Key data
| Stowage factor | 1.70–2.20 m³/t (typical 1.95)60.0–77.7 ft³/t (typical 68.9) |
|---|---|
| Form | Bulk |
| IMSBC group | C Cargoes that neither liquefy nor carry a chemical hazard. |
| Angle of repose | ~35 |
ft³/t values are per metric tonne (1 m³/t ≈ 35.31 ft³/t). Stowage factors are indicative — see note below.
Description
Cottonseed is the seed left after ginning cotton, shipped for crushing into oil and meal and for animal feed, often as fuzzy whole seed still bearing short lint. The bulky, light cargo has a high stowage factor around 1.95 m3/t and is a measurement cargo. Its oil content and the lint give it a notable heating tendency.
Stowage & loading
Clean, dry, odour-free holds and grain stability arrangements apply. The linty seed is loaded by spout or conveyor and trims readily but is dusty and clinging. Moisture and the condition of the seed are the key acceptance checks, because damp or warm cottonseed heats and moulds readily and is not taken on board in poor condition.
Hazards & handling
The combination of oil and lint gives cottonseed a real self-heating tendency that can run to fire if shipped or kept too moist, and it moulds and cakes when damp. It respires and depletes oxygen, taints and is tainted, and the linty dust raised in handling is a fire and explosion concern, so ignition control is observed.
Carriage & discharge
Cargo temperatures and ventilation are managed against heating and sweat on a dew-point basis, with any temperature rise treated seriously. Fumigation is common, with residues cleared and spaces certified before entry. Discharge is by grab or suction, with heated or mouldy pockets segregated from the sound cargo.
Key hazards
- Self-heating from oil and lint that can run to fire if shipped or kept moist
- Mould and caking in damp cargo
- Oxygen depletion, taint, and flammable linty dust in handling
Loading precautions
- Present clean, dry, odour-free holds and apply the grain stability assessment
- Make moisture and condition the decisive acceptance test given the heating risk
- Control ignition sources around the linty dust
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.