Key data
| Stowage factor | 1.50–1.80 m³/t (typical 1.65)53.0–63.6 ft³/t (typical 58.3) |
|---|---|
| Form | Bulk |
| IMSBC group | B Cargoes that carry a chemical hazard in carriage. |
| Angle of repose | ~35 |
| BCSN | COPRA |
ft³/t values are per metric tonne (1 m³/t ≈ 35.31 ft³/t). Stowage factors are indicative — see note below.
Description
Copra is the dried kernel of the coconut, crushed for coconut oil, and is one of the oldest and most hazardous self-heating cargoes in the dry bulk trades. Light and bulky at around 1.65 m3/t it is a measurement cargo. Its oil content and biological activity give it a strong and well-documented tendency to heat and ignite.
Stowage & loading
Holds are clean and dry, and the cargo's condition at loading is critical: copra that is poorly dried, mouldy or already warm carries a high heating risk and is treated with great caution. A baseline temperature is taken, the cargo is kept clear of heated structure, and loading temperature is a key acceptance factor.
Hazards & handling
Copra is liable to spontaneous heating that can run to combustion, and as it heats it consumes oxygen and can give off flammable and toxic gases, making enclosed spaces acutely dangerous. It also attracts vermin and emits a strong odour that taints other cargoes. The combination of fire risk and oxygen depletion makes it a cargo handled with particular respect.
Carriage & discharge
Cargo temperatures and the hold atmosphere are monitored closely throughout, ventilation is managed to limit heating, and any temperature rise is treated as serious. Enclosed spaces are entered only after ventilation, gas testing and certification. Discharge is by grab, and smouldering or heated pockets are a recognised hazard dealt with carefully.
Key hazards
- Strong tendency to self-heat and spontaneously combust
- Oxygen depletion and emission of flammable and toxic gases in enclosed spaces
- Strong odour that taints other cargoes, and attraction of vermin
Loading precautions
- Make the cargo's dryness, condition and temperature the decisive acceptance test
- Record a baseline temperature, keep clear of heated structure and set up monitoring
- Treat enclosed spaces as oxygen-deficient and potentially toxic
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.