Unit three

Information, requests and letters of gratitude

1. Damaged cargo, request to replace

Rangoon, 11th August, 20 . . .

To the Harbour Master,

port of Rangoon, Burma.

Dear Sir,

This is to inform you that today, on.... 20.. during loading of cargo of white mineral oil under B/L... into Hold N... damaged was caused to... barrels of white mineral oil due to negligent work of the crane operator who struck the pallet with the barrels against the

coaming of the hatch square while lowering the draft into the hold. The barrels are badly dented and leaking.

I kindly ask you to replace the damaged barrels before completion of loading.

Yours faithfully,

M. L. Leonov

Master of the m/v "Belitsk"

2. Damaged cargo rejected

Copenhagen, 12th Sept., 20...

To the Master of the m/v "Transatlantic”

the port of Copenhagen, Berth No. 8.

Dear Sir,

This is to inform you that today, on..... 20… during loading of cargo of white mineral oil under B/L 11 into Hold 3 damaged was caused to 6 barrels of white mineral oil due to negligent work of the crane operator. The barrels are badly dented and leaking. Before break for lunch, my Cargo Officer asked you to replace the defective barrels. Nevertheless this has not been done and the defective barrels are still in Hold 3.

I kindly ask you to remove the aforesaid barrels to shore before completion of work today as I refuse to accept them for transportation.

Yours faithfully,

О. К. Semenov

Master of the m/v "Bezhitsa"

3. Improper lashing of deck containers

London, 27th March, 20...

Messrs. Harry Cross & Co., Ship Agents,

17 Black Friars Street,

London, E. С 3.

Dear Sirs,

I regret to inform you that lashing of cargo by the stevedores at our two last calls at your port were carried out negligently. The bridge fittings and lashing rods were not properly tightened and mostly only assembled together owing to which the crew had to tighten up the lashing on both occasions. Usually the Dockers leave the vessel on completion of cargo operations leaving the lashing equipment lying about everywhere and without approval of the ship's Cargo Officer.

In view of the above I kindly ask you to take action and instruct the stevedores to report completion of their work to the ship's Cargo Officer and not to leave without his approval which should be formally certified by his signature. Otherwise, the ship will not leave the port until the cargo is properly lashed and secured. In this case we shall hold the stevedoring company fully responsible for all extra expenses and loses caused by such a delay of the ship.

Yours faithfully,

V. I. Mishin

Master of the m/v "Minsk"