Fuzzy (Linted) Cottonseed – Carriage Requirements
Marine Notice 20/2006
Supersedes 8/2001
The purpose of this Marine Notice is to draw attention to the amended carriage requirements for bulk Fuzzy Cottonseed and ‘in principal agreement’ for its inclusion as a new schedule in the IMO Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes (the BC Code). Bulk Fuzzy Cottonseed is a seasonal export from Australia, which has a three to four month season commencing in June. Shipments of this commodity commenced in 1997. The predominant market is the United States of America with smaller volumes being exported to Spain and the Middle East.
Fuzzy Cottonseed is cottonseed with short cotton fibres adhering to the kernel after most of the cotton (around 90 percent) has been removed by machine. Information provided to AMSA indicates that Fuzzy Cottonseed is an allergen, which causes irritation of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Testing also suggested that Fuzzy Cottonseed may self-heat when it is carried in bulk.
To address this concern Fuzzy Cottonseed was tested using samples with moisture content not exceeding 9 per cent and an oil content not exceeding 19 per cent. The tests found that Fuzzy Cottonseed with these oil and moisture contents was not readily combustible. Since these tests were conducted shipments of Fuzzy Cottonseed with oil and moisture content in excess of 9 per cent moisture and/or 19 per cent oil have been monitored. As a result it has been determined that there appears to be no increase in the risk of self heating arising as a result of oil contents up to 20.5 per cent with a moisture content of 9 per cent.
It is known that organic materials such as Fuzzy Cottonseed have the potential to cause oxygen depletion in hatches. To date there has been no definitive finding that Fuzzy Cottonseed will cause oxygen depletion in holds but as the potential exists precautions are required. In light of this AMSA has classed Fuzzy Cottonseed as being a “Material Hazardous only in Bulk”. This is defined in the BC Code as being a material, which presents sufficient hazards to require specific precautions to be taken.
As a result of data collected in respect of Fuzzy Cottonseed AMSA made a submission to DSC 11 resulting in an “in principal agreement” to include Fuzzy Cottonseed in the BC code under its own schedule as “LINTED COTTONSEED”.
The carriage requirements shown in the attachment to this Notice have been revised to reflect the change in title and to harmonise with the format used in the 2004 Edition of the BC Code. These requirements apply to Linted Cottonseed with a moisture content not exceeding 9 per cent and an oil content not exceeding 20.5 per cent.
Due to the fact testing has been confined to the oil and moisture contents of 19 per cent and 9 per cent respectively and insufficient data is available to draw any conclusions in relation to the risks associated with an oil content in excess of 20.5 per cent AMSA is to be informed if Linted Cottonseed is to be shipped with an moisture content exceeding 9 per cent or an oil content exceeding 20.5 per cent. Under these circumstances AMSA will issue special carriage requirements on a case by case basis.
The special carriage requirements for Linted Cottonseed with an oil content in excess of 20.5 per cent and moisture content in excess of 9 per cent require temperature monitoring of the cargo. The results of this monitoring and a copy of the cargo declaration showing the oil and moisture content should be sent to AMSA at the address on the bottom of this notice. This information will be used to inform any further reviews of the maximum oil and moisture content permissible for shipment under these carriage requirements.
This notice replaces Marine Notice 8/2001 issued in August 2001.
David Baird
A/g Chief Executive Officer
7 November 2006
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Internet address for all current Marine Notices: www.amsa.gov.au