|
|
CARGO AND MAIL
|
|
161. The Commander and Officers have,
full charge of all cargo and mail carried in the ship. This entails
responsibility for its correct receipt, stowage, care in carriage and
discharge.
|
|
162. The Commander is responsible for
furnishing accurate information to Agents of the deadweight and space
available in the vessel for cargo. It will be the Chief Officer's duty to
undertake the detailed calculations in this respect
|
|
163. Holds and bilges are to be
thoroughly cleaned out whenever necessary, bearing in mind the Company's
responsibility under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Acts. All hold rubbish
and useless dunnage should be disposed of, preferably by dumping at sea
outside Territorial Limits.
 Economy is to be
exercised in employing shore labour in cleaning holds and bilges; whenever
practicable, this operation is to be undertaken by the ship's crew.
|
|
164. Cargo gear will be inspected
daily before commencement of cargo work and an entry made in the Log Book
and signed by the inspecting Officer.
|
|
165. In addition to the regular
inspection of bilges, storm valves and the packing of Macgregor hatch
covers, and the testing of the suctions and steam injections, it is
essential, before loading cargo in any empty compartment, to examine and
hammer test the piping in cargo spaces, e.g., air pipes, filling pipes,
sounding pipes, etc., in order to prevent, and if necessary to defend the
Company's position against, cargo damage claims arising from pipe
failures. Such tests and the names of Officers carrying out the tests are
to be recorded in the Log Book.
|
|
166. Temporary wooden frameworks
against bulkheads, if they are to remain in position for future use, are
to be carefully examined to ensure that they are still serviceable and not
likely to form a danger to Crew members or Stevedore labour working in the
holds.
|
|
167. The Officer or Officers in
charge of the Deck will supervise, and be responsible for, the removal and
replacement of hatch beams and covers and for ensuring that beams are
properly secured, when in position, to prevent their being unshipped
whilst working cargo or through any other cause.
When hatches are
open, safety chains and rails must he in position and all Factory Act
requirements complied with.
|
|
168. To avoid accidents, every
endeavour is to be made to prevent persons from entering or leaving the
holds while cargo is being worked, except by access ladders or other
routes which are clear of the hatch square.
Ladders
are to he frequently examined for any damage which may have occurred
during the course of cargo working and any damage found will be repaired
as soon as possible. Should it he necessary to use ladders which are
damaged but not considered unsafe, warning notices and/or other safety
precautions are to be used.
|
|
169. The use of naked lights or
smoking in holds containing cargo, or in the vicinity of hatches, is
strictly forbidden.
|
|
170. Particular attention must be
paid to adequate dunnaging of holds. The Chief Officer will exercise
strict control over the supply and use of dunnage and maintain a Dunnage
Register.
|
|
171. Particular attention must he
given to correct ventilation of different types of cargo in the context of
atmospheric conditions and the type of cargo carried. Appropriate entries
will be made in the Log Book on each occasion when hatches are opened for
ventilation and when they are again closed.
|
|
172. Every precaution must be taken
to ensure that any hold containing fruit and/or other vegetable matter is
free from gas before any person is allowed to enter. An effective test as
to the presence of gas may be made by lowering a live chicken into the
hold and observing its reactions.
It is considered
unsafe to use a light for this purpose
|
|
173. Special precautions must he
taken to ensure the security and safe carriage of explosives and dangerous
goods, specie, and other valuable cargo, arms and ammunition.
|
|
174. Care must be exercised in
arranging stowage to ensure, as far as practicable, a longitudinal
distribution of cargo in order to avoid stresses and strains which might
cause structural damage to the ship, particularly in heavy weather, in
accordance with, and within the permissible limits allowed by, the
relevant Fleet Orders issued separately. All precautions must be taken to
prevent shifting of cargo in heavy weather.
|
|
175. In conjunction with Agents the
Chief Officer will ensure that an adequate tally is kept, to the extent
possible, of all cargo loaded and discharged.
|
|
176. Mates Receipts are to be granted
for all cargo shipped and care must be taken to ensure that the details
entered therein are correct. They are to he checked as far as practicable
and signed by the Chief Officer after receipt of cargo on board.
|
|
177. If the cargo loaded is in a
damaged or sub-standard condition the Mates Receipt will be claused with a
factual statement about the damage or shortcomings; It is not to be
claused with statements concerning the responsibility of the Company.
|
|
178. The Chief Officer is responsible
for ensuring that cargo is not mislanded or overcarried. A "Hatch
Search Book" will be kept on board, showing every compartment which
may he used for cargo. The Chief Officer will detail an Officer at each
discharge port to make a personal search of all compartments before labour
leave the ship to ensure, as far as practicable, that all cargo due to be
discharged according to the Stowage Plan and /or other cargo documents, is
discharged. Thereafter the Officer concerned will sign the Hatch Search
Book to this effect.
The
Chief Officer will make an entry in the Deck Log to the effect that a
search has been made and will report to the Commander that on the basis of
the Stowage Plan and relevant documents a detailed search reveals that all
cargo for the port concerned has been discharged.
|
|
179. The Commander, at his discretion
and in consultation with Agents, should note a protest when weather
conditions or some incident render this advisable or necessary.
Extended
protest should not normally he necessary and should he noted only when
particularly requested by Agents at the port concerned.
The Commander is
to submit a report accompanied by extracts from the Log Book of any
special circumstances which are likely to give rise to claims against the
Company
|
|
180. The Chief Officer will give
advance and sufficient notice to the Chief Engineer Officer of the time at
which refrigerated cargo will he received for loading to enable the
chambers to be cooled down. The Chief Engineer Officer is responsible for
checking the condition of refrigerated cargo, before loading, to ensure
that it is in good and fit condition for shipment and also for maintaining
the chambers at the specified temperatures. Every precaution must he taken
by the Chief Officer to tally such cargo, in and out, correctly and to
arrange stowage in such a way as will least affect the temperature and
conditions of through refrigerated cargo when discharging or loading at
intermediate ports. Dunnaging if refrigerated cargo will be arranged by
the Chief Officer in conjunction with the Chief Engineer Officer in order
to ensure that cold air circulation is not impeded. (See also Reg.
79).
|
|
181. Every effort must be made to
accept all mailbags and packages tendered for shipment. Special
precautions must he taken to tally mailbags correctly during loading and
discharge and to prevent pilferage.
Ordinary
mail should, whenever possible, and "red-label" mail must, be
carried in lock-up stowage.
|
|
|
|
|
