200867 Hazards of scrap iron cargoes

Source: Gard Loss Prevention Circular no. 06-07

From time to time there have been problems in connection with export sales of scrap metal from Russia. The war in North Caucasus (Chechnya) has for some time been a source of scrap metal. Tons of military steel therefore arrive at the sea ports mixed with standard / commercial scrap and it has proved difficult to recognise military parts in the heaps of scrap intended for loading on to ships. In addition, other hazards are mixed in with the metal scrap such as wire balls, tin sheets and metal cuttings / shavings / turnings, with the latter also being subject to self-ignition.

Export scrap is usually covered by safety declarations and quality certificates with reference to Russian state standard 3A. Masters should insist on being provided with the description and dimensions of the pieces to be loaded. They should also instruct the crew as to the types of cargo which can be loaded and which cargo must be rejected.

We also refer to Gard News 159, September/November 2000, 'Warning: scrap metal from Russia' and the recommendations set out in this article:
Request shippers (forwarders) to provide a detailed description of the scrap to be loaded.
Arrange a 24-hour watch near the holds in order to check the cargo in each load.
Stop loading immediately if any suspicious military parts or non-standard pieces are noticed.
Send a letter of protest to all parties concerned (in the first instance to the local harbour master, who is responsible for the ship's safety) against loading dangerous/improper cargo.
Request that any dangerous pieces of cargo be removed from the ship's holds.

Editor's note: Recently containerised steel scrap from West Asia to India contained several pieces of live artillery shells, rockets and military ordnance. At least two instances of explosions that caused fatalities to workers destuffing the containers have been recorded.