This case, reported by the Swedish Membership, concerned a cargo high quality dispute in the course of the discharge of urea at an African port. The incident centered on the alleged poor high quality of the urea, particularly its nitrogen content material and the presence of caking.
What Occurred
In the course of the discharge, elements of the urea cargo had been discovered to be caked, though the bulk was unloaded usually utilizing grabs. Some lumps remained, and direct bagging was carried out on the dockside. As a result of the hoppers lacked grids, a portion of the urea was discharged in bulk to a warehouse for handbook packing. By the point a cargo knowledgeable arrived, the discharge had been accomplished, and the vessel was positioned underneath arrest resulting from claims regarding nitrogen deficiency and caking.
Native laboratories examined tripartite samples for nitrogen, biuret, and moisture content material, and their outcomes indicated that the nitrogen degree was under specification. Nonetheless, the cargo appeared visually regular, consisting of pure white prills with no seen contamination. Additional supervised sampling throughout discharge, analyzed by an internationally acknowledged laboratory, confirmed nitrogen content material above the required specification, moisture content material nicely inside acceptable limits, and fines ranges inside vary. Based mostly on these dependable outcomes, the vessel was launched, and no additional declare was pursued.
Why It Occurred
The dispute arose primarily resulting from inaccurate or inconsistent native laboratory analyses, which incorrectly recommended out-of-specification nitrogen and moisture content material. Flawed sampling procedures in the course of the preliminary inspections probably contributed to those unreliable outcomes. Moreover, the presence of caking was misinterpreted as a top quality defect, though it’s a pure situation of urea and never associated to vessel fault or water ingress. The mixture of poor sampling practices, questionable testing accuracy, and misunderstanding of caking led to the vessel’s short-term arrest.
Actions Taken
Unbiased tripartite samples had been collected underneath supervision throughout discharge.
Testing was carried out at a acknowledged worldwide laboratory, which offered correct outcomes confirming the cargo met specification.
The arrest of the vessel was lifted after these findings, resolving the dispute.
Classes Discovered
Sampling needs to be executed throughout loading, following native or worldwide requirements, and documented with a Sampling Report.
Retain a part of the unique loading samples in sealed, cool, and dry situations for future reference.
Caking is a pure situation of urea, not brought on by vessel fault or water ingress; correct images assist differentiate it from water injury.
Professional recommendation and photographic proof needs to be obtained shortly when caking is noticed.
Native laboratory outcomes could also be unreliable; unbiased, accredited laboratories needs to be used for verification in high quality disputes.
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Supply: Swedish Membership
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