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Loading of Coal that has Exhibited Signs of Self-Heating

Loss Prevention Bulletin 

Members are reminded that self-heating of coal is more likely when the coal is low rank, geologically immature material sourced from open cast mines such as that commonly shipped from Kalimantan in Indonesia. The IMSBC Code sets out that, for self-heating coals, the temperature of the cargo shall be monitored prior to loading and cargo shall only be accepted for loading when the temperature of the cargo is not higher than 55°C.

Mark Dunbar
(Surveys Manager, West P&I)

The Club has previously published advice on this issue in our Loss Prevention Bulletin Monitoring of Self-Heating Coal Cargoes Prior to Loading. In most cases, coal loaded in Kalimantan is from barges and the Club has noticed a growing trend of increased pressure from shippers to load cargo from barges where temperatures in excess of 55°C have been recorded.

Shippers are either pressing for cargo to be loaded from areas on the barge where no excessive temperatures have been recorded, or after “cooling“ of the cargo on the barge. 


Methods used in an attempt to cool cargo are varied but include: 

  • Turning the cargo over with a payloader or using grabs 
  • Spraying with fresh or, more frequently, salt water 
  • Spraying with chemicals which are designed to inhibit the oxidation reaction.

In the Club’s experience none of these remedial actions are very effective. Although some localised cooling may be measured, coal is thermally insulating and any action that can be taken on a barge will not deal with the fundamental problem of the bulk of the coal being too hot.

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The only reliable method to cool coal that has started to self-heat is to unload it ashore onto a wharf or similar, and then spread it out in a relatively thin layer which will allow it to cool and stabilise. 

Crushing of the coal with a roller and dousing with fresh water can accelerate this cooling process, although clearly none of these methods are practicable or achievable on a barge

In two recent cases we have seen cooler cargo (taken from an area of the barge where no temperatures in excess of 55°C were recorded, although temperatures above 55°C were found in other areas on the same barge), or cooled cargo (initially found to have a temperature in excess of 55°C, but after treatment on the barge was then found to be below 55°C) loaded into cargo holds. 


Within the cargo holds this cargo then continued to self-heat to temperatures in excess of 55°C, as well as giving off smoke/steam. 

If cargo already loaded is seen to be smoking/steaming or the temperature is found to be greater than 55°C, then no further cargo should be loaded in these hold(s). 

The affected cargo hold(s) should be closed without delay with no ventilation, and gas monitoring as per the IMSBC Code instigated. Expert advice should then be obtained.

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Coal on a barge measured to be below 55°C but clearly self-heating as evidenced the smoke /steam    

               

Although there is nothing in the IMSBC Code to prevent loading of cooler or cooled coal, the Club’s recommendation remains that if just one of the temperature readings is found to exceed 55˚C, the entire barge should be rejected even if all other readings are satisfactory. Similarly, even if all readings are satisfactory coal should not be loaded if seen to be smoking or steaming, or exhibiting any other signs of self-heating. 


Given the pressure being applied by shippers we would recommend that when fixing, the charter party includes a provision that acceptance of cargo for loading is always to be at the absolute discretion and final control of the Master. With regard to fixing vessel for coal cargoes, the Club often sees allowable cargo described within the charter party as “harmless lawful coal in bulk only” or similar. 

Given that the IMSBC Code categorises coal as Group B (“cargoes which possess a chemical hazard which could give rise to a dangerous situation on a ship”), and possibly Group A (“cargoes which may liquefy if shipped at a moisture content in excess of their transportable moisture limit”), and also considering the guidance in the Club’s Loss Prevention Safety Alert Coal Cargoes – Know the Dangers, coal can never be harmless and a better description that could be considered would be “coal that is not liable to emit methane or self-heat”.

Members requiring further guidance should contact the Loss Prevention department.

MarkDunbar2-(1)
Mark Dunbar 
Surveys Manager
T+44 20 7716 6006
M+44 7985 633651
E Mark.Dunbar@Westpandi.com

Mark is a Master Mariner with 20 years of seagoing experience. His service has been aboard bulk carriers, OBOs, product tankers, VLCCs, ULCCs, reefers, LPG tankers, chemical tankers, general cargo and ro-ro passenger ferries. Mark joined the Club in 1999 directly from sea and attends to Condition Surveys and other Loss Prevention matters.