In its latest loss prevention initiative, the Club has released a new training video featuring a fictional bulk carrier, MV Calm Sea, designed to support shipowners, operators, Masters, crew members, and port agents in recognising the risks associated with the improper handling and stowage of jumbo bags, particularly when transporting dry chemical cargoes. This case study-based resource aims to help industry stakeholders understand key liabilities and identify best practices for safe operations.
The renewed warning follows several reported incidents involving cargo fires and structural damage, particularly on bulk and general cargo vessels calling at Chinese ports.
The Club has emphasised that non-compliance with relevant international safety regulations could invalidate P&I cover, increasing the financial exposure for shipowners and operators.
According to Ian Barr, Chief Claims Officer at the London P&I Club, growing market pressures have led to frequent requests to load jumbo bags in the same holds as steel and other breakbulk cargoes, or to store multiple chemical products in close proximity. He noted that this practice presents significant hazards. When incompatible chemicals are carried together, the potential for contamination and chemical reaction rises substantially. In some cases, this has resulted in onboard fires and the total loss of all cargo within an affected hold.
Barr also pointed out that improper stowage alongside hard or heavy cargoes, such as steel products, can damage the structural integrity of the bags, leading to cargo spillage, port delays, regulatory fines, and potential claims. He stressed that while jumbo bags may appear innocuous, they can pose considerable danger if not managed correctly.
He urged all operators to adopt a proactive approach by utilising available training materials and engaging early with their P&I Club, particularly when planning mixed cargoes or complex stowage arrangements. Seeking input from qualified chemical or cargo handling experts is essential to mitigating risk and ensuring compliance.
The Club has reminded its members that P&I cover may be prejudiced where storage and handling practices do not align with mandatory requirements adopted by the vessel’s flag state. These include the International Maritime Organization’s International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the ship’s approved Cargo Securing Manual (CSM), the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code), and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
The London P&I Club’s latest advice also highlights the importance of stowing cargo strictly in accordance with the vessel’s Cargo Securing Manual and the CSS Code. It recommends, where feasible, that dry chemicals be carried in ISO containers rather than jumbo bags, as the former provide improved containment. Operators should carefully assess all chemicals being shipped in FIBCs, particularly when more than one product is loaded in the same hold, since interactions between substances are not always detailed in material safety data sheets. Professional input should be sought wherever there is uncertainty about chemical properties or compatibility.
This initiative follows similar guidance issued recently by the Gard Club, which also drew attention to the risks associated with jumbo bag handling and offered practical recommendations to promote safer cargo operations.