TATA-AIG NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE
News Updates

Photo of the month

Know your Cargo

Steel Coil

IMDG Code

Worlds Busiest Ports

-------------------------------------------------CONTACT US
TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE CO.
MARINE LOSS CONTROL
ENGINEERING
r.balasundaram@tata-aig.com
TATA-AIG
GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY
harshad.patwardhan@tata-aig.com

EDITION- JANUARY 2013

Gangavaram port handles 100th Capesize vessel

Indias deepest draft port, Gangavaram port, in Andhra Pradesh crossed another
milestone by handling its 100th capesize vessel. The capesize vessel, m.v. Collonges, was
carrying 1.40 lakh tones of coking coal imported by Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd. Capesize
vessels are the largest ships that can carry dry-bulk cargo such as coal. During the last
four years of operations, the port handled over 1,000 vessels, with a total throughput of
over 53 million tones, covering cargos such as coking/non-coking coal, iron-ore,
fertilizers, agri-products, project cargo and a variety of industrial raw-materials.
The port is in the process of expanding its capacity, having already completed award of
major contracts and achieving financial closure for the project. The expansion, which will
see the ports capacity increasing from the current 15 million tons to 45 mt, envisages
addition of three multi-purpose berths and a coal handling terminal. While the three
multi-purpose berths would each be 275 meters long, the coal berth will be handling up
to 2,00,000 DWT ships. After the expansion, the port will be looking for more non-coal
cargos such as fertilizers, bauxite and food grains. Today coal accounts for 70 per cent of
its total traffic of about 14mt.

Shipping Ministry to award 25 projects worth Rs 11,000 cr by March

The Indian shipping ministry will award 25 projects worth Rs 11,000 cr by the end of the
current fiscal, a move that is expected to increase cargo-handling capacity at ports by 250
million tonne. Ports in the country have been plagued by capacity shortage largely due to
security clearance issues, which discourage private sector participation. "The ministry has
set a target of awarding 42 projects in 2013. They have already awarded 17 and will now
complete 25 projects by March, increasing the total capacity across ports by 250 million
tone," Pradeep Sinha, secretary in the shipping ministry, said Construction of a mega
container terminal in Chennai and a second dock at the Haldia port are among the
projects that will be awarded.
The ministry, which has not awarded any major projects in the last two years, has also
written to the ministry of finance to revive a subsidy given to the shipbuilding industry.
"We have made a recommendation to the ministry of finance to revive the subsidy given
to the shipbuilding sector. We have asked the ministry to give 15% subsidy and, in
addition, we are also seeking infrastructure status for the sector. The finance ministry
has also approved a plan by JNPT port.

MARINE LOSS CONTROL ENGINEERING

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

GUESS what is this Car Stock Yard in a port in Europe, snow blanket is covering all brand new cars most of them are
BMW, Audi, Toyota, Honda and many others.

Snow covered cars stowed and lashed in a Car Carrier.

Photos by Harshad Patwardhan

TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

MARINE LOSS CONTROL ENGINEERING

KNOW YOUR CARGO STEEL COILS

Steel coils are metal sheets, flat products wound into rolls. A distinction is drawn between hot and cold rolled sheet. Hotrolled sheet in coil form is produced from semi finished products, which are reduced to certain thickness by rolling and
annealing and wound into a roll. Cold rolled sheet in coil form is produced by removing rust from hot rolled sheet by
pickling it in a weak acid solution, then washing, brushing, drying, oiling and unrolling the sheet and finally performing coldrolling by passing the sheet through a reducing mill under pressure and winding it into a roll.
Loading of steel coils in Holds
Coils are handled on the wharf by fork lift trucks with a round ram attachment that has no sharp edges in place of the forks;
this is used to lift the coils through their central core so as not to damage them. For loading onboard, the coils are generally
lifted using steel wire braided webbing slings, or some other specially designed lifting device, all of which are designed and
used to avoid damage to the coil sheet.

Stowing of Coil in Holds

Steel coils should be given a bottom stow position and are to be loaded with the core aligned fore and aft, and flat wooden
dunnage is to be laid athwart ship (Port to Stbd) on the deck and against hold side bulkheads/spar ceiling either in two or
three lines, dependent on the width of the coils, across the width of the hold, and needless to say, the wood selected for
dunnage and wedges should be of sufficient strength for the task. Loading is commenced from each side of the hold
working towards the centre with each coil loaded up against its neighbor, such that the final coil loaded in the centre is the
key to locking the stow; this final coil is loaded between the last two on the tank top such that the lower edge of the final
coil is at least one third below the top of the two coils it is loaded onto such that its weigh will provide a good lock to the
stow. Depending on coil size and hold width it may be necessary to use two locking coils to get a satisfactorily locked stow.
Subsequent tiers of coils are loaded between the coils on the tier below and stows may be two or three tiers high; it is
preferable to avoid a single tier of coils due to additional locking affect imparted on the lowest tier by subsequent tiers
above. However, adequate lashing of the locking coil(s) to those either side in a single tier will ensure a good stow. When
stows are two or possibly three tiers high, and coils of different sizes are being loaded, it has to be ensured that all coils are
resting properly on the coils beneath them.

TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

MARINE LOSS CONTROL ENGINEERING

KNOW YOUR CARGO STEEL COILS

Securing/Lashing
The accepted method of securing coils is to lash them together core to core, with those on a second or third tier lashed to
the two coils below, on which it is resting, using metal strap banding which is tightened and clamped by a pneumatic tool. A
locking or single coil may be lashed by a metal banding strap passed over the top of the coil body in a figure of eight passing
through the cores of the two coils upon which it is resting. Coils on the lowest tier should also be wedged on either side
with wooden wedges to help to secure them in place. If the stow does not fill the hold/compartment then the open face of
the stow will have to be adequately secured by use of either timber shoring or wire lashings secured to the hold side
bulkheads, or a combination of the two. Where wires are used these should be protected where they are led around any
sharp edges where the wire and/or cargo may be damaged.

Loading coil on Trucks

Coils are generally only transported on vehicles with an appropriately sized coil trough. Care must be taken to ensure that
coils are placed directly against the edge of the trough or that sufficiently strong, properly secured spacers are placed
between coil and the edge of the trough. Lashing must pass through the coil eye to ensure lateral stability, while an
additional tie-down lashing prevents the coil from jumping.

TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

MARINE LOSS CONTROL ENGINEERING

KNOW YOUR CARGO STEEL COILS

Loading Coils in Containers
Steel coils are also loaded in Containers. Special stowage and lashing precautions need to be taken for stowing the coils in
containers. Customized cradle needs to be prepared for the coil, so as to spread the weight. Coil is stowed with eye not
facing the door. Blocking is done to prevent sliding of coils in length and athwart direction, with proper care taken to spread
the load evenly. Aim of the lashing is to secure against tipping. The height on which the lashing is fixed to the coil is usually
below the middle. Therefore it is only workable when the coils are blocked in floor height as well. The lashing of each coil
needs to be done by 4 lashings. Each starts and ends on the same point. As lashing material can be used best steel straps,
but also nylon belts with edge protections or steel wires. Coils loaded in container should be only carried out with adequate
supervision from an experienced surveyor.

Cradle for coil

Coils loaded inside container

LOSS and PREVENTION

In order to avoid damage due to mechanical stresses, it is essential that stowing, bracing, lashing and securing on the
means of transport are performed carefully. Suitable slinging and cargo handling equipment and lifting gear must be
selected and used on the basis of the cargos weight and slinging points. If strapping (metal bands) is broken, the coils loose
and the inner turns telescope, resulting in an increased risk of damage. This may lead to subsequent unrolling of coil. Using
wire ropes and chains for handling purposes may result in distortion to the edges of the coils. Steel cargo is at risk of
corrosion due to seawater and sea salt aerosols during maritime transport due to leaky containers of hatches or during
storage at sea ports near quays. Rain water can cause rusting when exposed during loading, uncovered rail cars or trucks
etc. Proper packing of steel coils is very important to prevent the rusting of steel coils and prevent damaging of edges.

Damaged Steel Coils

TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

Telescopic coil

Proper Packing of coil to prevent rust damage

MARINE LOSS CONTROL ENGINEERING

IMDG code
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code was developed as a uniform international code for the transport
of dangerous goods by sea covering such matters as packing, container traffic and stowage, with particular reference to the
segregation of incompatible substances.
The IMDG Code is based on an internationally agreed system which:

Groups dangerous goods together based on the hazards they present in transport (classification).
Contains the dangerous goods in packagings/tanks which are of appropriate strength and which will prevent the goods
escaping.
Uses hazard warning labels and other identifying marks to identify dangerous goods in transport.
Requires standard documentation to be provided when dangerous goods are being transported.
Lays down principles for ensuring that dangerous goods which will react dangerously together are kept apart.
Lays down principles for where to place dangerous goods on board ship to ensure safe transport.
Provides emergency response advice for dangerous goods involved in a fire or spillage on board ship.
Substances and article subject to the provisions of this code are assigned to one of the classes 1-9 according to the hazard
or the most predominant of the hazards they present.
Class 1 Explosive substances and articles
Class 2 Gases
Class 3 Flammable liquids
Class 4.1 Flammable Solids, self reactive substances.
Class 4.2 Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
Class 4.3 Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases
Class 5.1 Oxidizing substances
Class 5.2 Organic peroxides
Class 6.1 Toxic substances
Class 6.2 Infectious substances
Class 7 Radioactive substances
Class 8 Corrosive substances
Class 9 Miscellaneous substances
There is a Dangerous goods listed in the code which gives details for each cargo for the following. The list is divided in 18
columns. All dangerous cargo transported by sea has to be carried in accordance with the provisions of this code.
Column 1 UN Number. Contains the United Nations Number assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN List).
Column 2 Proper Shipping Name (PSN) Contains the Proper Shipping Names in upper case characters which may be
followed by additional descriptive text in lower-case characters.
Column 3 Class or Division - Contains the class and, in the case of class 1, the division and compatibility group.
Column 4 Subsidiary Risk(s) - Contains the class number(s) of any subsidiary risk(s). This column also identifies if
dangerous goods are marine pollutants by showing the letter P:
Column 5 Packing Group Contains the packing group number (i.e. I, II or III) where assigned to the substance or article.

TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

MARINE LOSS CONTROL ENGINEERING

IMDG code
Column 6 Special Provisions Contains a number referring to any special provision(s) indicated in chapter 3.3.
Column 7a Limited Quantities Provides the maximum quantity per inner packaging.
Column 7b Excepted Quantities Provides a code which can be referenced to determine the maximum quantity per inner
and outer packaging.
Column 8 Packing Instructions. Contains packing instructions for the transport of substances and articles.
Column 9 Special Packing Provisions - Contains special packing provisions.
Column 10 IBC Packing Instructions - Contains IBC instructions which indicate the type of IBC that can be used for the
transport.
Column 11 IBC Special Provisions Refers to special packing provisions applicable to the use of packing instructions
bearing the code IBC in 4.1.4.2.
Column 12 IMO Tank Instructions. This column is no longer used but used to apply to IMO portable tanks and road tank
vehicles.
Column 13 UN Tank and Bulk Container Instructions Contains T codes (see 4.2.5.2.6) applicable to the transport of
dangerous goods in portable tanks and road tank vehicles.
Column 14 Tank Special Provisions Contains TP notes (see 4.2.5.3) applicable to the transport of dangerous goods in
portable tanks and road tank vehicles.
Column 15 EmS Refers to the relevant emergency schedules for FIRE and SPILLAGE in The EmS Guide Emergency
Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods.
Column 16 Stowage and Segregation Contains the stowage and segregation provisions as prescribed in part 7.
Column 17 Properties and Observations Contains properties and observations on the dangerous goods listed.
Column 18 UN Number Contains the United Nations Number for ease of reference across both pages of the printed book.
Training requirement for IMDG code:
Section 1.3.1 of the IMDG Code requires that shore-based personnel engaged in the transport of dangerous goods intended
to be transported by sea must be provided with: training in the contents of dangerous goods provisions commensurate
with their responsibilities. As the purpose of the training will be to provide practical guidance and instruction on how
individuals can fulfil the obligations imposed by the roles they fill in the work place, the training process must incorporate
some means of determining if staff are competent in their allocated roles
Compliance in India
As per MS notice 6 of 2010 of DG shipping India it makes mandatory for all dangerous cargo to be transported by sea in
accordance with the IMDG code.

TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

MARINE LOSS CONTROL ENGINEERING

Worlds busiest ports:

Shanghai Port ranks among the worlds busiest ports in the world in terms of TEU handled. In
2010 it handled 29,069 thousand TEU. Second is Singapore with 28,431 thousand TEU and third is
Hong Kong with 23,699 thousand TEU. In comparison to that Indias busiest port is JNPT which is
ranked 25th and handled 4,280 thousand TEU in 2010.
In terms of Cargo tonnage Shanghai port ranks among the busiest. In 2010 the total mass of
actual cargo transported through the port is 534,371 thousand metric tons. Second is Singapore
with 501,556 thousand metric tons and third is Rotterdam 429,926 thousand metric tons. In the
top 20 busiest ports there are 9 Chinese ports and in contrast, there is no Indian port in the top 20
list.

FEEDBACK
For more information / queries and feedback please contact
R. Balasundaram
Vice President - Marine
r.balasundaram@tata-aig.com

Harshad Patwardhan
Marine Loss Control Engineering
harshad.patwardhan@tata-aig.com

DISCLAIMER
The publication is for private circulation only. It is for internal additional information of employees and
associates. Views expressed in the article are personal views of author and the publisher, and/or editor does
not own any responsibility legally or otherwise. Though due care is taken to give accurate information, the
readers are advised to verify independently the correctness of the information given.
TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED PENINSULA CORPORATE PARK, PIRAMAL TOWER
G.K.MARG, LOWER PAREL, MUMBAI 400013. TEL: 022 66699697, FAX: 66546464

TATA-AIG GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY

MARINE LOSS CONTROL ENGINEERING