Cargo Fumigation: Vital Components for Carrier

#CASESTUDY: The vessel (bulk carrier) was on her way to China (discharge port) in order to discharge the cargo of “Soya Beans” ex Brazil (load port), calling Singapore port (transshipment port) for bunkers and for the removal of the fumigants. Surveyor attendance was requested in Singapore to witness the unsealing/resealing of hatch covers and to remove the fumigants by the contractor.

The carrier needs to be cautious of the following pointers:

AT LOAD PORT

1.???? In case of FCL/LCL containers, Cargo and container fumigation is mandatory for international shipping and transit under IMO International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDGC) and required by the national governments.

2.???? The carrier needs to ensure that container fumigation has been carried out before loading & and shipping cargo for transportation. The carriage of sea contracts or the charter parties needs to be reviewed. This will assist in understanding the liability for carrying fumigation by any of the involved interests before undertaking the job of fumigation by the certified contractor in front of the competent surveyor. This will entail the contractor issuing the authenticated certificate as a prove that fumigation has been carried out in line with leading global practices to avoid later issues with regard to the infestation of the pests during sea carriage or at the destination despite being fumigated.

3.???? The certificate of fumigation must have requisites like the gas used and the health hazard involved, proper treatment method, exposure time, and material used to stow the cargo to be prevented. This will undoubtedly, certify the effective cargo fumigation.

AT TRANSSHIPMENT PORT:

1.???? Surveyor attendance is relevant to ensure that:

• the sealing & and unsealing of hatch covers/access covers are sealed properly in case of a bulk carrier. If the seals are self-applied by the crew member, this needs to be in a log record and in good order.
• All the forward/after Access covers were in close condition with the tightened and intact screws/bolts and sealing tapes before the seal breaking exercise for the hatch covers to remove fumigants.
• To witness the resealing of hatch covers in good order.
• To ascertain the probable cause of pest infestation despite being fumigant, inside the LCL/FCL shipments inside the containers, in case of a container vessel. And to suggest whether the affected containers are to be offloaded at the transshipment port by facilitating the arrangement of offloading and stowing/stacking.
• Last but not least, to endorse the certification of Hatch Sealing” in good order provided by the contractor after re - fumigating the affected cargo holds if appointed by the shipper or the charters, as the case may be.