94039 Cargo Bulk Loading Unsafe

This ship, a Panamax Bulk Carrier, regularly calls at this port to load coal. The attached message, although not always the same word for word, is the usual welcome we receive the day before arrival.

OFFICE OF ORIGIN = BARRANQUILLA

TO MASTER XXXXXXXXXX

= REF P. BOLIVAR STOP WE HEREBY REMIND YOU THAT THE LOADING RATE AT P. BOLIVAR IS 4000/MT P/H WITH PEAKS OF UP TO 10000 MT THUS YOU MUST BE READY TO DEBALLAST LONGWISE LOADING STOP ALSO TRIM MUST NOT BE EXCEED 2/MTS DIFFERENCE ALTHOUGH DEPENDING ON WEATHER CONDITIONS THEY WILL ACCEPT PROPELLER BE A BIT OUT OF WATER HELPS YOU TO HAVE LESS BALLAST ON BOARD STOP DELAYS DUE TO VESSEL STOPPAGES ARE CHARGED ON VESSELS ACCOUNT USD/1500.00 P/H OR PRO RATA REGARDS

= YYYYYYYY

It would appear that the considerable publicity surrounding the safe loading operations of bulk carriers has not reached this particular terminal. Speed of loading is the only priority. The more ballast that the ship has discharged before arrival the better, in spite of 35 knot cross winds in the approach channel.

The fascinating point is that this place is owned by a large international company which has recently been preaching about "Safe Operations". I am convinced that here we have a disaster in the making.

I believe the following report is important for all seafarers and VTS operators alike. Although the incident occurred in the Wandelaar area, this has no bearing on the content and it could occur in any busy VTS area.