Guidance for loading grain, concentrates, & timber in Canada

Transport Canada has issued Ship Safety Bulletin No. 22/2024 providing crucial guidance to Masters of vessels that are preparing to load specific high-risk cargoes—grain, concentrates, and timber on deck—at Canadian ports.

Purpose:

The bulletin is designed to inform stakeholders about new guidance documents, specifically:

TP 15611E: Guidance for loading grain in bulk.
TP 15612E: Guidance for loading concentrates in bulk.
TP 15613E: Guidance for loading timber on deck.

These documents aim to assist ship Masters in preparing for mandatory inspections, ensuring compliance with Canadian regulations, and saving time and effort during the loading process. Notably, the older TP 215 - Instructions to Masters of Vessels Loading Grain in Canada remains in effect for calculating grain stability.

Scope:

This bulletin is relevant for Masters of vessels visiting Canadian ports who intend to load any of the three high-risk cargoes—grain, concentrates, or timber on deck. These vessels are subject to inspection under the CFTR, specifically under application sections 107, 122, or 131. Non-compliance may result in delayed clearance, affecting the ship's schedule and the safety of the cargo, crew, and environment.

Background:

The safe loading, stowing, securing, and carriage of cargo is critically important for any vessel's voyage. Improper handling of cargo such as grain, concentrates, or timber on deck can increase the risk of accidents due to their potential to shift during transit or exhibit specific chemical reactions. These cargoes also account for a large volume of Canada’s exports, making safety in their transport a priority for both economic and environmental reasons.

Following several major maritime accidents involving ships leaving Canadian ports in the 1990s, Canada implemented a mandatory inspection program for vessels loading these types of cargoes. This inspection program ensures compliance with national and international safety standards, ultimately resulting in the issuance of two key certificates for compliant vessels:

Certificate of Readiness to Load (RTL)
Fitness to Proceed Certificate (FTP)

Non-compliant vessels will receive a Written Statement, indicating that they do not meet the required safety standards.

Modernization and Guidance:

As part of Transport Canada's modernization of the marine sector, this newly published guidance is designed to further assist Masters in preparing their vessels for inspection. It focuses on ensuring that vessels are ready for the safe and efficient loading, stowing, securing, and carriage of these high-risk cargoes.

What Masters Need to Know:

Concentrates: Masters of vessels loading concentrates in bulk must ensure that their ships comply with the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code and any applicable parts of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Under CFTR section 108, vessels loading concentrates are required to undergo inspections to ensure safety compliance.
Grain: Masters of vessels loading grain in bulk must ensure compliance with the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk (International Grain Code) and any relevant parts of SOLAS. These regulations, referenced in CFTR section 123, necessitate vessel inspections to confirm that they meet stability and safety standards when transporting bulk grain.
Timber on Deck: Vessels loading timber on the uncovered part of a freeboard or superstructure deck must adhere to the requirements of the Timber Code and SOLAS. Under CFTR sections 132-133, these vessels must undergo inspection to verify compliance with safety standards for securing and stowing timber on deck.

Inspection Program:

The inspection process is mandatory for all vessels loading these cargoes in Canadian ports and is carried out in accordance with the CFTR. The inspections are designed to mitigate the risks associated with transporting these high-risk cargoes and to safeguard the vessel, crew, cargo, and environment.

Compliant vessels are issued the Certificate of Readiness to Load (RTL) and Fitness to Proceed Certificate (FTP).
Non-compliant vessels receive a Written Statement, which may delay their loading operations or clearance to depart.

This inspection program was implemented after a series of serious maritime accidents in the 1990s, underscoring the risks involved in transporting these cargoes.