Key data
| Stowage factor | 0.50–0.62 m³/t (typical 0.55)17.7–21.9 ft³/t (typical 19.4) |
|---|---|
| Form | Bulk |
| IMSBC group | C Cargoes that neither liquefy nor carry a chemical hazard. |
| BCSN | CEMENT |
ft³/t values are per metric tonne (1 m³/t ≈ 35.31 ft³/t). Stowage factors are indicative — see note below.
Description
Cement is a fine, dense mineral powder carried in bulk for the construction industry, often on dedicated self-discharging cement carriers using enclosed pneumatic systems. At around 0.55 m3/t it is firmly a deadweight cargo, reaching the marks with the holds far from full, and its handling is dominated by two properties: it sets hard with water, and it can flow like a fluid when aerated.
Stowage & loading
The powder is normally loaded through enclosed chutes or pneumatic systems into bone-dry holds. Freshly loaded or disturbed cement can become aerated and fluidise, behaving like a liquid with a free surface that can shift, so it is allowed to settle and is not worked in a way that keeps it aerated. Any moisture in the hold is fatal to the cargo, so dryness is absolute.
Hazards & handling
The principal cargo hazard is reaction with water or humidity: cement sets into a rock-hard mass that is lost as cargo and can seize discharge equipment. Aeration brings a fluidisation and shifting risk, and the fine dust is a respiratory and housekeeping problem and reduces visibility. Cement loaded hot from production can also arrive at an elevated temperature.
Carriage & discharge
Holds are kept absolutely dry and ventilation that would introduce moist air is avoided. The settled cargo is monitored for any ingress of water. Discharge is typically pneumatic or by screw on cement carriers, or by grab from a conventional ship; set or partly hardened cement is a serious operational problem, so the overriding aim throughout is to keep water away from the cargo.
Key hazards
- Sets into a hard, unworkable mass on contact with water or humidity
- Fluidisation and shifting when the fine powder is aerated
- Fine dust – a respiratory, housekeeping and visibility hazard
Loading precautions
- Ensure holds and trunking are bone dry and exclude any source of moisture
- Allow aerated cement to settle and avoid working it in a fluidised state
- Apply dust control and, for hot-loaded cement, note the cargo temperature
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.