The Foreword to the CSS Code highlights that:
“Improper stowage and securing of cargoes has resulted in numerous serious ship casualties and caused injury and loss of life, not only at sea but also during loading and discharge.”
Recognising this safety gap in the steel cargo segment, Capt Leo Vincent of Jurong Port and appointed consultant Capt Ivan Todorov of Brookes Bell developed a set of guidelines, which forms the basis of this publication. The neighbouring ports of Johor Port, Northport, Westports and Penang Port joined Jurong Port in support of the project and, after a comprehensive review of the issues faced by stevedores during the discharging of various steel cargoes, the Ports issued the ‘Best Practice Guidelines for Stowage and Securing of Steel Cargoes’.
The Guidelines have been developed to assist ships’ Masters and officers, port Captains, load port agents and stevedores, charterers and shippers when planning to load steel cargoes that are bound for Malaysia or Singapore. However, they can be applied to any other ports.
The Guidelines cover the following types of steel cargoes: Rebar | Wire Rod in Coils (WRIC) | Steel Plate | Pipes | Structural Steel | Hot and Cold Rolled Steel Coils | Ingots, Billets, Blooms, Slabs & Combined Stowage of Different Steel Products and are fully intended to be an international guide that can be applied to any port handling steel cargoes.