LOADING OF SCRAP-METAL ON SHIP OF «COASTER» TYPE

The article is devoted to the technology of carrying of scrap metal on coasters. Scrap metal, being the cargo, possesses characteristics, which should be taken into consideration by navigator at ship loading. The peculiarity of such category of cargo is relatively serious stowage factor. The pile of scrap metal contains various metal components and items of different shape, size and weight. The observations during the voyage have allowed the determination of the following fact: when grab tears some scrap metal off the pile, it destroys or straightens the parts of the cargo that have lain affected by the pressure forces, and while being loaded into the hold, they may change shape and size. This phenomenon is noticed, when the cargo consists of spring products, wire, tin plates and deformed sheet metal. At present to reduce the loss of the space of the hold at the loading of scrap metal the technology of its “compression” with grab, press or other devices is used. The maximum attention should be paid to the process of “compression” as very often it becomes the reason of underloading of the vessel with the scrap metal.

At the designing of the coaster vessels for the future fleet the constructive characteristics of the hold are suggested to be reviewed. The possibility to install the special moving metal bulkhead should be foreseen. It will allow making this fleet more specialized and adapted for the carrying of two or more kinds of scrap metal, bulk cargo simultaneously. The ship-owners will obtain wider opportunities for the exploitation of the new fleet at different freight markets.