PART 1 TYPES OF STEEL CARGOES

Steel cargoes can be split into two categories: products that are packed or wrapped and those that are not.

Category A - Packed or wrapped
- Special quality wire rods in coil form; for example, pre-stressing wire, tyre cord, high tensile wire rods. This type of wire rod is usually wrapped in strong waterproofed reinforced material.

- Cold rolled steel sheeting in coils and packages.

- Coated steel in coils and packages; for example galvanised, aluminised and paint-coated.

- Tin plate in steel boxes - also shipped in coils on wooden skids. These products are usually wrapped in plastic coated kraft paper, with an outer layer of steel sheet wrapper. The bundles are then secured with flat metal strapping bands.

Packing is designed to protect the products from handling damage and from the atmosphere and to keep bundles together. It is not airtight or watertight.

Category B - Not packed or wrapped
- Structural steels; for example beams, angles, flats, channels, reinforcing bars, squares, rounds. Usually shipped in 20 or 40 feet (6 metre and 12 metre) bundles, secured by wire bands or strapping bands.

- Single flat steel plates and bundles of steel plates secured with strapping bands.

- Hot rolled steel sheeting in coils and bundles, secured with metal strapping bands.

- Steel slabs, billets, blooms, mild steel hot rolled wire rods.

- Scrap: ferrous metal, borings, shavings, turnings, cuttings, iron swarf, steel swarf. Scrap metal can heat spontaneously leading to fire. This is because it has a high surface area for its mass, making oxidation easy. Vibrations and working of the vessel causes friction and therefore heating. Masters are advised to familiarise themselves with the special dangers presented by scrap metal, before carrying it. If in doubt the local Skuld Correspondents should be consulted. A few guidelines:

- Care should be taken over ventilation.

- Cargo which was wet before loading is more likely to heat in transit.

- Scrap metal must not be allowed to come into contact with sea water.

- Check the temperature of the bulk ashore, before loading: if it is increasing, consider rejecting the cargo.

- If the surface temperature of the bulk reaches 80°C at sea and shows no sign of cooling, there is a real risk of fire. Consider diverting to a suitable port of refuge.

- Cargo should be loaded, segregated, stowed and carried in accordance with the latest edition of the IMO Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes (BC Code).