessel stability and stresses.
Carriage : No special requirement
Discharge : No special requirement
Clean up: Prior to washing out the residues of the cargo, the bilge wells of the cargo spaces shall be cleaned.
Loading
This cargo usually loading using tubs. In such case, tubs are usually lowered by a crane in the hold and the contents are spilled out. When this cargo is loaded using tubs. The first few tubs shall be lowered onto the tanktop to avoid damage.
Trim in accordance with the relevant provisions required under section 4 and 5 of the code, the tank top may be overstressed unless the cargo is evenly spread across the tank top to equalize the weight distribution. Due to consideration shall be paid to ensure that the tank top is not overstressed during voyage and during loading by a pile of the cargo.
Methods of grade separation (within one hold) are
- Stow different grades at opposite ends of hold
- Separate grade using steel product or boosters or pig tubs(preferably)
- Use chicken wire(double run) and plastic over the over stowage grade if over stow is unavoidable
- Never stow an F grade and an SP grade in the same hatch in bulk
Pig iron Loading Port - Rio de Janeiro / Brazil
Discharging port - New Orlean /Missisipi river/USA
Shippers Requirements
The IMO amendments to the entry for direct reduced iron pellets, lumps and cold moulded briquettes relate mainly to the Shippers Requirements which now reads as follows:
A. Shipper should provide necessary specific instructions for carriage, either:
1 ) Maintenance throughout the voyage of cargo holds under an inert atmosphere containing less than 5% oxygen. The hydrogen content of the atmosphere should be maintained at less than 1% by volume; or
2 )That the DRI has been manufactured or treated with an oxidation and corrosion inhibiting process which has been proved to the satisfaction of the Competent Authority, to provide effective protection against dangerous reaction with sea water or air under shipping conditions.
B. The provisions of paragraph A may be waived or varied if agreed by the Competent Authorities of the countries concerned taking into account the sheltered nature, length, duration or any other applicable conditions of any specific voyage.
(Source : Britannia circular 1982)
Related Information
-
Hazards of handling copper concentrate
-
Hazards of handling bulk sulphur
-
Loading, carrying and discharging of bulk coal
-
Special precaution & IMSBC code guideline for handling bulk coal
-
Preparations, loading, carrying & discharging bulk cement
-
Special arrangements for carrying grain cargo
-
Grain handling precautions - various limitations
-
Safety precautions for loading and carriage of iron ores
-
Risk of carrying high density iron ores in bulk
-
Salt loading guideline - Precautions & hold preparation
-
Risk of iron ore liquefaction during sea passage & countermeasures
-
Petcoke loading in bulk & associated problems for bulk carriers
-
Handling of bauxite - The environmental impact of Jamaica bauxite mining
-
Carrying gypsum -Toxins, physical reactions & environmental degradation
-
Cargo liquefaction & potential problem for transporting bulk cargo
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
Top articles
- Bulk carrier types - Ore carriers, OBO ships, forest product carrier , self unloader and more
- Care of cargo during loading- Trimming pours
- Checklist for confirming stabilty and hull stress prior loading
- Cargo loading agreement between ship and terminal
- Bulk carrier loading manual
- Handling of deballasting (ship duties) during high loading rate
- Cargo and ballast handling guide
- Responsibility of ship during cargo operation
- Shipboard hazards & bulk carriers safety guideline
- Asymmetric cargo and ballast distribution for bulk carriers
- Limitations on exceeding load lines
- Risk of deviation from the loading limitations
- Cargo handling guidance for deck officers
Ventilation requirement for bulk cargo loaded
- Preparation for ships carrying bulk cargo & standard loading condition
- Monitoring cargo operation safety checks in a bulk terminal
- How to avoid cargo damage by applying proper ventilation methods
- Measures against liquefaction of bulk cargo
- How to plan cargo discharge in a safe manner ?
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
Copyright © 2010 bulkcarrierguide.com All rights reserved.
Although every effort have been taken to improve the accuracy of content provided the publisher of this website cannot gaurantee for errors. Disclaimer Privacy policy Home page