Section 5.2 Cleaning Standards (Hospital Clean, Grain Clean, Normal Clean)
The term “clean” in the context of a bulk carrier’s cargo hold is not absolute; it’s relative to the requirements of the next intended cargo. What might be considered adequately clean for one commodity could be grossly contaminated for another. Therefore, the shipping industry has developed a lexicon of cleanliness standards, often specified in charter parties and by shippers, to define the required condition of the holds. While these terms can sometimes be subjective and lead to disputes if not clearly understood by all parties, they provide a general framework. The most commonly encountered standards include “Hospital Clean” (or variants like “Super Clean,” “White Glove Clean”), “Grain Clean,” and “Normal Clean” (or “Sweep Clean”). The Master and Chief Officer must be intimately familiar with what each standard entails in practice, as achieving them requires varying degrees of effort, time, and resources.
1. Hospital Clean / Super Clean / White Glove Clean / Mirror Finish:
Description: This represents the highest possible standard of cleanliness, implying a near-sterile environment within the cargo hold. The term “hospital clean” evokes an image of meticulous attention to detail, leaving no trace whatsoever of previous cargoes, residues, loose rust scale, paint flakes, dust, or odors. Surfaces should be so clean that one could, metaphorically, “eat off them” or that a white glove wiped across a surface would remain pristine. “Mirror finish” implies that steel surfaces are so clean and free of loose material that they might appear polished.
When Required:
For extremely sensitive, high-value cargoes where even minute contamination can lead to significant quality degradation or rejection.
Examples: Kaolin (china clay), high-purity alumina, certain mineral sands (ilmenite, rutile, zircon), some food-grade products (though less common for true “hospital clean” in bulk, more for bagged/specialized), and some specialized chemicals if carried in bulk.
Achieving the Standard:
Intensive Manual Cleaning: This usually involves multiple stages:
Thorough sweeping and removal of all loose residues from all surfaces – tank top, frames, brackets, underdeck structures, ladders, pipe guards, bilge wells.
High-pressure washing (often freshwater, sometimes with detergents if permissible and compatible with the next cargo) of all surfaces to remove adherent residues and dust. Multiple washings may be needed.
Meticulous scraping and chipping of any tenacious residues, loose rust scale, and flaking paint. This is often the most labor-intensive part.
Rinsing with fresh water to remove all cleaning agents and dislodged particles.
Thorough drying of the hold, ensuring no standing water or damp patches.
Removal of all cleaning equipment, rags, and debris from the hold.
Inspection: Extremely rigorous. Surveyors will inspect all areas, often using high-powered lights, mirrors for inaccessible spots, and literally wiping surfaces with white gloves or clean cloths. They will look into every nook and cranny.
Challenges:
Extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive for the crew.
May require specialized cleaning equipment or chemicals (ensure compatibility and environmental compliance for disposal).
The condition of hold coatings and the extent of existing rust significantly impact the ability to achieve this standard. Older vessels with pitted or corroded surfaces will find it much harder.
Costly if shore labor is employed.
2. Grain Clean:
Description: This is a very high standard of cleanliness, specifically required for the carriage of grains and other agricultural products intended for human or animal consumption. The primary objective is to ensure the cargo is not contaminated by previous cargo residues, insects, odors, or any substances that could render it unfit or reduce its quality. Holds must be thoroughly clean, dry, and free from infestation.
Key Requirements (often based on guidelines from organizations like USDA, Canadian Grain Commission, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service – AQIS, or specific charterer requirements):
Free of All Previous Cargo Residues: No visible traces of previous cargoes. This means all ledges, frames, beams, pipe guards, and recesses must be meticulously cleaned.
Free of Loose Rust Scale and Paint Flakes: These can contaminate the grain. While firmly adhering paint is usually acceptable, any loose or flaking material must be removed.
Dry: Holds must be thoroughly dry to prevent moisture damage or mold growth in the grain.
Free of Odors: No residual odors from previous cargoes or cleaning agents that could taint the grain.
Free of Infestation: No live or dead insects, larvae, pupae, or rodent droppings. This is a critical quarantine requirement. Holds may need to be treated with approved insecticides if there’s any history or risk of infestation, though this is usually done by specialized companies.
Bilge Wells: Must be clean, dry, and bilge suctions tested. Strum boxes must be clean.
When Required:
For all grain cargoes (wheat, corn/maize, barley, sorghum, soybeans, rice, etc.).
For many other agricultural products like oilseeds, pulses, and some processed animal feeds.
Achieving the Standard:
Similar to hospital clean in terms of thoroughness of residue removal, but the focus is particularly on organic residues, insect life, and dryness.
Sweeping, scraping, and often high-pressure washing (freshwater preferred for final rinse).
Particular attention to areas where residues and insects can hide (e.g., behind frames, in pipe casings, under stringers, in bilge wells, inside manhole covers).
Thorough ventilation for drying.
Sometimes, a final “blow-down” with compressed air to remove fine dust from overhead structures just before inspection.
Inspection: Usually conducted by qualified agricultural surveyors or government inspectors (e.g., USDA, National Cargo Bureau – NCB in the USA). They are very experienced in finding hidden residues or signs of infestation. They will use powerful lights, climb into all accessible areas, and may take samples or swabs.
3. Normal Clean / Sweep Clean / Shovel Clean:
Description: This represents a lower standard of cleanliness, generally acceptable for cargoes that are not sensitive to minor residues of similar or compatible previous cargoes.
Shovel Clean: The most basic. Implies that only large, easily removable pieces of the previous cargo have been shoveled out. Significant residues and dust will likely remain. Rarely acceptable unless the next cargo is identical or extremely tolerant.
Sweep Clean / Broom Clean: Implies that the holds have been thoroughly swept to remove all loose cargo residues from the tank top and accessible lower areas. Some dust and minor residues may remain on vertical surfaces, frames, and overhead structures.
Normal Clean: A slightly more ambiguous term, but generally implies a good sweep-down, with some effort made to remove residues from accessible frames and ledges. It’s cleaner than just shovel clean but not up to grain clean standards.
When Required:
When carrying similar types of cargoes consecutively (e.g., one type of ore followed by another compatible ore, or different grades of coal).
For robust, low-value industrial raw materials where minor contamination from a similar previous cargo is not detrimental (e.g., some aggregates, certain types of scrap metal).
Crucial Caveat: The Master must always confirm with the charterer or shipper if this standard is acceptable. Assumptions can be costly. What one party considers “normal clean” might be unacceptable to another.
Achieving the Standard:
Primarily involves thorough sweeping of the tank top and lower hold areas.
Use of shovels, brooms, and sometimes compressed air to dislodge loose material.
Washing is generally not required unless specified or if the residues are particularly sticky or problematic.
Challenges:
The main challenge is ensuring that “normal clean” is indeed sufficient. If there’s any doubt, or if the next cargo is even slightly sensitive, it’s safer to aim for a higher standard.
Even with “normal clean,” large accumulations of residues should not be left, as they can still affect cargo outturn weight or handling at the discharge port.
4. Other Considerations Related to Cleaning Standards:
Previous Cargo Properties: The nature of the previous cargo heavily influences the cleaning effort.
Sticky/Oily Residues: (e.g., petcoke, some concentrates, molasses if ever carried – though rare for typical bulkers) require more intensive scraping and possibly chemical cleaning.
Hardened Residues: (e.g., cement, some fertilizers if wetted and dried) can be extremely difficult to remove, sometimes requiring jackhammers or specialized equipment.
Dusty Cargoes: (e.g., cement, alumina, some grains) create fine dust that settles everywhere and requires meticulous cleaning of overhead structures.
Corrosive Cargoes: (e.g., sulphur, salt) may require washing to remove corrosive salts, even if the next cargo doesn’t demand high cleanliness, to protect the ship’s structure.
Condition of Hold Coatings: Holds with intact, smooth paint coatings are much easier to clean to a high standard than those with damaged, pitted, or heavily rusted surfaces. Loose paint and rust scale must be removed for higher standards, which can be an ongoing battle on older vessels.
Vessel Design: Holds with many frames, ledges, and obstructions (typical of older single-hull designs) are harder to clean than smooth-sided double-hull vessels.
Time and Resources: Achieving higher standards takes significant crew time, fresh water (if washing), and potentially cleaning chemicals and equipment. This must be factored into voyage planning and port turnaround schedules.
Analysis for the Master (Cleaning Standards): The Master, with the Chief Officer, must:
Clarify Requirements Early: Obtain clear instructions from charterers/shippers regarding the required standard of cleanliness for the next cargo well in advance. Do not rely on vague terms; seek specific confirmation.
Assess Feasibility: Evaluate if the required standard can realistically be achieved with the available crew, time, resources, and considering the vessel’s condition and previous cargo.
Plan Meticulously: Develop a detailed hold cleaning plan, allocating tasks and resources.
Supervise Diligently: Ensure cleaning operations are carried out thoroughly and safely. The Chief Officer typically leads this, but the Master should conduct spot checks.
Inspect Thoroughly Before Presentation: Before calling in surveyors, the Master and Chief Officer should conduct their own rigorous internal inspection to ensure the holds meet the required standard. This avoids failed inspections and costly delays.
Document the Process: Keep records of cleaning activities, chemicals used (if any), and any communications regarding cleanliness standards. Photographs of cleaned holds before loading can be valuable evidence.
Manage Expectations: If a very high standard is required after a particularly dirty cargo on an older vessel, it may be extremely challenging. Communicate any potential difficulties to the company and charterers early.
Understanding and achieving the correct standard of hold cleanliness is a fundamental aspect of professional bulk carrier operation. It directly impacts commercial success, cargo quality, and safety. For your consultancy and bulkersguide.com, providing clear definitions, practical tips for achieving these standards, and checklists for inspection would be invaluable for seafarers and shore-based personnel alike. Highlighting the common pitfalls and dispute areas related to hold cleanliness would also be beneficial.