TML and Cargo Liquefaction: The Danger to Bulk Ships

Nickel ore is a Group A cargo under the IMSBC Code: it may liquefy if shipped with moisture above its transportable moisture limit (TML). Ship motion compacts the cargo, water pressure between particles rises and friction is lost, so the ore could turn to slurry, flow to the low side and, with free surface, cause a list and capsize. In January 2026 the bulk carrier Devon Bay, loaded with about 55,000 tonnes of nickel ore at Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte, sank about 55 nautical miles from Scarborough Shoal; two crew died and four are missing. China's investigation found the moisture was above the TML and the test samples did not represent the cargo. Before loading, the shipper must provide a signed TML certificate (tested within six months) and a moisture declaration (sampled within seven days), with check tests after heavy rain. The master may also do a can test, but a pass does not prove the cargo is safe. At sea, check the cargo surface regularly and act early. Source: IMSBC Code 1.7, 4.3, 4.5, 7.2, 8.4 and the Nickel ore schedule; SOLAS VI/2; China MSA (Guangdong) investigation report, May 2026.

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