Bulk Carrier Guide Online
Bulk Carrier Guide Online
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 3.5–4.5%, 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:
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
  1. Stow different grades at opposite ends of hold
  2. Separate grade using steel product or boosters or pig tubs(preferably)
  3. Use chicken wire(double run) and plastic over the over stowage grade if over stow is unavoidable
  4. 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

  1. Hazards of handling copper concentrate

  2. Hazards of handling bulk sulphur

  3. Loading, carrying and discharging of bulk coal

  4. Special precaution & IMSBC code guideline for handling bulk coal

  5. Preparations, loading, carrying & discharging bulk cement

  6. Special arrangements for carrying grain cargo

  7. Grain handling precautions - various limitations

  8. Safety precautions for loading and carriage of iron ores

  9. Risk of carrying high density iron ores in bulk

  10. Salt loading guideline - Precautions & hold preparation

  11. Risk of iron ore liquefaction during sea passage & countermeasures

  12. Petcoke loading in bulk & associated problems for bulk carriers

  13. Handling of bauxite - The environmental impact of Jamaica bauxite mining

  14. Carrying gypsum -Toxins, physical reactions & environmental degradation

  15. 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

  1. Bulk carrier types - Ore carriers, OBO ships, forest product carrier , self unloader and more

  2. Care of cargo during loading- Trimming pours

  3. Checklist for confirming stabilty and hull stress prior loading

  4. Cargo loading agreement between ship and terminal

  5. Bulk carrier loading manual

  6. Handling of deballasting (ship duties) during high loading rate

  7. Cargo and ballast handling guide

  8. Responsibility of ship during cargo operation

  9. Shipboard hazards & bulk carriers safety guideline

  10. Asymmetric cargo and ballast distribution for bulk carriers

  11. Limitations on exceeding load lines

  12. Risk of deviation from the loading limitations

  13. Cargo handling guidance for deck officers

    Ventilation requirement for bulk cargo loaded

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

  15. Monitoring cargo operation safety checks in a bulk terminal

  16. How to avoid cargo damage by applying proper ventilation methods

  17. Measures against liquefaction of bulk cargo

  18. 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