Bentonite: From Mundra to New Mangalore

View from Allcargo Laxmi: Mundra port active and growing

.Soon before iron ore discharging was to complete from Allcargo Laxmi at Kandla, we received instructions to proceed to Mundra, another Gujarat’s upcoming port, for loading Bentonite in bulk. No body was pleased to hear that. But work is work and that is to be done. The reason for the displeasure is the mess; cargo of Bentonite creates on the ship. The entire vessel gets washed in pale yellow fine powder’s coating. The cargo is slippery too and is difficult to be washed away. One whole day is consumed in getting rid of the residue.

Allcargo Laxmi loading Bentonite at Mundra 

                 Bentonite is a kind of weathered volcanic ash or clay with varied industrial uses. The word Bentonite takes its name from a place named Fort Benton in U.S.A., where the clay was first discovered and put to use. The clay comes in variety of forms each with its own unique characteristics.  For examples a type swells on coming in contact with water and is used as a sealant.

Weather was fine on this return voyage

              Anyway, we spent about 16 hours amid a cloud of Bentonite dust and sailed on full tropical marks towards N.Mangalore. The first day was again characterized by moderate winds and swell but a reprieve came on second day and weather continued to be fine and pleasant till arrival New.Mangalore.

Allcargo Laxmi  entering New Mangalore harbour minutes after sun rise

Windmill blades and iron ore pellets offloaded at Kandla

Windmill blades on hatch tops of Allcargo Laxmi

Necessity, we all know, is the mother of all inventions. This principle is as old as the human civilization. Energy has been the continuous need for all of us. Getting carried away with one exciting aspect usually puts other important, but not readily apparent, on the backburner. Industrial revolution brought all the most sought after comforts. In the process health and environment got compromised. Awareness, rising clout of environmentalists has forced scientists, experts and industrialists to explore and harness those sources of energy which are not taxing to ecological balance and not detrimental to human health. Global warming has become the major issue today. Our mother nature is enormously generous to keep forgiving our blunders. But things are indeed getting out of control. In a way human avarice is also to blame.

Two cranes of Allcargo Laxmi discharging a windmill blade

                    Recently I heard doctors say that air pollution is also responsible for the rising instances of diabetes! Why? Because, the pollution level is so high that it blocks the sun’s beneficial rays which are supposed to manufacture vitamin –D on coming in contact with human skin. Among numerous other medical problems, vitamin-D deficiency is also linked to the sweet malady.

Blade being positioned on a special trailer

                    Carrying windmill blades on board the vessel M.V.Allcargo Laxmi brought all these thoughts to my mind and the knowledge that India is also playing its role in keeping the mother earth clean and green. Suzlon has been in the forefront in this venture and Allcargo Logistics is also playing its part, though indirectly by transporting the windmill blades.

Iron ore pellets in hold of Allcargo Laxmi

We are excited by unprecedented growth and prosperity brought about by the concepts of open economy and private enterprise, but it has put tremendous pressure on energy supply as well. Wind energy is another change which is going on silently and largely unknown to common man. Wind energy is not that expensive, as is wrongly assumed, and has already played in impressive role in reducing the harmful green house emissions and meeting the energy needs.

Iron ore being dumped on jetty at Kandla

                     Windmill tower basically consists of a set of three blades, one hub housing generator and other components, and vertical tower. As can be seen in the photo each blade is about 60 m long and it weighs about 8 to 9 metric tonnes. Two cranes are used simultaneously for loading, handling, stowing and discharging. Our ship Allcargo Laxmi, for her size, has the advantage of unobstructed space over the hatch tops as the cranes are mounted on one side of the vessel and not on the centre line.

Crane operator working in environment friendly manner

                So, the 19 blades were discharged at Kandla on 9^th May following which holds were opened to unload the iron ore pellets that were loaded at Goa. These pellets are converted to sponge iron which in turn is used for various purposes including manufacturing of mild steel and stainless steel

200 years old American constitution has been amended only 4 times, while Indian constitution has seen more than 100 amendements in 60 years! Time to introspect.

Rozana Spokesman : Leading Punjabi Newspaper Online

Change is inevitable - even if slowly.

Rozana Spokesman : Leading Punjabi Newspaper Online

Things never remain same for ever.

Rozana Spokesman : Leading Punjabi Newspaper Online

SW monsoon says: "Do not forget me"

SW monsoon told us that it is not very far away and we should be prepared to welcome it, notwithstanding, sailors’ dislike for it. The passage on board Allcargo Laxmi from New Mangalore was marked with the message loud and clear. Though the winds were not strong, the moderate/heavy south westerly swell made its presence felt and demanded the due respect. The last two days to Kandla were not like earlier good weather sailing. Vessel rolled incessantly and persistently enough to annoy. Jasvinder (my wife who is aboard with me) was confined to bed and felt sea sick as usual. The fact that we were sailing after a gap of about 16 months made matters worse. I was content with heaviness in head and a justifiable excuse not to work. The problem with bad weather is that everything goes haywire. It becomes extremely difficult to work, creating a backlog which further compounds the problem.



View of Kandla port - figure 1



                                    Not only the vessel was rolling, she was rolling with a short period, because of the stiff status as a result of full load of iron ore pellets. Southerly current was taking a toll on our speed, making the troublesome passage longer. On top of that our concern was the fate of the 19^th windmill blade that was loaded on 3^rd tier. We were compelled to adjust course to minimize the jerky rolls and keep the blade intact for safe delivery.

View of Kandla port - figure 3

              In Kandla berthing is tide –dependent. We anchored on 7^th afternoon and berthing was fixed for the next day. When the moment arrived, berthing was cancelled. Because the vessel that was to sail and vacate the berth ran into trouble with her engines and we were told to stay put and anchor again. I wish we had berthed. The spring tide gave us its bitter taste. We dragged our anchor and dragged again upon anchoring. Finally I changed the location and went further SW of outer Tuna buoy. But, I noticed something very strange. We did not drag anchor aft, with cable leading right ahead. We were dragging towards port beam at a speed of about 0.5 knots. The cable was leading starboard beam, long stay (starboard anchor was down). I have not seen anything like this before. Wind was blowing from port quarter at about 13 knots. Could it be because of the presence of 19 windmill blades on hatch tops? I have no clue. Ship was heading like all other ships at anchor (tide rode) but dragging laterally towards port beam!

                     



View of Kandla port - figure 3



P for politician and unsurprisingly, parasite too.

Rozana Spokesman : Leading Punjabi Newspaper Online

One more than the till-now-maximum

After getting a day off from cargo work on the occasion of International Labour Day, we had to wait another day for cargo on 2^nd May. Loading started on 3^rd afternoon and was completed by early night.. We were headed for Kandla soon after and now are sailing past Karwar, a small port on the coast of Karnataka.



19 Windmill blades aboard Allcargo Laxmi



                               This time we have loaded 19 Suzlon windmill blades on M.V.Allcargo Laxmi. Till now we had loaded only 18 blades at the most, and this ended up in two tiers. The 19^th blade, one more than the maximum, was placed on third tier towards the inboard side. Other than different and more extensive dunnaging, everything was as usual. This was aimed at distributing the load over wider area so as not to violate the load density of hatch covers.



Close-up view of 19th blade on 3rd tier



                         At present we are loaded down to the tropical marks, with iron ore pellets in the holds and drivers of wind energy on hatch tops. Strong southerly current was experienced throughout the night and is persisting even now. It became apparent, the moment we exited the N.Mangalore breakwaters on westerly course. We had given as much as seven degrees set towards starboard side. The current continued to drag us down in the night as headed on north westerly course. Only a short while ago speed has slightly picked up, but the current is still playing its part.

View of Karnatka coast from Allcargo Laxmi's bridge

                   Weather continues to present its best self. She is rolling in loving manner. Sea is calm and coupled with short low swell. The air is crisp, clear and transparent. Sky is dotted with silvery white cumulus clouds and the blue sea is speckled with wobbling fishing boats. Hazy coastline of the Karnataka state is breaking the continuity of the horizon. So far so good till the SW monsoons begin.

Oyster rocks at the mouth of Karwar port.
Fishing boats in the foreground

India needs to get out of stupor of self-praise and self-glorification

Rozana Spokesman : Leading Punjabi Newspaper Online

Labour Day Celebrated - Allcargo Laxmi

Lifeboat being lowered

Holidays always bring cheer. But some services like railways, airlines, policing, CISF, firefighting, hospitals and shipping have to remain active incessantly. No matter, what the day or what the occasion. About two decades ago we did enjoy some reprieve in Indian ports on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day. It was always something to look forward to. But now, Indian ports have taken cue from USA and Europe and continue to work 24 hours, 365 days.

Lifeboat clear and steaming - figure 1

Unsurprisingly, it came as a pleasant shock when agent told that there would be no cargo work (at New Mangalore port) on the occasion of 1^st May as International Labour Day. So it was all quite and peace in the precincts of the port yesterday. We rose to the occasion and decided to lower and maneuver our ship Allcargo Laxmi's lifeboat.  Ship has a number of young seamen and a first –timer. A team of the experienced the novices was formed and sent in boat for the operation. Not only the team enjoyed the ride they also attained invaluable experience and confidence.

Lifeboat clear and steaming - figure 2

In any case ships are required by law to lower, unhook and maneuver their lifeboats in water at least once in three months. Entry has to be made in official log book as an evidence that it has been done. 

Lifeboat clear and steaming - figure 3

Unfortunately some times record keeping is not matched by the actual task having been done. And, this becomes easily evident when boat is required to be lowered and operated in front of PSC inspector. 

Lifeboat being retrieved

Doing the exercise regularly can save the needless embarrassment and will provide the boats to be available for use, in case (God forbid) we need them.