Key data
| Stowage factor | 1.30–1.45 m³/t (typical 1.38)45.9–51.2 ft³/t (typical 48.7) |
|---|---|
| Form | Bulk |
| IMSBC group | B Cargoes that carry a chemical hazard in carriage. |
| Angle of repose | ~30 |
ft³/t values are per metric tonne (1 m³/t ≈ 35.31 ft³/t). Stowage factors are indicative — see note below.
Description
Soybean meal is the protein-rich residue left after soya beans are crushed for oil, shipped in vast quantities as animal feed. Unlike the whole bean, which is an inert Group C grain, the processed meal is a seed-cake cargo carried as Group B because of its tendency to self-heat. At around 1.38 m3/t it is a measurement cargo.
Stowage & loading
Holds are presented clean and dry, and the meal is loaded by conveyor or grab and trimmed level. The condition and temperature of the meal at loading are the key checks, because freshly processed or warm meal carries a heightened self-heating risk; a baseline temperature is recorded for monitoring at sea and the cargo is kept clear of heated structure.
Hazards & handling
As a seed cake the meal can self-heat towards spontaneous combustion, can consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide making enclosed spaces dangerous, and may give off flammable gas. The risk rises with residual oil, moisture and loading temperature. Enclosed spaces are treated as oxygen-deficient and entered only under strict precaution.
Carriage & discharge
Cargo temperatures and the hold atmosphere are monitored through the voyage, with ventilation managed to limit heating, and a rising temperature trend is acted on early. Discharge is by grab or unloader; spaces are ventilated, gas-freed and certified before entry, and any self-heated pockets are dealt with carefully.
Key hazards
- Self-heating that can progress to spontaneous combustion
- Oxygen depletion and carbon-dioxide build-up in enclosed spaces
- Possible emission of flammable gas, the risk rising with oil content, moisture and loading temperature
Loading precautions
- Check the meal's condition and temperature at loading and refuse hot parcels
- Record a baseline temperature and set up monitoring before sailing
- Treat all enclosed cargo spaces as oxygen-deficient
Stowage factors are indicative and vary with grade, origin, moisture and packing. Always verify against the shipper's cargo declaration and the applicable IMSBC Code schedule before fixing or loading. This is general information, not professional or safety advice.