The Korean Register (KR) has published guidance outlining the necessary technical measures to safely load and carry containers on bulk cargo ships.
The recent unprecedented boom in the maritime transport market has led shipping companies to demand load and transport containers on bulk cargo ships as a way to resolve the problem of shortage in boxships.
Bulk cargo ships are used for the transport of unpacked cargo such as grain or ore, and are usually not designed appropriately for carrying containers.
Therefore, in order to safely load boxes, additional measures need to be followed, such as safe loading, the lashing of containers, the installation of fixed fire extinguishers and the protection of dangerous goods, according to KR.
In addition, technical reviews of the structural strength and stability of the ship must also be undertaken.
Hence, KR has published new technical guidance listing the matters which must be examined in order to securely load and carry containers on general bulk cargo ships that are not disposing of container transportation facilities.
The guidance is divided into two parts, firstly requirements for cargo hold loading, and secondly, requirements for on-deck loading.
Subsequently, it must be examined by classification societies whether a ship meets the requirements, according to KR, which said, “once a ship meets the requirements, it can load and carry containers from a technical perspective, even if it is not designed for container transport.”
