Intercargo strengthens nickel ore warning

Intercargo has issued formal guidance on the safe loading and carriage of nickel ore in bulk carriers. The guidance follows a series of fatal incidents involving the loss of ships, most recently Vinalines Queen, with cargoes of nickel ore from Indonesia for China. The brief document lays out clearly the steps to be taken, what to look out for and when masters should order loading to be halted. Intercargo also points to information provided by P&I clubs on the subject. The guide can be downloaded free of charge from Intercargo’s website, www.intercargo.org.