Before the flood

摘要

The vulnerability of bulk carriers to cargo hold flooding is well known. It is typically related to factors such as the type of cargo loaded and the rate of loading where, for example, impacts may cause both short- and long-term damage to the vessel's plating and structure. Similarly, a vessel using a high-capacity loading facility may experience difficulty in matching the pumping-out of ballast with the speed of cargo intake, placing undue stress upon the ship's structure. A lack of proper maintenance and regular monitoring of hull condition can lead to failure as a result of corrosion or reduction of plate thickness. Whatever the cause, any such weakness increases the risk of water ingress. When water does enter a large cargo hold the consequences can be catastrophic.