Key data
| Stowage factor | 1.40–1.60 m³/t (typical 1.50)49.4–56.5 ft³/t (typical 53.0) |
|---|---|
| Form | Bulk |
| IMSBC group | B Cargoes that carry a chemical hazard in carriage. |
| Angle of repose | ~30 |
| BCSN | WOOD PELLETS |
ft³/t values are per metric tonne (1 m³/t ≈ 35.31 ft³/t). Stowage factors are indicative — see note below.
Description
Wood pellets are compressed sawmill and forestry residues shipped as a biomass fuel for power generation. At around 1.5 m3/t they are a measurement cargo. Their defining hazard is chemical off-gassing: freshly produced pellets consume oxygen and emit carbon monoxide, and adjacent enclosed spaces can become lethal without any visible sign.
Stowage & loading
Holds are presented clean and bone dry, since the pellets degrade and swell with moisture. Loading is by conveyor and the cargo is trimmed level. The key safety point is that off-gassing begins immediately, so cargo, access and adjacent spaces are treated as potentially oxygen-deficient and carbon-monoxide-laden from the moment loading starts.
Hazards & handling
Wood pellets deplete oxygen and emit carbon monoxide, and they can also self-heat. Crew have died entering cargo and access spaces that appeared normal, so this is first and foremost an enclosed-space hazard. The pellets also swell and disintegrate if wetted, and the dust raised in handling is explosive.
Carriage & discharge
Adjacent and access spaces are treated as dangerous and entered only after ventilation, gas testing for oxygen and carbon monoxide, and certification. Cargo temperatures are monitored for self-heating, and the cargo is kept dry throughout. Discharge is by grab or unloader, with continued enclosed-space discipline.
Key hazards
- Oxygen depletion and carbon-monoxide emission as the pellets off-gas – a lethal enclosed-space hazard
- Self-heating within the stow
- Swelling and disintegration if wetted, and explosive dust in handling
Loading precautions
- Treat cargo, access and adjacent spaces as oxygen-deficient and CO-laden from the start of loading
- Present clean, bone-dry holds and keep the cargo dry throughout
- Gas-test for oxygen and carbon monoxide and certify before any entry
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.