Carriage of nickel ore

Gard would like to once again alert Members and clients to the risks involved  in the carriage of nickel ore, particularly loaded from ports in Indonesia and the Philippines.

The tragic loss of the bulk carrier EMERALD STARalong with ten crew members has again raised concerns about the safety of nickel ore originating from Indonesia and Philippines. No cause of the loss has been confirmed yet, however the ship was carrying nickel ore from Indonesia to China when she sank off the Philippines on 13 October 2017.

Nickel ore exports from Indonesia have resumed only recently following the export ban introduced in2014, and concerns remain about shippers’ compliance with the IMSBC Code requirement regarding accuracy of cargo certificates, reliability of testing and independent access to stockpiles.

Members are reminded that they must notify the Club, pursuant to the Club’s mandatory notification requirement for such cargoes, if they plan to fix or charter a ship to load nickel ore from Indonesia or the Philippines. Members and clients are also encouraged to refer to our recent alert “Nickel ore exports resume from Indonesia – managing the liquefaction risk,” to consider what precautionary loss prevention measures should be taken before loading.

Nickel ore may appear dry and pass can tests even if the moisture content is too high for safe transport and it is recommended to engage an independent surveyor to assist the Master. If there is any doubt as to the safety of any cargo being loaded Members should contact Gard for advice.