Article 8U.K.Procedures between bulk carriers and terminals
Member States shall ensure that the following procedures are applied in respect of the loading or unloading of bulk carriers with solid bulk cargoes.
Before solid bulk cargoes are loaded or unloaded, the master shall agree with the terminal representative on the loading or unloading plan in accordance with the provisions of Regulation VI/7.3 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention. The loading or unloading plan shall be prepared in the form laid down in Appendix 2 of the BLU Code, it shall contain the IMO number of the bulk carrier concerned, and the master and the terminal representative shall confirm their agreement to the plan by signing it.
Any change to the plan, which according to either party may affect the safety of the vessel or crew, shall be prepared, accepted and agreed by both parties in the form of a revised plan.
The agreed loading or unloading plan and any subsequent agreed revisions shall be kept by the ship and the terminal for a period of six months for the purpose of any necessary verification by the competent authorities.
Before loading or unloading is commenced, the ship/shore safety checklist shall be completed and signed jointly by the master and the terminal representative in accordance with the guidelines of Appendix 4 of the BLU Code.
An effective communication between the ship and the terminal shall be established and maintained at all times, capable of responding to requests for information on the loading or unloading process and to ensure prompt compliance should the master or the terminal representative order the loading or unloading operations to be suspended.
The master and the terminal representative shall conduct the loading or unloading operations in accordance with the agreed plan. The terminal representative shall be responsible for the loading or unloading of the solid bulk cargo as regards the hold order, quantity and rate of loading or unloading stated on that plan. He shall not deviate from the agreed loading or unloading plan, otherwise than by prior consultation and written agreement with the master.
On completion of the loading or unloading, the master and the terminal representative shall agree in writing that the loading or unloading has been done in accordance with the loading or unloading plan, including any agreed changes. In the case of unloading, such agreement shall include a record that the cargo holds have been emptied and cleaned to the master's requirements and shall record any damage suffered by the ship and any repairs carried out.