Chapter 1: Safe Handling and Carriage of Cargoes

Introduction:
Cargo Operations is one of the main operational areas for deck officers. The other areas being
Navigation, Emergencies, and Dry-docking/ maintenance/ repairs. It is the only operation which beings in
the revenue. Ships are constructed to carry cargoes commercially. Transportation of cargoes by sea is
the most efficient and economical means. That is why, about 90% of all cargo transportation around the
world is done through ships. As an island nation, UK has a rich commercial maritime history as it is
reliant on sea transportation of cargoes to and from it.

The business of shipping is dependent on carriage of cargoes for a charge. The transportation of cargoes
by sea for a profit is the prime motivator of merchant shipping trade. Transportation of goods and people
through water progressed as technology developed and vessels became larger and safer. The interaction
of people from different parts of the world across the waters enriched cultures and helped in expanding
the sea trade heralding the era of discovery and exploration around the globe. This interaction resulted
in creation of demand for goods not locally produced establishing sea transportation of goods and people
laying the foundation of international shipping.

Procedures to handle and carry cargoes developed, as trade expanded. Experience and technology
improved safety and efficiency as did cargo volume and quantity. Lessons were learnt from incidents to
make operations safer. Shipping safety improved both for cargoes and for those working in it. In modern
shipping both re-active and pro-active measures are employed in maritime laws to prevent incidents at
sea, and make shipping transportation safe and commercially successful.
Cargo operations and safety of life involves a combination of regulations, best industry practices, MCA
advice and efficient enforcement. Safety of life, property and cargo at sea and protection of maritime
environment are the important elements in a comprehensive maritime safety policy. Standards are set
up, maintained and monitored by classification societies and other technical organisations on behalf of
the regulatory bodies. Enforcement of maritime law is carried by administrations of individual states.
Cargo Operations in General:

Cargo operations can be divided into four stages:

i) Planning & Preparation: This is the most important stage because planning is the key to a
successful operation. As deck officers, we need a plan to execute an operation. On cargo
ships, cargo operation is planned by the Chief Officer. Planning starts with gathering cargo
information. Shipper is the principal source of cargo information, which may be provided
by him through the ship’s agent in the form of a booking list. In UK, shipper is required by
law [M.S.(Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999], to provide all relevant cargo
information. The same law also requires the Master, the right to demand such
information. Other sources of cargo information would also be explored to make the plan.
These sources may include: Regulations, Codes, Industry Publications, MCA advice
(including M-Notices), Laboratory Test Reports (in bulk trade sector) and Previous Carriage
Experience etc. This information is then used to make a plan. This plan may also be in
narrative form, but generally it would be in diagrammatic form. For example, for general
cargoes it would be a Cargo Stowage Plan, for dry bulk cargoes it would be a BLU Plan,
for container vessels it would be Bay Plans. When planning, it is important to take into
account the resources required to execute the plan most efficiently. Resources which are
available on board and ashore. For example, ship resources include cargo spaces, cargo
gear, money, bunkers, logistics, crew. Shore resources may include, stevedores, shore
lifting gear, berth/ terminal, pilots, tugs, mooring & lashing gangs etc. It is also important
to ensure that all ship’s and cargo documentation is also available and valid. Finally, once
theoretical planning is done, then the actual preparation of the ship including ensuring
safe access to and from the ship and the cargo holds, and cargo space cleaning, washing
and drying is done. Lighting and ventilation would be checked and appropriate signs and
labels may also be required for safe and secure operation. The culmination of this stage
 would be the time when Notice of Readiness (NOR) is issued to the shipper and copied to
the port and the shipping company.
ii) Loading: Prior to, or at the time of commencement of cargo operations, the ship to be in
possession of cargo manifest. Cargo may not be loaded without the manifest as it is the
document which gives information about actual cargo delivered by the shipper. If cargo
information does not match the cargo (both in quantity and/ or quality) actually
delivered, it is called cargo damage. The duty officer should therefore ensure that there
is no cargo damage before and during loading. Once the cargo is safely stowed and
secured, the master or ship’s agent would issue receipt of cargo in the form of Bill of
Lading, Seaway Bill or Ship’s Delivery Order. Record would be maintained right through
the operations in the Deck Log Book and Cargo Record Book. The vessel is then secured
and prepared for departure and permission to leave would be sought from the port
authorities in the form of Port Clearance (PC). At this time, three sets of documents are
submitted to the Port authorities. The documents include cargo completion documents,
evidence/ receipts of all dues duly paid, and ship’s Certificate of Registry. Once PC is
given the vessel will depart starting the next stage.
iii) Carriage: During cargo operations, the responsibility to protect the cargo from any
damage is shared between the shipper and the ship. However, during carriage, the ship is
wholly responsible. This means that the ship has to ensure that the cargo is not damaged
due to ship’s movement and the weather. Care of cargo during passage is therefore
exclusive responsibility of the ship. The type of care would depend upon the type of
cargo. Care would include shipper’s instructions which are contractual obligation cargo
information from the Codes and all other sources available. The care provided may include
regular monitoring and if required, frequent inspection of cargoes, sounding of bilges,
ventilation. Care for passengers on a passenger ship would include entertainment, good
food, shore excursions, clean and comfortable accommodation, and prompt service when
requested. It is very important to record the care provided as evidence which would be
useful in any later passenger complaint. When the vessel arrives at the cargo discharging
port, a Notice of Arrival (NOA) is given to the port authorities and copied to the shipper
and the company.
iv) Discharging: The final stage starts when the NOA is accepted and cargo operation begins.
Cargo operations are monitored by the duty officer to ensure that the cargo does not get
damaged during the process of transfer from ship to shore or otherwise. Again the whole
operation would be recorded. Cargo operation is successfully completed when the cargo is
safely and efficiently discharged/ loaded, and there is no claim of any damaged. A claim
may eliminate or reduce the potential earning of a ship.

Cargo regulations:
Cargoes have been carried and people have travelled across waters on boats and ships from time
immemorial. History of the use of water as a mode of transportation can be traced back to first human
settlements evolving civilisations, which most, if not all, started on the banks of great rivers, lakes and
seas. These civilisations thrived due to their proximity to water for life. Transportation of agricultural
produce down the river subsequently started laying down rudiments of shipping trade.
Carriage of cargoes became more complex and, volume of trade and distance of transportation also
increased. It became obvious that the losses in both property and life were inevitable if care was not
taken whilst loading, carriage and discharge. Revenues were being lost increasing costs and making these
adventures economically inefficient. Various methods and practices were introduced to improve safety
on the ships. Technologies were developed to improve design of the ships, packaging of the cargoes, on
board systems and procedures in handling and carriage of the cargoes. It was necessary that these
technologies be standardised and codified to ensure safety and compatibility between all ship and port
operations.
As mentioned above, cargoes and quantities carried and the vessels which carry them have evolved and
improved and become increasingly complex in nature. Technology, standards, regulations and
compliance also improved to keep pace with the rapid expansion of shipping trade and development of
safe procedures and processes.
IMO & Cargo Operations
In order to make the operations safe and profitable, practices, procedures and standards were created
as the trade increased and expanded. Modern shipping regulations primarily originate from the IMO. The
IMO regulations are called Conventions which generally come from Resolutions and supported by Codes
and Guidelines. A matter of maritime interest or concern may be brought to one of the six IMO bodies,
which are: The Assembly, The Secretariat and the principal fiver committees (Safety, Environmental
Protection, Facilitation, Legal and Technical). These Conventions set out universally agreed standards for
the shipping industry.
The principal international cargo regulations are laid down in SOLAS Chapter VI- Carriage of Cargoes,
Chapter VII- Carriage of Dangerous Goods & Chapter XII- Additional safety measures for bulk carriers
(over 150m in length).

Cargo Codes:
Conventions are invariably accompanied by relevant codes. It is important to note that most of the cargo
codes originate from the IMO. These codes are sets of procedures containing technical detail ensuring
compliance with the relevant convention. There are codes of safe practices and codes to comply with
carriage and carrier requirements. MCA also publishes Codes for safe operations on board, such as The
Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen.
Other International, intra-national and regional pacts/ regulations
There are regional agreements and pacts such as Memoranda of Understanding and economic and
political pacts and alliances which influence national laws. United Kingdom is part of the European Union
and therefore it is obliged to incorporate EU regulations called ‘Directives’ in its own laws. These pacts
address issues on matters of mutual concern and interest of member states.
EU Directives: UK is a member of the European Union and is therefore obliged to incorporate EU
Directives in the UK law.
Paris M-o-U: It is a regional agreement between Northern European countries and Canada. It deals with
Port-State Control measures to improve the effectiveness of compliance, harmonise maritime laws and
information sharing between the member countries. There are similar memoranda in other parts of the
world, such as the Tokyo M-o-U.
Kyoto Agreement deals with environmental protection from air pollution and depletion of ozone layer at
international level.
Hague Rules, Hague-Visby Rules, Hamburg Rules and Rotterdam Rules are internationally agreed
carriage contracts defining the obligations, rights, liabilities and immunities of ships and shippers.
UK Regulations/ Statutory Instruments
The international regulations however, have to be incorporated into national laws in order to be
enforced. In the United Kingdom, laws including maritime laws, are made by the Parliament which is the
supreme law making body. It is the primary source of codified law and are called ‘Acts’ of parliament.
UK Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, contains requirement regarding cargo documentation. It requires that
a cargo carriage contract has to be a written contract. A Bill of Lading, Seaway Bill or Ship’s Delivery
Order may be issued as a final cargo receipt under this law.
Merchant Shipping Regulations is the secondary source of maritime legislation made on behalf of the
parliament by the Secretary of State for Transport. Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations
1999 is the principal cargo operations regulation.
UK also has ‘common law’ which is essentially historic process and customary law. In common law, case
laws are made by law courts on the basis court judgements, custom, precedence, convention and
principles of reasonability.
As seafarers, however, we are more concerned with the UK Codified law and therefore we will focus on
Acts and Merchant Shipping Regulations.
Following are some important UK cargo regulations:
a) Acts of Parliament (Statutes):
1. Merchant Shipping Act 1995
2. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971 & 1992
b) Merchant Shipping Regulations (Statutory Instruments/ S.I.):
1. M.S. (Carriage of Cargoes) Regulations 1999 (see also MGN 107)
2. M.S. (Dangerous Goods & Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997
3. M.S. (Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006
4. M.S. (Provision and Use of Work Equipment) Regulations 2006
5. M.S. (Tonnage) Regulations 1997
6. M.S. (Load-line) Regulations 1998
7. M.S. (Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen Amendments &
Revocation) Regulations 2015 (& 2016 Amendment)
8. M.S. (Health & Safety at Work) Regulations 1997
Port & Flag State Control:
A law is not effective unless it is enforceable. Conventions lack enforcement. In order to enforce
provisions of applicable law, each IMO member state is required to delegate an organisation to enforce
compliance with maritime law through Port and Flag state Control by government agencies or other
authorised recognised organisations. These organisations are empowered to inspect the vessels in their
jurisdiction and depending on the severity of non-compliance, apply various levels of sanctions. If it is a
Port State Control inspection, compliance with the national law of the port would be ensured. However,
if it is a Flag State Control inspection, compliance with the national law of the port of registry of the
vessel would be ensured.
Role of MCA in Port & Flag State Control:
MCA has Port State Control jurisdiction over all vessels within UK waters and Flag State Control
jurisdiction over all UK vessels anywhere in the world. It is the regulatory body entrusted to enforce
provisions of the law and ensure regulatory compliance. It establishes and maintains professional and
technical standards to enable safe operations and protection of the environment. The MCA produces M-
Notices on safety, security & protection of the environment. The M-Notices give MCA interpretation of
the law and provide advice and guidelines incorporating best industry practices.
There are three types of M-Notices, The Merchant Shipping Notice (MSN), The Marine Guidance Note
(MGN) and The Marine Information Note (MIN). Most of the MSN are explanation of the law and MCA
interpretation. The MGN are advisory in nature to help and assist in ensuring best and safest practices
and procedures. MIN are primarily used to give information on administrative issues. They are also
increasingly used to inform the stakeholders of an impending regulation or an imminent change in a
regulation.
The Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen- COSWOP 2015 (see MGN 539)
This Code is published by the MCA and endorsed by the National Maritime Occupational Health & Safety
Committee, UKCS, Nautilus and RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) as best
practice guidance for improving H&S on board. It is intended primarily for merchant seafarers working
on UK registered ships. Risks inherent in the working environment and from violence, smoking, drug and
alcohol abuse, and or dependence are covered by this Code. It gives guidance on how the statutory
obligations should be fulfilled on safe working practices on board. MCA also advises that information,
procedures and/ or working instructions provided by manufacturer, supplier or any other authorised
source should also be followed. The new regulations require that copies of current edition must be
carried on all UK ships (other than fishing vessels and pleasure craft), and at least a copy must be
available to all crew should they request. The previous (1998) regulations required that the Master,
Safety Officer and members of the Safety Committee may all have a copy and at least one available for
general reference. The new regulations explicitly put ship-owners under a duty to ensure sufficient
copies of the Code are available on board so that it is easily accessible and readily available to all crew
members in hard-copy or digitally. The new requirement provides more flexibility as to the precise
number and location of copies of the Code but intends to achieve the same purpose. The Code applies to
everyone on the ship regardless of rank or rating because the recommendations can be effective only if
they are understood by all and if all cooperate in their implementation. Those not actually engaged in a
job in hand should be aware of what is being done, so that they may avoid putting themselves or others
at risk by impeding or needlessly interfering with the conduct of the work.
The regulations place a duty on the ship-owners to ensure there are sufficient copies of the Code
available on a ship so that it is accessible to all seafarers. Its aim is to ensure that all those working on
board ships have ready access to this Code which is the UK shipping industry handbook on H&S on board.
The Code does not have statutory status as few of the UK merchant H&S regulations now refer directly to
the contents of the Code. However, it provides definitive guidance on best practices for many aspects of
H&S on board ship.
The MS (H&S at work) Regulations 1997 place a duty on the employer to ensure the health & safety of
workers and other persons so far as is reasonably practicable. This duty extends to providing information,
instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to all who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Availability and accessibility of the Code to all is a necessary part of compliance with the regulations.
Following is a list of the chapters and main topics within each chapter in the new Code:
1. Managing Occupational H&S: Safe working culture, Management change, Risk Assessment
2. Safety Induction: Emergency Procedures, Fire precautions, Accidents & medical
emergencies, Health & Hygiene, Good Housekeeping, Environmental Responsibilities,
Occupational H&S.
3. Living on Board: Fitness health & hygiene, Smoking, Medication, Malaria, Fatigue, Working
in hot & cold climates and environments, Working clothes, Shipboard housekeeping,
Substances hazardous to health, Common personal injuries.
4. Emergency Drills: Muster & Fire Drills & actions, Abandon ship drills & actions, Man
overboard & drills, Dangerous (enclosed) space drills & action, Assisting casualty, Drills for
leakage & spillage & action.
5. Fire Precautions: Smoking, Electrical & other fittings, Spontaneous combustion, Machinery
spaces, Galleys.
6. Security On board: Ship security plans, Security levels, Precautions, Terrorism, Stowaways,
Piracy & armed robbery, Smuggling, Personnel joining or leaving the vessel.
7. Health Surveillance: Duty of employers, Purpose of health surveillance, Seafarers, Managing
health surveillance, Practical guidance on health surveillance for exposure to biological
agents, reporting of occupational diseases.
8. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): General requirements, Seafarer duties, Types of
equipment, Head/ Hearing/ Body/ Face & eye protection, Respiratory protective equipment,
Hand & foot protection, Protection from falls, Protection against drowning.
9. Safety Signs & their use; Duty to display signs, Role of the seafarer, Signs & notices,
Occasional signs, Electrical wiring, Gas cylinders, Pipelines, Portable fire extinguishers,
Safety signs (see MSN 1763/MGN 566).
10. Manual Handling: Role of the company, Good manual-handling techniques, Factors to be
considered.
11. Safe movement on board ship: Drainage, Transit areas, Lighting, Guarding of openings, W/t
doors, Stairways/ ladders/ portable ladders, Shipboard vehicles, Entry into dangerous
(enclosed) spaces, Working on deck while ship is at sea, Adverse weather, General advice to
seafarers, Standards for hold access & lighting.
12. Noise, vibration & other physical agents: Prevention or control of exposure to a physical
agent, Consultation, Seafarer information & training, Noise, Assessing exposure to noise,
Noise Risk assessment, Noise Health surveillance, Noise arising from music & entertainment,
Types of vibration & their effects, Vibration regulations: Determining, Mitigation Hand-arm/
Whole-body etc., Health surveillance & health monitoring for vibration, Examples of typical
dB(A), Daily exposure to different sound levels, Personal hearing protection.
13. Safety Officials: Employer duties, Company duties, Duties of Safety Officers, Powers of
safety representatives, Advice to safety reps., Advice to safety committees, Accident
investigation, Checklist for safety officer inspection, Voluntary statement.
14. Permit to work systems: Permit to work (PTW) systems, Sanctions to test systems, PTW,
Entry into dangerous (enclosed) space, PTW Working at height/ over the side, Sanction to
test Electrical hi-voltages (>1000 volts).
15. Entering dangerous(enclosed) spaces: Duties & responsibilities of competent & an
authorised officer, Precautions before entering an enclosed space, Identifying potential
hazards, Preparing & securing the space for entry, Testing the atmosphere of the space, Use
of control systems, Safety precautions before entry, Procedures & arrangements during entry
and on completion, Additional requirements for entry into a dangerous space where the
atmosphere or unsafe, Training/ instruction & information, Breathing apparatus &
resuscitation equipment, Preparation for an emergency.
16. Hatch covers & access lids: Hatch covers (mechanical/ non-mechanical), Non-mechanical
manually handled hatch covers, Steel-hinged inspection/ access lids, Access to holds/ cargo/
other spaces.
17. Work at height: Portable ladders, Cradles & stages, Bosun’s chair, Working from punts/
Scaffolding, Emergency planning for work at height, Requirements for ladders, Requirements
for rope access/ positioning techniques/ scaffolding.
18. Provision, care & use of work equipment: Suitability of work equipment, Maintenance,
Inspection, Specific risks, Information & instructions, Training, Duty of seafarers, Dangerous
parts of work equipment, Electrical equipment, Hi or very low temperatures, Controls for
starting or making a significant change in operating conditions, Stop/ Emergency stop
controls, Controls & control systems, Isolation from sources of energy, Stability of work
equipment, Lighting, Markings, Warnings, Hand tools, Portable power-operated tools &
equipment, Workshop fixed installations, Abrasive wheels, Hydraulic/ pneumatic/ high-
pressure jetting equipment, Hydraulic jacks, Carrying of seafarers on mobile work
equipment, Over-turning of fork-lift trucks, Use of mobile work equipment, Self-propelled
work equipment, Remote-controlled self-propelled work equipment, Drive units & power
take-off shafts, Ropes, Characteristics of man-made fibre ropes, Laundry equipment,
Conformity with community requirements, Bulldog grips.
19. Lifting Plant & Operations: Register of lifting appliances, Regular maintenance, Thorough
examination & inspection, Certificates, Reports/ records/ marking of lifting equipment,
Controls, Safety measures, Positioning & installation, Lifting operations, SWL, Use of winches
& cranes, Use of derricks, Use of derricks in union purchase, Use of stoppers, Overhaul of
cargo gear, Trucks & other vehicles/ appliances, Defect reporting & testing: advice to
competent persons, Personnel lifting equipment, lifts & lift machinery, Maintenance &
testing of lifts, Certificates of testing & thorough examination of equipment/ lifting
appliances/ derricks used in union purchase/ loose gear/ wire rope, Register of ship’s lifting
appliances & cargo-handling gear, Code of hand signals.
20. Work on Machinery & Power systems: Work in machinery spaces; Unmanned Machinery
Spaces (UMS), Maintenance of machinery, Boilers & thermal oil heaters, Aux. machinery &
equipment, Main engines, Refrigeration machinery & refrigerated compartments, Steering
gear, Hydraulic & pneumatic equipment, Electrical equipment, Main switchboards, High-
voltage systems, Arc-flash associated with high & low voltage equipment, Storage batteries:
 lead-acid/ alkaline, Work on apparatus on extension runners or on the bench, Servicing radio
& associated electronic equipment & additional electrical hazards from the radio equipment,
Valves & semi-conductor devices.
21. Hazardous Substances & Mixtures: Carcinogens & mutagens, Prevention or control of
exposure, Asbestos dust, Use of chemical agents, Dry-cleaning operations, Safe use of
pesticides, Biological agents, Classification of carcinogens & biological agents.
22. Boarding Arrangements: Safety nets, Use of equipment, Positioning of boarding equipment,
Portable & rope ladders, Maintenance of equipment for means of access, Special
circumstances, Access for pilots, Safe rigging of pilot ladders, Standards for means of access,
Corrosion & fractures of accommodation ladders & gangway.
23. Food Preparation & Handling in the Catering Department: Health & hygiene, Slips/ falls &
tripping hazards, Galley stoves/ steam-boilers & deep fat fryers, Liquid petroleum gas
appliances, Deep fat frying (updated as per SOLAS II-2 Regulation 10; 6.4.3), Microwave
ovens, Catering equipment, Knives/ meat saws/ choppers, etc., Refrigerated rooms & store
rooms.
24. Hot Work: PPE, Pre-use equipment check, Precautions against fire & explosion, Electric
welding equipment, Precautions to be taken during electric arc welding, Compressed gas
cylinders, welding & gas cutting, Hot work: lighting up & shutting down procedures, Earthing
of arc-welding systems’ transformer casing, Hot work: hoses & connections/ assemblies.
(New illustrations for PPE included)
25. Painting: Preparation & precautions, Application of new paint, Use of paint-spraying
equipment. (New illustrations for general painting and spray painting included).
26. Anchoring, Mooring & Towing Operations: Anchoring & weighing anchor, Making fast &
casting off, Mooring to a buoy, Towing, Safe mooring of domestic passenger craft & ship’s
launches to quays, Complex mooring system illustrating the snap-back zone, The full & safe
mooring arrangement for small domestic, passenger craft & launches.
27. Roll-on/ Roll-off Ferries: Ventilation, Fire safety/ prevention, Noise, Safe movement, Use of
work equipment, Inspection of vehicles, Stowage, Securing of cargo, Dangerous goods (DG),
Specialised vehicles, Housekeeping.
28. Dry Cargo: Stowage of cargo, DG & substances, Carriage of containers, Working cargo,
Lighting in cargo spaces, General precautions for personnel, Moveable bulkheads in cargo
holds.
29. Tankers & other ships carrying bulk liquid cargoes: Oil & bulk ore/ oil carriers; 29.4
Chemical carriers.
30. Port towage industry: Watertight integrity, Testing & inspection of towing gear, Connecting
& disconnecting the towing gear, Use of Bridle/ Gog rope during towing operations, Seafarer
safety during towing operations, Communications, Interaction, Escorting.
31. Ships serving offshore oil & gas installations: Responsibilities, General precautions, PPE,
Communications, Carriage of cargo, Bulk cargo operations, Approaching installation & and
cargo handling operations, Transfer of personnel by ship to/ from installation, Transfer by
specialist craft, Transfer by personnel carrier, STS transfer of personnel by transfer capsule,
Transfer by personal basket, Transfer of personnel by gangway, Further guidance, Anchor
handling.
32. Ships serving offshore renewables: Guidance for Vessels serving offshore renewables
installations.
33. Ergonomics: Work with display screen equipment, Ergonomics

APPENDICES:
1. Regulations & MCA M-Notices
2. Other sources of information
3. Standards & specifications referred to in the Code
4. Acknowledgements
Note: Changes to the 2015 Code as per MGN 532 (M) Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers as
per 2016 amendments.

1. New Chapter on ships serving offshore renewable installations

2. New illustrations on PPE for painting and hot work
3. Changes in Chapters: 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 13, 15, 17, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 31 & 32