Recently the Club has encountered a number of cargo damage claims arising due to component failure of Automatic Heeling Systems. These systems are usually fitted on the tanktop in a hold on container ships or multi-purpose general cargo vessels to ensure that the vessel remains upright during cargo operations by automatically pumping ballast from wing tank to wing tank to correct any list that may develop.
Three recent cases all occurred due to component failure during the automatic transfer of ballast from one side of the vessel to another. In one case a banding joint between two pipe sections failed, in another a corrosion hole developed in a pipe, and in the third case a new valve body cracked. In all cases the hold was flooded due to ballast water being pumped in as a result of the failure and, even after the ballast pump had been stopped, water entering the hold through the fault whilst gravitating down from the adjacent ballast tank.
In all cases cargo situated on the tanktop was subject to water damage and a claim was lodged against the Club.
Whilst automatic heeling systems are wonderful tools for easing the burden on Deck Officers during busy cargo operations, their location - mostly situated on the tank top either under the hold walkways or in their own space adjacent to a cargo hold - tends to leave them out of sight and out of mind, as long as they are working.
Owners, managers and vessels must ensure that inspections of the pumps, piping, valves and associated hydraulic valve actuation systems are included in the vessels planned maintenance system to ensure that these items are periodically subject to thorough visual inspection so that any faults developing can be detected early and suitable remedial action taken before a water leakage occurs leading to a cargo claim. In addition, the standard practice of testing cargo hold bilge high level alarms must be adhered to in line with planned maintenance system requirements, and where these are not fitted, the manual sounding of cargo hold bilges undertaken twice a day when this is possible, to ensure that any leakage into a hold can be detected as early as possible.
