Cargo Hold Cleaning of M/V KM Shanghai
Done by Seachios®, the operation took place between October 8 and 11, 2024, at the Port of Vitória, Praia Mole, Brazil, with the vessel en route to Paranaguá.
1. Project Overview
The primary objective of the project was to clean all seven cargo holds of the M/V KM Shanghai to prepare the vessel for grain loading, ensuring compliance with international maritime cleanliness standards. The operation involved advanced cleaning protocols, including seawater flushing, chemical treatments with Aquatuff, and high-pressure freshwater rinsing at 500 BAR (7350 PSI). The cleaning was conducted by Seachios Marine Services for Costamare Bulkers Inc., with the final inspection performed by SGS Marine Surveyors on October 12, 2024.
The operation faced challenges such as inadequate sweeping by stevedores, heavy cargo residue buildup (e.g., met coke and coal dust), and crane inefficiencies, which caused initial delays. Despite these hurdles, the project was completed within the estimated timeline of 3.21 days (total working hours: 42 hours), showcasing effective project management and adaptability.
2. Project Management Perspective
a. Planning and Preparation
Structured Planning: The operation required meticulous planning to address the specific needs of cleaning seven cargo holds. The team prepared advanced equipment, including high-pressure washers (500 BAR), eco-friendly chemicals (Aquatuff), and manual scrubbing tools, ensuring readiness for the challenging residue buildup.
Team Composition: A 14-member team was deployed, including 1 supervisor, 1 operational leader, 1 cook, and 11 cargo hold cleaning specialists, ensuring sufficient manpower and expertise for the operation.
Timeline and Coordination: The project was scheduled from October 8 to October 11, 2024, with a clear timeline for embarkation, cleaning, inspection, and disembarkation. The operation began at Vitória/Praia Mole and concluded en route to Paranaguá, requiring precise coordination with the vessel’s crew and port authorities.
b. Execution and Adaptation
Operational Challenges: The team encountered significant obstacles:
Residue Buildup: Heavy residues, including met coke and coal dust, were ingrained in the holds due to inadequate sweeping by stevedores at Vitória/Praia Mole.
Lighting Issues: On October 8, cleaning of Cargo Hold #01 was halted at 19:00 due to inadequate lighting, delaying progress.
Crane Inefficiencies: Initial delays were caused by inefficiencies in crane operations, impacting the timely loading of equipment.
Adaptive Solutions: Seachios mitigated these issues effectively:
Additional Sweeping: The team performed extra sweeping to compensate for the stevedores’ shortcomings, ensuring residues were manageable before cleaning.
Phased Cleaning: A multi-step process was employed—manual scrubbing with seawater, chemical treatment with Aquatuff, and high-pressure freshwater rinsing—allowing for thorough residue removal.
Rescheduling: Work paused due to lighting constraints was promptly resumed the next day, maintaining the overall schedule.
Team Collaboration: The supervisor reported excellent cooperation from the vessel’s crew, facilitating smooth execution. The crew handled residue collection and disposal, adhering to MARPOL regulations, while Seachios focused on cleaning.
c. Risk Management
Operational Risks: Challenges like heavy residue buildup posed risks of delays and non-compliance with cleanliness standards. Inadequate lighting increased safety risks for workers during evening operations.
Mitigation Strategies:
Proactive Measures: Seachios’ decision to conduct additional sweeping mitigated the risk of residue-related delays, ensuring cleaning could proceed efficiently.
Safety Protocols: Operations were halted when lighting was insufficient, prioritizing worker safety and resuming only under safe conditions.
Quality Assurance: The use of eco-friendly Aquatuff chemicals and high-pressure washing ensured thorough cleaning, reducing the risk of failing the SGS inspection.
Compliance: All procedures adhered to MARPOL standards, ensuring environmental safety and regulatory compliance during residue handling and disposal.
d. Quality Control and Outcome
Inspection Success: On October 12, 2024, SGS Marine Surveyors inspected all seven cargo holds (CH01 to CH07) from 09:30 to 10:30 (UTC -3). Each hold passed the inspection, confirming that the cleanliness standards required for grain loading were met.
Efficiency: Despite initial delays, the operation was completed in 3.21 days, aligning with the estimated completion time of October 11, 2024, at 12:00 (agw/wp). The total working hours (42 hours) reflect efficient resource utilization.
Client Deliverables: Costamare Bulkers Inc. is currently reviewing the final deliverables, with feedback pending via a customer satisfaction survey, indicating a structured post-operation process.
3. Impact of Execution in Brazilian Ports
The operation in Brazilian ports like Vitória/Praia Mole highlighted specific challenges and opportunities:
Port-Specific Challenges: Inadequate sweeping by stevedores and crane inefficiencies are common issues in high-risk ports like Vitória/Praia Mole, as noted in the report. These external factors increased the workload for Seachios.
Adaptability: Seachios demonstrated flexibility by taking on additional sweeping tasks, showcasing their ability to adapt to port-specific limitations and ensure project success.
Recommendations: The report suggests offering Seachios’ sweeping services at high-risk ports to prevent delays and residue buildup in future operations, a proactive measure to enhance efficiency.
Operational Context: Conducting the cleaning en route from Vitória to Paranaguá required careful coordination with the vessel’s schedule, ensuring minimal disruption to its itinerary while completing the cleaning on time.
4. Conclusion
The cargo hold cleaning operation for the M/V KM Shanghai exemplifies effective maritime project management by Seachios Marine Services. Completed in 3.21 days despite challenges like residue buildup, lighting constraints, and port inefficiencies, the project underscores the team’s expertise in planning, execution, and risk management. The successful SGS inspection on October 12, 2024, confirmed that all seven cargo holds met the required standards, ensuring the vessel’s readiness for grain loading.
This operation highlights Seachios’ ability to manage complex maritime projects in Brazilian ports, adapting to local challenges while maintaining high-quality standards. The recommendation to offer sweeping services at high-risk ports reflects a forward-thinking approach to improving future operations, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction in the maritime industry.
Enhanced Chart: Project Timeline and Cleaning Techniques Utilization
Below is a stacked bar chart detailing the project timeline and the utilization of cleaning techniques for the M/V KM Shanghai cargo hold cleaning operation from October 8 to 11, 2024. The chart has been enhanced with annotations and detailed labels to provide a comprehensive view of the daily activities and techniques applied.
Chart Description
X-Axis: Project days (October 8-11, 2024).
Y-Axis: Utilization (0 to 1, where 1 represents full activity dedication to a specific technique or equal division among multiple techniques).
Stacked Bars: Each bar is segmented by color, representing different cleaning techniques used daily.
Annotations: Key events (e.g., lighting issues, inspection) are marked for context.
Legend: Associates colors with cleaning techniques, positioned at the bottom.
Cleaning Techniques and Colors
Seawater Scrubbing (Blue, #1f77b4): Manual scrubbing with seawater and brushes.
Chemical Treatment (Green, #2ca02c): Application of Aquatuff chemicals.
High-Pressure Wash (Red, #d62728): 500 BAR freshwater rinsing.
Preparation/Paused (Yellow, #ff7f0e): Equipment setup or halted operations (e.g., due to lighting issues).
Daily Activity Breakdown
October 8: Mobilization and Initial Cleaning (30% Seawater Scrubbing, 30% Chemical Treatment, 20% High-Pressure Wash, 20% Preparation/Paused). Note: Halted at 19:00 due to lighting issues.
October 9: Cleaning Holds #01-#04 (30% Seawater Scrubbing, 30% Chemical Treatment, 30% High-Pressure Wash, 10% Paused).
October 10: Cleaning Holds #04-#06 (30% Seawater Scrubbing, 30% Chemical Treatment, 30% High-Pressure Wash, 10% Paused).
October 11: Cleaning Holds #06-#07 (30% Seawater Scrubbing, 30% Chemical Treatment, 30% High-Pressure Wash, 10% Paused). Note: Operation completed at 18:30.
This chart provides a clear visual representation of the daily progress and the balanced utilization of cleaning techniques, highlighting key events that impacted the operation, such as lighting issues and the successful completion of the cleaning process.