A case study work on self heating and explosion risks of coal cargo in marine transportation

Abstract

Despite human being's efforts on reducing consumption of fossil fuels for the green hause gas effect reduction purpose, coal consumption is still increasing. New mines are being discovered and put in service. So, production and maritime transportation of unknown coal types by means of self-heating and explosive gas emitting characteristics rises with new mines and new coal types having different characteristics. For the lots of ports and areas all over the world, coal experts having knowledge of coal cargo characteristics derived form historical information and experiences and they provide their advice based on such information on hand in case of need. In fact, the shippers at ports are using the past experiences of the coal cargo shipped from their mines in the cargo information being provided to the Masters prior to loading. However, putting new mines in service and loading new coal parcels which were not shipped before, result with transportation of the cargo with shortage on self-heating and explosive gas emitting characteristics knowledge prior to loading. Of course, the heat and explosion are not the only risks of coal carriage by sea, but we will not evaluate the other risks in this thesis. The main rule maker of the maritime industry is the IMO and the main instrument of the IMO on coal cargo risk mitigation is the IMSBC Code. This instrument categorises the solid bulk cargoes being transported by sea into three groups according to the dangers posed. The groups are called as Group-A, Group-B and Group-C. Group-A cargoes has liquefaction danger depending moisture content of the parcels being transported by vessels. The coal cargo may also have characteristics of Group-A containing liquefaction risk, and it is added to the IMSBC Code by IMO-MSC Resolution MSC.426(98) which adopted on 15th June, 2017 but the liquefaction risk will not be mentioned in the thesis anymore. Group-B cargoes composes chemical danger where the main topic of this thesis included. Regulatory guidances for the coal's chemical danger mitigation can be found in this part of the IMSBC Code. Group-C cargoes are neither liable to liquefy (Group A) nor to possess chemical hazards (Group B), but can possess other dangers than stated ones in Group-A and Group-B. The topic of the thesis is being included in Group-B cargo of coal and its dangers being taken into account in the code under this group are; making the atmoshphere dangerous for livings by emitting or depleting the gases, emitting chemical gasses which may cause fire and explosion and composing corrosive chemical dangers to the compartment stowed in, related equipments and livings consequently. Among all such dangers that coal may compose, the potential for causing self-heat/fire and explosion due to the gas emissions will be the topic of this study. Such risks will not constitute potentials only against safety of life and vessel, but may harm the commercial issues seriously with or without harming the safety of life and vessel. Despite having above mentioned IMO instrument, it is being observed that, Masters are still struggling to make proper decisions on how to evaluate and mitigate chemical risks of the coal cargo. The risks exist not only against to maritime safey, but also to the maritime commerce. Lots of fatalities and damages to property occurred in the incidents caused by such risks, huge amounts and numbers of claims arisen in the past. These claims, unfortunately still being rised in the industry. Marine insurance is to recover the claims arisen after coal cargo incidents, so we may accept that the P&I clubs are being the most affected stake holders in maritime business by means of recovering the costs. As a result, the risks constituting the topic of our study, are mostly being researched by insurance companies and bulletins, circulars are being published as reminder / refresher to maritime management companies ans seafafrers as well. The IMSBC Code, The SOLAS Convention (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea), The IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code) and some others published by the international maritime rule maker body, The IMO, contributes to safety of maritime carriage by enforcing some responsibilities both to shipper and carrier. The core responsilities assigned to the shipper are to provide sound cargo and correct/proper cargo information providing to Master. Seafarers will apply the professional diligence to cargo with the training taken by them, the guidance of publications on board and their experiences after obtaining cargo information. The physical construction and design of the vessels are being completed under similar requirements. Eventually, the risk mitigation components are being built with all aspects mentioned above and the incidents might be prevented if all completed successfully. Human being has made significant progress in the design of the physical stcructures of the ship and its equipment. This is one of the components in preventing accidents, and with technological developments the contribution is still increasing. Since, the inspection regime on the physical construction and design of the ships is very strict, the number of incidents with coal carriage caused by inadequate ship design and physical condition are quite low compared to the other factors. However, the inspection regimes on the issues of sound cargo, correct and proper cargo information, and seafarer's due diligence during voyage are still not at the desired level. The defects on those issues can be observed even not making any analysis of the incidents being occurred. Based on above info and the purpose of providing clarification, this thesis will perform a case study approach by use of "Fuzzy Fault Tree Analysis" method and will try to provide an additional light for the Masters, their representatives on board and managing company representatives to manage safer coal transports by vessels. In the Fuzzy Fault Tree Analysis method, the fault tree constructed for self-heating and explosion risks will be used to determine base events/faults and their possibilities will be defined by expert judgements. Then, sample cases will be evaluated to determine sector inadequacies and proposals will be provided to overcome them. As a conclusion, the thesis will contribute maritime safety researchers and maritime professionals for minimizing potential risks before loading and during transport of coal cargoes on-board ships. Accordingly, improvement advice will we provided, the outcomes of the thesis will be presented to maritime stakeholders such as P&I Clubs, training bodies, seafarers, and institutions to enhance safety knowledge on the gas emission and self-heating dangers of coal. I believe, the findings of this study will provide contribution to IMSBC Code with respect to its guidelines on the coal cargo gas emissions and self-heating precautions & guidances.