The carriage of heavy cargoes involves specific risks. This requires a careful and tailored approach when preparing charterparty terms, voyage plans, loading, stowage and securing plans, crew training, and the applicable laws and regulations.
To effectively manage these risks and assist members in handling such cargoes, the NNPC Conditions include a mandatory notification requirement for certain cargoes. In addition, NNPC offers active support to members during the preparation phase to minimize risks as much as possible. Pursuant to Article 12 of the NNPC P&I Conditions, members are obliged to notify cargoes exceeding 50 tons or cargoes that are difficult to secure. In case of any doubt, we strongly recommend contacting NNPC as a precautionary measure.
Upon notification, NNPC can assist in reviewing the voyage conditions. Where necessary, and in consultation with the member, NNPC may engage a heavy-lift cargo expert to assess the planning and provide advice as required. To enable a prompt and thorough assessment, we kindly ask members to provide at least the following information when submitting a notification:
- The charterparty terms;
- A description of the cargo (including weight and dimensions);
- The voyage plan and copies of the loading, stowage and securing plans; and
- A copy of the stability calculations.
Based on this information, NNPC will jointly assess the risks with you, including the adequacy of the lashing and securing arrangements and the potential for damage to cargo and vessel. Where necessary, this will be done with the support of a heavy-lift cargo surveyor. The costs of this support will be covered by NNPC. In some cases, the carriage of certain heavy cargoes under specific conditions may require additional insurance coverage. NNPC is, of course, available to advise on the necessary protection.
Analysis of the claims handled by NNPC in recent years involving the carriage of heavy cargoes shows that many risks were not sufficiently identified in advance. In many instances, implementing preventive measures could have avoided or mitigated the damage.
By jointly reviewing the contractual arrangements and voyage planning, appropriate measures can be taken to minimize the risks. For any questions or assistance, we invite members to contact the NNPC claims team at claims@nnpc-marine.com.
