200624 Unsafe hold design/operations
| I am very concerned by the hold design and cargo operations as illustrated in the photographs below. The typical bulk carrier is not designed with much consideration for the safety of the stevedores who unload the ships, or indeed of the seafarers who man them. The personnel in these photographs include both crew members and stevedores.
The issue of stevedore safety on bulk carriers is a constant theme at seminars and meetings. It is my hope that by bringing this to the attention of classification societies, flag state authorities, shipyards, Intercargo and the industry in general something might be done to improve safety.
Terminals handling 'stickier' products than that in these photographs, such as coal, have to work under conditions much more unsafe than those shown. |