E

SUB-COMMITTEE ON CARRIAGE OF CCC 3/INF.21

CARGOES AND CONTAINERS 1 July 2016
3rd session ENGLISH ONLY
Agenda item 5
AMENDMENTS TO THE IMSBC CODE AND SUPPLEMENTS

Supporting information for the proposed new individual schedule for

Palm kernel shells

Submitted by Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Poland

and the International Group of P&I Clubs

SUMMARY

Executive summary: This document contains information to support the proposed new
individual schedule for Palm kernel shells in bulk (Group B) in the
IMSBC Code

Strategic direction: 5.2

High-level action: 5.2.3

Output: 5.2.3.3

Action to be taken: Paragraph 3

Related document: CCC 3/5/16

Introduction

1 Further information on Palm kernel shells is provided to support the consideration of

the proposed new schedule contained in document CCC 3/5/16.

2 The information is provided in accordance with the format for the properties of cargoes
not listed in Appendix 1 of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code
(MSC.1/Circ.1453/Rev.1) and including additional information based on a supplementary
investigation research undertaken after two recent incidents involving the production of
significant quantities of methane gas.

Action requested of the Sub-Committee

3 The Sub-Committee is invited to note the information provided and take action as
appropriate.

***

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ANNEX

INFORMATION ON PALM KERNEL SHELLS

Basic background information

Are there other synonyms or trade PKS, PKS Shells, PKS Fuel, Palm Shell Fuel. This
names in use? cargo should not be confused with Palm Kernel
Expellers which can contain more residual oil and
are therefore regulated in the appropriate section
of the IMSBC Code as SEED CAKE.
How is it manufactured, how is it made, The kernel, or nut, of the palm oil fruit is crushed to
or where does it originate? extract palm kernel oil leaving two residual
products, namely Palm Kernel Shells and the
previously mentioned Palm Kernel Expellers.
What is it used for? A sustainable and renewable biofuel.
Where is it produced? In what Palm oil producing countries. Volumes are
countries? In what volumes? increasing.
What experience do you have with the Commensurate with cargo volume growth. Primary
cargo? experience through two, known potential incidents.

Basic cargo properties

The following information may be included in the Description section of the draft individual
schedule.

What colour is it? Brownish-yellow

Does it have an odour? No
What form is the cargo in? What Fibrous woody-material. Particle sizes typically
particle sizes? 5-40 mm.
How much moisture is in the cargo? Intrinsically low moisture content. Can take up
How much oil is in the cargo? large quantities of free moisture after tropical
rain-storms etc. – moisture content of 20% or
above has been recorded when loaded from open
storage.
Typically below 1% oil, but individual cargoes may
vary.
How is it stored? Outside? Under Outside. Generally open to atmosphere. Exporting
cover? countries tend to be in tropical zones which are
susceptible to intensive periods of heavy
precipitation.
Does the cargo cake when wet? No
Is it a cohesive cargo or a free-flowing Cohesive.
cargo?

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Hazardous properties

For this section of the questionnaire, each answer should be supported by test data on multiple
samples from different sources. If a question is not applicable, a detailed explanation of why it
is not applicable should be made.

Does it meet the definition of No

dangerous goods (Hazard Classes
1-9)? Which hazard classes?
Is the cargo easily ignitable, May emit flammable gases that can start a cargo fire.
combustible or flammable?
Can the cargo contribute to fire or Yes. Cargo may provide fuel to fire resulting from
accelerate a fire? ignition of emitted methane gases.
Does the cargo self-heat? Liable to self-heat by either microbiological means
What causes the self-heating? and/or any oxidation of the oil component Self-heating
Fungal or bacterial growth? occurs when the cargo is loaded in an excessively wet
Oxidation? condition.
Does the cargo react with water Excessive moisture can result in methane levels of up
causing toxic or flammable gases to to 49.9% by volume and carbon dioxide levels of
be released? 43.2% by volume, as documented in gas samples
Which gases? drawn from the cargo in five cargo holds of a bulk
How toxic or flammable are the carrier loaded with PKS.
gases?
What is the rate of evolution? Mol Mol Mol Mol Mol
% % % % %
Hold 5 Hold 4 Hold 3 Hold 2 Hold 1
H2 0.010 0.050 0.043 0.045 0.021
CO2 38.788 37.790 40.702 43.281 41.539
O2 0.900 1.189 0.726 0.961 0.335
& Ar
CH4 37.459 35.188 43.001 49.915 42.094

In addition, toxic gas (carbon monoxide) can reach

levels of 990 ppm within 48 hours of closing hatch
covers.

Is the cargo toxic? No, but emits toxic gas (carbon monoxide).
Toxic by inhalation?
Toxic by skin content or ingestion?
How toxic? Acute or chronic
toxicity?
Does the cargo exhibit any long-term No
health effects, such as
carcinogenic, mutagenic or
reprotoxic properties?
Is the cargo a respiratory No
sensitizer?
Does the cargo contain known No
pathogens?
Does the cargo react with water No
causing corrosion?
Corrosion to eyes, skin or metal?
What is the rate of corrosion?

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Is the cargo corrosive without No

water?
Corrosion to eyes, skin or metal?
What is the rate of corrosion?
Is the cargo hazardous to the No
environment?
Is the dust flammable or explosive? Yes
Can the cargo deplete oxygen in Yes – oxygen levels in all cargo spaces reduced to
cargo spaces and adjacent spaces? below 1% by volume within 48 hours of closing the
By how much? hatch covers in line with the data for a known incident.

Is the cargo incompatible with other No

cargoes or chemicals?
Which cargoes or chemicals?
Can the cargo liquefy during a No
voyage?
What is the Transportable Moisture
Limit of the cargo?
If the cargo is MHB, indicate on the See below
following notational list the identified
cargo related hazards:

Notional
Chemical Hazard Reference Yes/No

Combustible solids CB
Self-heating solids SH
Solids that evolve flammable gas WF
when wet
Solids that evolve toxic gas when WT
wet
Toxic solids TX
Corrosive solids CR
Other hazards OH Yes

If your answer is "OH", please provide a description: Pending finalization of standardized

methods for characterizing off-gassing in solid biofuels (ISO Technical Committee 238, project
ISO/AWI 20048 "Solid Biofuels – Determination of off-gassing and oxygen depletion"), the
initial notional reference is limited only to MHB-OH. In due course, consideration may have to
be given to replacing this reference with MHB-WF and/or MHB-WT.

Operational questions

How is the cargo loaded? Conveyor? Multiple loading techniques may be used.
Clam shell?
Does the cargo need to be trimmed? Trimming acceptable if required.
What type of ship will be used? Bulk Bulk Carrier.
carrier? OBO? Self-unloading vessel?
General cargo ship? Barge?
What experience do you have carrying Sea-borne transport of Palm Kernel Shells is
the cargo in bulk by vessel? By road and increasing.
rail?

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Have there been any incidents when Yes – at least two where the fermentation-style
transporting the cargo as a result of the processes on bulk carriers loaded with wet Palm
cargo properties or hazards? Kernel Shells resulted in a release of methane
levels up to 49.9% by volume (equivalent to
1,000% of the lower explosive limit) in one
instance and 18% (equivalent to 360% LEL) in a
second example.
Are there any recommendations for tank Load in a clean and dry hold.
or hold cleaning?

Emergency response questions

In the event of fire, can the cargo be

Water or CO2 may be used but with an attendant
extinguished with water? CO2? risk of methane-accumulation in sealed holds.
In the event of personal exposure what
Standard processes for the risk of oxygen
procedures should be followed? depletion and asphyxiating and toxic gases
should be followed.
What happens in the event of an No known issues.
accidental release into water during
transport?

Testing questions

Which hazards have been assessed?
Which tests were conducted?
What were the results of these tests?
Flammability, toxic & asphyxiation. Oxygen
depletion.
Prescribed test methods in IMSBC Code 9.2.3.4
and 9.2.3.5 are designed for materials
undergoing a chemical reaction with water and
may not be appropriate for organic materials
producing gas by fermentation. See previous
comment about the potential development of ISO
tests.
Incident 1
Methane levels rapidly increased in all holds on
closing hatch covers, – up to 37.5% by volume
after 10 days and eventually reaching 49.9% by
volume (equivalent to 1,000% of the LEL).
Carbon monoxide increased to 990 ppm within 48
hours. Oxygen depleted to below 1% within 48
hours.

Incident 2
Methane levels up to 18% by volume (equivalent
to 360% LEL) recorded on arrival at destination,
with oxygen depleted to below 1%. Authorities
required headspaces to be flushed with inert gas
to prevent formation of a flammable gas mixture
when the cargo holds were opened prior to
discharge.
What was the actual data from the tests? See analysis results of cargo hazards.
How many tests were conducted? See analysis results of cargo hazards.
What samples were tested? Are the Pending research to establish a specific moisture
samples representative of the cargo to limit appropriate to Palm Kernel Shells, a
be shipped? preliminary limit of 11% has been proposed
below which there is insufficient available water
for microbiological activity (ISO 6322-1).

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