Web Alert: IMO issues new guidance for bauxite cargoes

Following the loss of BULK JUPITER in 2015, IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC), at its second session, considered matters related to the carriage of Bauxite and approved CCC.1/Circ.2 to raise awareness on the potential risks posed by moisture in the carriage of Bauxite.

Bauxite is described in the IMSBC Code as a Group C cargo. However, subsequent research undertaken by the industry Global Bauxite Working Group (GBWG) and various competent authorities indicates that bauxite presents a risk caused by moisture. As such, some bauxite cargoes should be treated as Group A cargoes.

The sub-committee, at its fourth session (11 to 15 September 2017), considered the GBWG recommendations and finalised three draft amendments for submission to the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC):
 

1. the draft test procedures for determining the Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) of bauxite
2. the draft individual schedule for Group A bauxite, having the Bulk Cargo Shipping Name (BCSN) of ‘Bauxite Fines’
3. the draft amendments to the existing individual schedule for Group C bauxite.

As the above proposed changes would be incorporated into Amendment 05-19 of the IMSBC Code which would only come into mandatory application on 1 January 2021, the sub-committee decided to update the current IMO circular for bauxite taking into account the above developments.

Consequently the previous circular (CCC.1/Circ.2) has been superseded by the attached CCC.1/Circ.2/Rev.1 which takes immediate effect.

Members with ships loading bauxite cargo are recommended to comply with guidelines contained in the latest circular (CCC.1/Circ.2/Rev.1).

类别: Cargo