Notes On The Problems of Cargo Ventilation: World Meteorological Organization
Notes On The Problems of Cargo Ventilation: World Meteorological Organization
Notes On The Problems of Cargo Ventilation: World Meteorological Organization
NOTES ON
THE PROBLEMS OF CARGO VENTILATION
W.F. McDONALD
It was created:
to facilitate international co-operation in the establishment of networks of stations and
centres to provide meteorological services and observations,
to promote the establishment and maintenance of systems for the rapid exchange of
meteorological information,
to promote standardization of meteorological observations and ensure the uniform
publication of observations and statistics,
to fUTther the application of meteorology to aviation, shipping, agriculture, and other
human activities,
to encourage research and training in meteorology.
NOTES ON
THE PROBLEMS OF CARGO VENTILATION
W. F. IUcDONALD
(Consultant of the United States Weather Bureau;
Chairman of the Group for study of applied marine
meteorology and climatology, Commission for
Mal"itime Metcol"Ology of the WMOj
Reprinted in 1967
Repl"inted in 1968
NOTE
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not
imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World
Meteorological Organi7.Ution concerning the legal status of any country or territory or of its
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers.
- III -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary (French, Russian, Spanish) __._. ._.__....__..__. ~ .. _.. _ V
Annex A . . . . .. ..._. . . . 19
- VIn -
FOREWORD
This document has been prepared by Mr. W.F. McDonald (United States of
America) chairman of a working group of the Commission for Maritime Meteoro-
logy,under the presidency of Cdr. C.E.N. Frankcom (United Kingdom). The other
members of the working group wereMr, Montijn (Netherlands) and Mr. Shellard
(United Kingdom). The working group was constituted at the London conference
of the Commission for Maritime Meteorology in 1951 and its work was concluded
at Hamburg in October 1956, when it was submitted to the whole Commission for
their approval. During the preparation of this study Mr. McDonald did a world
voyage in a cargo ship and discussed the problem on the spot with experts in
various countries as well as with the other members of this working group and
the president of the Commission.
The contents of this document are now made available for international
purposes and it is hoped that Members of the World Meteorological Organization
may find means to make its information available to the maritime interests of
their respective nationalities. The purpose is practical,namely,to contribute
to the betterment of cargo ventilation (including the improvement of shipsl
architecture with respect to this important matter)and if possible aid in less-
ening deterioration and waste that arises from improperly controlled moisture
in shipsl holds. Maritime interests are fully aware of the economic importance
of preventing such losses which are often considerable on a single voyage.
A more useful (and much more costly) method of measuring moisture con~
ditions in ships' holds uses modern electrical sensing devices. Such devices,
which are wired from the point of measurement to the recorder installed on
the bridge or at any other selected place,make readings immediately available
to the responsible deck officer for guidance in protecting the cargo aboard.
However, such installations, apart from the cost, present certain inherent
problems of management. The equipment is by nature delicate and to more than
a degree "perishable". Unless kept frequently checked and calibrated to assure
their accuracy in operation, the readings from these measuring devices may
drift and become entirely useless.
Considering the not uncommon situation when the dew-point of the a1:r is
higher than cargo temperature, and the fact that much moisture-damaged cargo
continues to be delivered at out-turn in port, we may say emphatically that
rule of thumb for management of ship's ventilation is inadequate and there
should be a better foundation for guidance in meeting this important problem.
Aboard ships !'lot air-con9itioned for strict control to meet known cargo
problems, the main cause of ca~go damage arises from condensing atmospheric
moisture which forms interior "sweat", . either on the ship's structure or with-
in the cargo itself or both, To produce "sweat" always requires sUrfaces or
zones that are cooler than the dew~point of the air present in the hold, whe-
ther this be stagnant air or the air introduced by ventilation. In general,
it may be assumed that ventilation i.s ai.med primarily to remove moisture from
the ship's space concerned, although there are important exceptions where heat
or damaging gases must be discharged.
Moisture sometimes arises from the cargo itself, as in the case of many
natural products, such as fruit, vegetables, and green lumber to mention a
few. This is almost always the case when cargo has been wetted before or
during the loading operation.
Some types of cargo generate internal heat, and in this case, the re-
moval of that heat may become extremely important in avoiding spontaneous
combustion. Cargo temperatures in course of the voyage tend to adjust (often
quite slowly) to the general temperature of the ship and its outside climate.
This temperature adjustment proceeds even in the total absence of ventilation
but is of course greatly accelerated by forced air movement throughout cargo
spaces. However, cargo tightly stacked is almost immune to the accelerating
influence of ventilation except in surface layers, this fact should always be
borne in mind in planning cargo stowage, and where it is anticipated that
ventilation will be needed to assure the maintonance of proper condition, the
cargo concerned should be stowed to facilitate to the greatest practicable ex-
tent the movement of air through numerous planned interstices.*
Some types of cargo arc "hygroscopic", that is, there is in the material
itself a natural affinity for airborne moisture, so ~rong that there iS~Drp
tien of such moisture even from air not fully saturated by the contained vapor.
Fibers, such as jute, wool and cotton and also hides show this property to great-
er· or lesser extent. The capacity for absorption of added moisture is height-
ehed·if such materials are loaded from unusually hot dry ports of origin. Ship-
ping regUlations generally forbid acceptance of skins and fibrous materials if
these are offered in wet or unduly moist condition, because drying in the hold
of a ship is practicably impossible.
* Note : Although soft wood dunnage may be used for general purposes it seems
desirable that hard wood dunnage will be required to separate dry cargo from
all otherwise uninsulated decks .01' bulkheads, that are likely to be chilled by
cold seas or by adjacent refrigerated spaces·. Such cold surfaces are persistent
sources of wet condensa te. .
- 5 -
Be cargo in good or poor condition, well or poorly stowed for best car-
riage, ventilation draws into the ship the atmosphere that is present outside.
Therefore, the first and most important fact to determine is the state of the
air that will be pulled into the ship's ventilation system. It will be evident
that nearly saturated or saturated air introduced into the hold cannot pick up
additional moisture unless the air is considerably warmed as it passes through
the cargo spaces. On the other hand, should nearly saturated air be intro-
duced into cargo spaces significantly cooler than the outside, then water will
be deposited when the air reaches such cooler parts of the hold and cargo.
The frequency with which problems of sweat hazards are encountered must
not obscure the important fact that ventilation may be necessary for a variety
of reasons apart from sweat control. Foul odors, dangerous gases, and excess
heat often require air circulation regardless of dew-point factors.
In general, if the object is to remove or avoid interior sweat, venti-
lators should be opened only when the surrounding atmosphere shows a dew-point
definitely lower than the temperature of the cargo to be protected from moist-
ure damage, if this latter temperature is obtainable. Since cargo temperature
is quite difficult to measure, and the air in contact with cargo tends to as-
sume that temperature, or at least to become a fair indicator, we may for
practical purposes say that ventilation for moisture control should never be
- 6 -
undertaken unless the air around the ship shows a dew-point significantly lower
than the dew-point of the air that it will displace when drawn into the cargo
spaces,
While not so essential as the condition just stated, it is also desir-
able that the outside air show a definite "moisture deficit" when introduced
into ventilation for moisture removal. Such a moisture deficit is indicated
by finding that the dew-point of the atmosphere is significantly lower than
its dry bulb temperature. A quick indicator of this, (the inaccuracy of which
is on the safe side) will be found in the "depression of the wet bulb";which
is simply the degree to which the wet bulb thermometer reading falls below the
dry bulb reading. (The dew-point can never be higher,though it will often be
lower, than the wet bulb thermometer reading,)
A prominent shi.pping executive in New York City who has given much at-
tention to cargo ventilation has briefly summarized his views as follows re-
garding the ideal to be sought. He considers that: (1) Hold ventilation
should aim ideally at keeping the interior condition equalized with the state
of the atmosphere'· outside. (2) To do this, he thinks, would require replace-
ment, 12 to 15 times per hour, of tte air in spaces around the cargo. (3)Air
movement must be assured thrOUGhout all sensitive ca"go to be ventilated,and
ventilation ducting, stowage and placement of dunnage must have as its object
the elimination of dead air spaces in and around ~he cargo. (4) ~ fans
drawing from ducts that take out from the normally coolest parts of the hold
to be ventilated, he believes, will secure the best resu1 ts for elimination
of dead air spaces.*
None but the roughest quantitative rules about temperature and dew-
point can be suggested for guidance in ventilation practice.
The following points should be borne in mind at all times :
(1) Ship's cargo will change its temperature more slowly than the change
in the ship's environment along its course.
(2) The interior adjustment will show the greatest lag at the middle of
tightly stowed cargo, and especially so in the lower holds.
(3) More open stowage and active ventilation will accelerate the tempera-
ture change within the cargo and hold although the lag of this change
compared to the rate of change on the outside cannot be entirely eli-
minated.
Deck officers will learn by experience how their ship's spaces and the
types of cargo carried behave under observed changes in temperature environ-
ment. The ship's course, whether from a cooler to a warmer environment or
vice versa, has an important bearing on the selection of temperature and dew-
point criteria for activating ventilation. In the case of a movement from wa:rm-
er to colder regions, temperatures of the ship's cargo and holds will lag l?~
hing the outside rate of cooling, i.e. will tend to remain warmer;under such
a condition, it will be safe to ventilate even though the outside air shows
no depression of its dew-point below the dry air temperature, provided such
air introduced for ventilation is itself at least a few degrees cooler than
the hold.
When a ship moves from cooler to warmer sea areas,externalventilation
for moisture control should, as a rule, be closed off entirely. Ventilation
~r removal of higher internal heat will still be feasible provided the moist-
ure hazard is known to be the lesser hazard to cargo. There are rare occa-
sions in winter when a strong seasonal invasion of air from higher latitudes
brings deep into intertropical regions an air mass of sufficient coolness and
dryness to support ventilation for interior dehumidification. Since these
instances are infrequent, general guide lines for decision on ventilation con-
trol under these circumstances are lacking, It is assumed,however,that a safe-
ty factor of 4° to 8°F (20 to 4° Celsius) of "cooling margin" (difference be-
tween dry bulb and dew-point temperatures) should in these situations be main-
tained in the discharge ventilation stream, to take account of the tempera-
ture lag in cargo slowly warming up with the ship's passage from cool to pro-
gressively warmer waters.
A wide range of testimony on cargo outturn reveals that whether a ship
has comprehensive ventilation control or the simplest of ventilation systems
it is most important that deck officers have full knowledge regarding the basic
problems of moisture evaluation, and a comprehension of the limitations as
well as the capabilities of the ship's ventilation system. As one writer says:
"No system of ventilation can prevent damage if the ship's officers do not
know when to and when not to use it, and the simplest form of ventilation can
keep cargo in good condition in the great majority of circumstances if eniployed
to the maximum advantage."
- 9 -
On the other hand, the cooler spaces within a ship can be turned to
advantage by clever management of ventilat~on and be made places for deposit
of moisture unwanted elsewhere. This will be particularly true if at the
oooler spot the resultant condensate can be disposed of without damage. Some-
times a closed interior ventilation circuit can be set up to make use of the
cool spot for dehumidifying the air that afterwards will be passed around and
picle up wa:;.'mth and moisture from cargo needing protection. Instances have
been reported in which the ship's unusod or surplus refrigeration space has
thus been turned to good advantage for interior dehumidification by closed
recirculation of interior air when the state of the outside atmosphere was
such as to forbid its introduction into the ship's ventilation system.
When this is the case, the usefulness of any chosen ventilation process can
be gauged by proceeding through the following steps : *
(1) Measure the dew-point of the outside air that will feed into the ven-
tilators.
(2) Place the ventilation system into operation.
* .tl2.i€ :
If very cold cargo is known to be present in the hold, the above
procedure should be followed with care or a decision in advance might bomado
not to ventilate at all in such circumstances. Conditions under which the
cargo was loaded, its nature .and stowage, recent weather conditions and di
rection in which the ..ship is pro.cGGding should also be taken into account.
**.In vessels fitted with a recirculatory system the air in the hold may, of
course, continue to circulate.
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ventilation for moisture control, we find that shipping management, ship de-
sign and thefi tting out of ships seldom recognize this principle and provide
therefor the elementary means for obtaining easy, efficient and accurate
measurements requirsd.
?hip1s wet and. dry bulb thermometers,in design and installation aboard,
are often totally inadequate to afford reliable dew~point indications. The
usual shipboard thermometer installation is ~ in place and thus subject
to all the inaccuracy that arises because the instrument is not properly ex-
posed to air movement, Changes in shipt s course or shifts of the wind will
often cause the instrument to be exposed on the lee side of the vessel; as a
result temperature readings will be affected by heat from the ship. The wet
bulb thermometer often is found to have a dirty muslin cover, drawing on a
fixed well that may not even contain pure water. Determination of atmospheric
dew-point under such conditions will be accurate only by the chance that the
.several sources of errors run in opposite directions at the moment - a condi-
tion that is far from scientific and reliable.
Many ships now operated have not been provided with ID1nQmum standards
of arrangements in design and fitting to facilitate deck officers with their
problems of accurate dew-point determinations in the discharge ventilation
stream. Accurate air temperature and dew-point determinations on shipboard
require the use of portable instruments, so that the readings may always be
taken from the weather side of the deck or bridge, The sling psychrometer
(illustrated in Figure l*}is the best known form of hand instrument for se-
curing highly accurate readings. It must be whirled in the air, however, to
ventilate the thermometer bulbs properly and this procedure is somewhat awk-
ward and moreover often leads to breakage by collision with fixed environme~
The British Meteorological Office has developed a hand-crank operated fan ven-
tilated psychrometer (illustrated in Figures 2*), Most recently available is
an electrically ventilated version of the psychrometer (illustrated in Figure
3*)which also includes arrangement for night illumination of the thermometer
stems.
--< ./
- "'C ~
Ir
i:
-, -- --~
--- ---
Hingld CDVllr
- - - -- k-
.~ 5'A",/X V,nJlIIJl",s ,
~
':.1_
I tl
-,
: ~
_____ DICit
-.I
FRONT SIDE
d Fig. 2 b
Fig. 1
Fig. 2 a
Fig. 3
- l6 -
now being widely introduced into use aboard merchant ships of United States
registry as the basis for obtaining thermometric elements of weather observa-
tions at sea. 'This design compact!y assembles (1) a small 4-vo'lt electri c motor
and fan actuated by threecstandard dry cells of the type used in electric
torches; (2) a simple duct to lead the air ,stream past the bulbs of the two
thermometers needed for dry bulb and wet bulb indications; and (3) on the
same dry battery with the fan motor, a switch and small lamps that can be
brought into use for illuminating the stems of the thermometers for night
time (or dark space) readings. In use, the muslin on the wet bulb is moistened
with a medicine dropper and thereafter without 'physical effort on the part
of the observer the adjustment of mercury columns in the thermometer stems
can be continuously observed, and the point of stability for each (dry and
wet) can be readily noted.
There is emphasi s on the conclusion that ship design can and should be
brought to iecogn1ze, and to meet in ship-building, the simple but hitherto
neglected means that will facilitate control measurements in samples of the
air entering or leaving ships' ventilation systems. Even in ships on which
design and fitting will have provided the most modern facilities for the dis-
tant sensing and reporting of temperature and moisture states, it is still
essential'to provide the same access to ventilating air in order to assure
accurate calibration of these complicated instrumental installations, and
thus avoid the hazards that arise from instrumental deterioration.
ANNEX A
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 There is scarcely any kind of cargo which on transport by overseas cargo
ships is wholly safe from damage and decay, and in many instances spontaneous
combustion in cargo has caused fires and at times total losses of ships as
well as loss of life. The problem under discussion therefore may be regarded
as a matter of the ship's safety, over and above the risks of damage to cargoes
in transit.
While th~ United States of America and the United Kingdom have been en-
gaged especially in this problem, the Deutscher Wetterdienstalso, in close
co-operation with shipowners and ships' officers has gone into it in recent
years. From its studies the Seewetteramt has drawn certain conclusions which
are summarized here. These findings in more detailed form were brought before
shipowners and representatives of ship-yards, insurance companies, research
institutes, and members of industry and con~erce, at a meeting arranged by
the Seewetteramt at Hamburg in June i956. The iectures and discussions at
that meeting are to be found in published form under the title, "Laderaum-
"jeteoroloqie" (Deutscher Wetterdienst, Seewetteramt, Einzelveroffentlichung
N;::9;lfumburg, 1956).
(and on decks or ceilings) with which the cargo may be wetted either by direct
contact or by water dropping down. The seaman makes every possible effort to
protect his cargo therefrom by careful dunnaging and cargo covering. Moreover,
he attempts with the aid of various ventilation systems to produce a climate
for the ship's hold which roughly corresponds to the outside air or water
temperature. Adequate ventilation can do much to protect cargo from damaging
condensation in the hold. However, it is possible to ventilate too much in
attempting to make the most of the available ventilation capacity and there
may arise one or more of the following dangers ;
(b) On too-much cooling of cargo surfaces the layer of the temperature dis·
continuity will be moved into the interior of the cargo with damaging
consequences, difficult to remedy by any process.
At the other extreme the fully air-conditioned ship's hold requires that
the space be heat insulated against temperature influences from outside. As
far as outside air has to be supplied to such air-conditioned holds such air
must be tempered and/or dried to satisfy those temperature and humidity con-
ditions suited to particular cargo requirements. At this extreme there arises,
~ 21 -
in consequence of the ftrst'cost, the question whether this expense will turn
out to be profitable as against the possibility that putting up with the po-
tential cargo hazards remaining with less costly ventilation might not be the
lesser of two· evils. Fully air-conditioned ships' holds for certain cargoes,
e.g. for corn in bulk, would be overdone, and in general fully controlled air-
conditioning· will be uneconomical except for certain quite specialized cases.
The ships' officers often are unaWilre of the physical processes which
cause sweat. In this situation the meteorologist can assist shipping by pro-
viding scientific data to show how to pass over rrom rule of thumb procedure
to the reasoned use of the special ventilation equipment aboard ship. It is
especiall y important that, at the navigation school s, student mari ners become
well acouainted with recent scientific knowledge as regards the complicated
and difficult meteorological problems of cargo care, together with modern
findings on methods of reaching scientific decisions about management of ship's
cargo ventilation.
2.2 Elaboration of a climatology of danqerous zones, and the necessity of
water temperature measurements
The sea routes over the oceans, analysed as to climatological conditions,
- 22 -
show certain dangerous Eones in which there are found rapid changes in water
temperature which through the ship's boardsides affect the climate of the
lower holds. When carefully studied these dangerous zones show, in the same
month of different years, varying intensity and situation. It is, for instance,
important for the ship's officer to know whether the past records of various
ships have shown that water temperatures have fallen rapidly within the next
24-hour portion of the ship's prospective course, and to know wi thin about
what limits of change the records havl! varied.
Such facts, so helpful for cargo care, are still generally unavailable
to ships' officers, as they are not now shown in the usual climatological at-
lases. Past records are now available, however, from which the meteorologist
may produce such climatological data for the chief zones of danger. In recent
years the Seewetteramt has been occupied with such a climatology for the main
sea routes in the Atlantic and round Africa. (An example is found in Dr.Billlig's
lecture, No.3, in the paper, "Laderaum Meteorologie" cited above.)
Such a climatology of the special dangers to which the lower holds are
exposed by changing water temperatures could point out to ships' officers in
which areas of the oceans their cargoes in lower holds are likely to be espe-
cially endangered, In the actual sailing, however, the ship's officer will do
well with his ventilation arrangements only if, in such areas, he takes measure-
ments of water temperature, as these alone can show the real extent of danger.
3. CONCLUSION
The Seewetteramt hopes to continue its p~ograms of investigation and
formulation of suggested procedures by which damages to cargo may be reduced
to a minimum without extensive outlay by shipowners for modification or ex-
tensive amplification of existing ventilation systems. We shall hope to ac-
cumulate pertinent data from all possible sources, the study of which may be
expected to guide further steps based on all accumulated experience, looking
toward the development of the best possible aids to the safe carriage of shipsl
cargoes.
- 25 -
ANNEX B
This is shown by the following simple table that gives for an air sam-
ple under normal pressure the highest percentage of its total volume that can
be made up by water vapor at the temperature indicated.
Temperature Approximately
FO Co %
100° (38") 6-1/2
800 (270) 3-1/2 Maximum percentage, by volume, which
600 (160) 1-3/4 fully saturated vapor can provide in
400 (40) 4/5 of 1 air space concerned.
200 (-70) 2/5 of 1
Looking back now at the table above, we must be clear in seeing that
the percentage figures given there are not "relative humidity" but are "ab-
solute humidity" values, each of which indicates the proportionate part of
a saturated vapor-air mixture that (by volume) is water vapor present.
Should there be less than sat- 'Should there be less than
uration, say "50 per cGnt relative hu- saturation, say "50 per cent rela-
midity" at temperature 27°C,then the, tive humidity" at temperature 80°F,
absolute percentage of ~eter vapor then the absolute percentage of wa-
present-in the mixture will be 50 % of ter vapor ]2!.§gnt in. the mixture
3-1 %, or 1-374 % of the total volume. will be 50 % of~2 %, or 1-374 %
- 26 ~
Observe in the same table that 1-3/4 % of the total volume. Observe in the
is all the moisture the mixture could same table that 1-3/4 % is all the
contain at 16°C, and it will be seen moisture the mixture could contain
that cooling from 27°C to 16°C would, at 60°F, and it will be seen that
without changing tne amount of water cooling from BooF to 60°F WOUld,
present as vapor increase the "rela- without changing the amount of wa-
tive humldity" from 50 per cent (half ter present as vapor, increase the
saturation) to 100 per cent relative "relative humidity" from 50 per
humidity or full saturation for the cent (half saturation) to 100 per
cooler point. cent !_~lat_~ve humid~~y or full sat-
uration for the cooler point.
The table indicates then, that
between -7°C and 38°C the capacity of The table indicates then,
an. air space to hold water vapor ap- that between 20°F and 100°F the ca-
proximately doubles with each increase pacity of an air space to hold wa-
of 11°C in temperature. That is to say, ter vapor approximately doubles with
the space can hold twice as much at 4° each increase of 20°F in temperature.
as at -7°G, twice as much again at 16° That is to say, the space can hold
as at 4°C and so on, until at 38°C twice as much at 40°;: as at 2( LF ,tvHGe
there is capacity for 16 times as much as much again at 60° as at 40°F and
vapor as at -7°C. so on, until at 100°F there is capa-
city for 16 times as much vapor as
at 20°F,
Turn this around, and noting that the capacity for moisture is halved
with each 11°C (20°F.) decrease in temperature, we may ask : ". :hat happens
when air fully saturated pith vapor is cooled 11°C (20°F.)?" Cooling from t:le
higher temperature with saturation will at once begin to force moisture to
leave its gaseous state in the air mixture and to show up as a film or drop-
lets of liquid water. This process in the free air of a natural setting un-
derlies the formation of dew on grass, "sweating" of windows and cold pipes,
and other such well known examples of the sudden appearance of atmospheric
moisture directly deposited uS wetness on cold surfaces.
The greater the difference is, between the temperature and the dew
Eoint valuG of an air mixture, the gr~ater the capacity of the gas mixture
(air sample) to pick up additional moisture, and the more rapidly such drying
pOWEr will operate. Evaporation into a moving air stream proceeds alsO at a
more rapid rate than into a stagnant air sample, for the same per cent of rel-
ative humidity. These facts are brought into use in the instrument (called the
"psychrometer") by which dew point is determined.
.. 27 -
The psychrometer
Heat energy must be supplied to change water (or any other fluid) from
the liquid to the gaseous state. This heat energy for evaporation must be sup-
plied by the liquid source of thevnpbr, which is thus cooled b~yaporation.
The more intense the evaporation, the greater the cooling. This principle has
been mad~ the practical and reliable basis for arriving at a devise useful for
evaluating humidity and the relatGd dew point temperature. This Instrument,
the "psychrometer", 'is simply a pair of thermometGrs under equal ventilation
either by swinging the thermometers through the air to be tested or by passing
the air over the bulbs of the two thermometers. OnG bulb is wrapped with clean
g2uze and ~etted by pure water) this is the source of heat and moisture for
evaporation as the wet bulb cools when ventilated in air. The rate of evapora-
tion (and degree of wet bulb cooling) will depend on the relative humidity, or
more accurately the water vapor deficiency in the air mixture that controls
the 2£1 thermometer's indications.
'The first (and the basic reading) is the temperature shown by the dry
bulb thermometer, which is the "air temperature" or "dry bulb temperature".
~Jhen the wetted thermometer has had time to show that cooling is complete and
the reading is down to the lowest possible point, this second value is read
off and recorded as the "Viet bulb temperature", T2,l<ing these two thermometer
readings into the dew point table (an abbreviated version of which is given'
here for illustrative pUl'poses) the "dew point temperature" is obtained for
the particular air-vapor mixture being tested for moisture condition,*
20 15 10 5 -2
25 21 17 13 8 2
30 27 24 20 16 11 6 -1
35 33 30 27 24 20 16 11 5 -4
40 38 35 33 30 27 24 20 16 11 4 -4
45 43 41 39 36 34 31 28 24 21 16 11 5 -4
50 48 46 44 42 40 37 35 32 29 25 21 17 12 5 -3
55 53 51 50 48 46 43 41 39 36 33 30 27 23 18 13
60 58 57 55 53 51 49 47 45 43 40 38 35 32 28 25
65 63 62 60 59 57 55 53 51 49 47 45 42 40 37 34
70 69 67 66 64 62 61 59 57 55 53 51 49 47 45 42
75 74 72 71 69 68 66 65 63 61 59 58 56 54 52 49
80 79 77 76 74 73 72 70 68 67 65 64 62 60 58 56
85 84 82 81 80 78 77 75 74 72 71 69 68 66 64 63
90 89 87 86 85 84 82 81 79 78 76 75 73 72 70 69
----- ---------'-------
-5 -5 -8 -13 -19
0 0 -3 - 6 -10 -15
+ 5 5 3 0 - 3 - 6 -10
+10 10 8 6 4 1 - 2 - 5 -10
+15 15 13 12 10 8 5 3 0 - 4 - 8
+20 20 19 17 15 14 12 10 7 5 2 - 1
+25 25 24 22 21 19 18 16 14 12 10 8
+30 30 29 27 26 25 23 22 20 13 17 15
+35 35 34 33 31 30 29 27 26 24 23 21
+40 40 39 38 36 35 34 33 31 30 29 27
- 29 -
ventilation actually romoving any moisture from tho ventilatec: s!)ace ?"
,':hat is called here "the cooling margin", (which is the same as the
figur" for "depression of the de,'1 point"-dry bulb minus dew point tempera-
ture) is the most valuable guide for deciding whether or not it will be
safe to pass outside air into a ship's·hold containing relatively cold car-
go. It is certain that [!)9Jstu.r..Q...~iJ)-E.e_depogtod \!ithin the ship on any
cargo or any of the ship's interior surfaces lhat_sl~2_j~mY~!2.ture_~eI9j¥
th~_dew--.E9lnt of the L~.2rn)ng air. This is the fundamental principle on
which intelligent decision regarding ship's ventilation must be based;
~ 30 -
ANNEX C
Introduction
One point, howe\'er, that Mr. lif,cDonald does not mention is a system which
we have in our later vessels of determining the difference between cargo com-
partment dew point and atmosphere, This is done by means of taking a sample
of the air drawn through the Lux Ri ch Smoke Detecting System and comparing
its dew point with that of the atmosphere, This sample, however, only gives
the average condition of the compartment and in our vessels we are not so
concerned with the average condition as the worse condi Hon, i, e. the deck
or bulkhead adjacent to the hard frozen compartment.
The above are rule of thumb principles and can be divided into three
phases ~ (A) General cargo carried in uninsulated spaces above the waterline,
where the hull is exposed to the heat of the sun and syrface weather condi-
tions. (B) General cargo carried in uninsulated spaces bE'low the water line
where the temperature of the surrounding sea water influences the temperature
. and relative humidity within the space. (C) General cargo carried in insulated
spaces where the insulation forms a barrier against the effects of the outsidE'
atmospheric conditions.
This of course takes no account of possible fumes or gases in the compart-
ment. In such cases discretion must be used.
In vessels fitted with the brine grid system of refrigeration the ship
should be treated as a whole, but in vessels fitted with the battery and fan
unit compartments should be treated individually. In this latter case when
atmospheric conditions are such that ventUation is closed then the fans should
be used to re-circulate air in the compartment ."
- 32 -
Honourable Company's Technical Committee, who express the opinion that while
the memorandum contains nothing new or revolutionary, it presents all the
essentials of the problem in a more compact form than they have observed else-
where. Basic scientific facts are wedded to practical shipboard experience
in a simple, clear manner and the dissemination of this knowledge in this
form would be extremely beneficial provided it eniisted the enthusiastic,sup-
port of 'the shipowner. The committee is confident that the minor modifications
to design and relattvely simple rules of shipboard practice proposed would
have a beneficial effect on the economics of seaborne transport out of ali
proportion to the effort and expense involved, but unless the shipowner throws
his fuli weight behind them it seems unlikely that anyone else will do so
for the following reasons :
(1) The shipowner must approve and pay for the structural modifications
and supply the instruments which make humidity control possible.
(2) He would have to insist upon and meet the cost of the provision of
adequate dunnage, without which other measures could have only limited value.
(3) In a ship carrying a hetercgeneous cargo the variations in condi-
tions from hold to hold caused by difference in contents and local conditions,
such as proximity to engine room or refrigerated spaces, would necessitate
each cargo compartment being treated as a separate unit. It is estimated that
in the average 7,000-10,000 ton ship the simple but careful routine of humi-
dity and temperature measurement would require supervision by an officer (or
a more reliable and intelligent petty officer than is available in most ships)
for at least one hour every watch. Unless the employer considers this neces-
sary and is willing to meet the increased costs it may never be widely intro-
duced.
(4) Because the majority of shipowners have never indicated to their
staffs that they consider ventilation of major importance, it is probable
that most ships' officers have not studied the subject very deeply and, al-
though basically simple, the underlying principles of humidity control have
never been as thoroughly understood by the majority of seafarers as they
should be. A vigorous lead by employers is necessary to remedy thi s , I f
From Superintendent's D3partment, The New Zealand Sbippinq Company, Ltd., and
Federal St~am N~viqatinq 'CompanYi Ltd.
"As you probably know, we heve been doing experiments on cargo space ven-
tilation for about 25 years now. I waS the chief officer of the first ship in
which Mr. Duly, who was at that time a professor at London University, made
a passage in the "TEKOA" to study the problem of dew-point and hull ventila-
tion. As a result of this voyage, and a number of records which were kept in
various ships, we brought out our first instruction regarding the ventilation
of holds based more or less on the same principles as the,paper which Mr.
McDonald is about to publish. From time to time we have slightly modified the
instructions, but basically they remained the same until about four years ago,
We were then a little dissatisfied with the outturn of cargo stowed in
general cargo space above or adjacent to refrigerated compartments as there
II
r
- 34 -
Uninsulated spaces:
(a) Above fro~~rqo. Sto~ with dry agricultural produce such as wool
and do not ventila·ce.
(b) Above chilled c~rqo, Stow with dry agricultural produce such as wool
and only ventilate ~hen the temperature of the cargo space minus 100
F is above th] de,v''Poi nt of the atmosphere.
(c) Havin2-!!9 0:'0 fi.0"]'JLfold_§J!L~' Take the dew-point of the air
issuing from the compartment and do not ventilate unless the atmo-
sphere is drier as shown by its lower de~-point. Compromise venti-
lation only WIlen the temperature of cargo space minus 50 F is above
the dew·'point of the atmosphere.
On both the outwa~0 u~d homeward passages, all spaces must be ventilated
as required by the p~evailing conditions. In the general cargo spaces natural
ventilation should be used and in the insulated spaces carrying general cargo
the fans should be used in conjunction with the fresh air vents, where fitted,"
(Copy of the graph for dew-point values prescribed above is reproduced on page
35) •
~E~~_~~!~§_f~E0!~b~9_~Y_!b~_~E~~Eb_0~!~~E~!~9!S~!_§~E~!s&
Some distinguished members of the French merchant navy are aware of the
dangers entailed by ventilating in bad temperature and hyg:rometric conditions
N. I.S. co. LTD.
S.S.lM.Y. "ilUAHIlIlE" Yay. No. 7 From LOI<lDOIII 10 "WELLiNGTON F. S. til. CO. LTD.
COMPARTMENT >-.
~i:l
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I \ I OOTE: On the outward pasgage two copiem ~t dew point
56 I --J gr~ph must be conetructed on these lines, for
~4 I 0ach or the following group~:-
52
50
, I
(1) All lower Holdw.
46 (2) All ~in Tween Deck~, including lockers.
4. (3) All Upper Tween Decks, including lockers.
(4) All Bridge Dec~a.
4.
••
40
On the homeward passage, two copies of dew point
graph must be constructed as per the outward
:;s pas8Dge, to cover compartments in which general
36 cargo ia stowed.
~4
CARGO TElIlPEilATURE IN FULL LINE
Care should be taken on the' homeward passage that
~2 DEW POINT TEMPERATURE IN PASHED LINE the ventilation of spmces containing general
.0 cargo, above chilled or frozen cargo, Is 1n
shown by comparison between air in the holds and air outside. But on the one
hand the commercial courts do not yet take account of these risks, and on
the other hand the cost of proper equipment to avoid such dangers is thought
by the companies too high in relation to the advantages which might be derived
from it.
It appears, therefore) that the commercial COlll~ts hav(; so far not contem-
plated penalizing a carri er for ventilating a cargo in bad conditions 2S re-
gards temperature and hyg~cometry~
and instruments for measuring temperature and hygrometry,· int·ernal and external,
will. transport hygrometric freight with a very high degree of safety. It will
certainly have the advantage of benefiting by reduced insurance premiums; on
the other hand if damage does occur the captain is liable to incur a penalty
if it can be. proved that he has committed an error of seamanship in carrying
out ventilation.!'
From H.W, Cqurtney, of Courtney, Sullivan and Associates, Inc. (New York Q1iy)
"We are well aware of the problems of the shipping companies in stowing
and ventilating mixed cargoes to various destinations but proper stowage of
any cargo, with due regard to its compatibility to other cargo in the same
compartmerrt and its requirement as to ventilation or non-ventilation, is the
responsibility of the shipping company. That is their business and they should
know i t and accept liability for their errors or for the risk of exposing cargo
to damage in lieu of making necessary expenditures to· protect it.
Fibers such as jute, wool and cotton are shipped in high density bales
. with the exception of some Argentine wool, and almost all of them are subject
to "normal shrinkage" during transit. As for instance, jute invoices at 410
Ibs. per bale but frequently runs an average of 400 or even down to 380 Ibs,
per bale when landed. Cashmere wool has a "normal shrinkage" in the neighbor~
hood of four per cent. This does not necessarily mean that i t loses four per
cent in moisture during transit as shippers are well aware that cashmere wool
shipped in the monsoon season is apt to land in New York actually weighing
more than when shipped. With a value in the neighborhood of $4 per lb., there
is little question they discount probable gain when packing and actually pack
less pounqage per bale than they invoice figuring it will pick up enough moist~
ure during transit to arrive at what they guess it will gain. No doubt, in many
instances they overestimate probable gain so that i.t arrives weighing less than
the invoice weight and the assumption is that it lost weight during transit~"
No. 42
No. 43
P. Austin Bourke (reprinted 1968). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forecasting for forest fire sel'vices. J. A. Turner - J. W. Lillywhite - Z. Pieslak
Meteorological factors influencing the transport and removal of radioactive
debris. Edited by Dr. W. Bleeker. . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . .
I Sw·fr.ll.-
Sw.fr. 8.-
No. 44 Numerical methods of weather analysis and forecasting. B. Bolin -
E. wI. Dohrishman - K. Hinkelmann - K. Knighting - P. D. Thompson
(reprinted 1968) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sw.fr. 7.-
No. 45 Performance requirements of aerological instruments. J. S. Sawyer • . . . Sw.fr. 4.-
No. 46 Methods of forecasting the state of sea on the basis of meteorological data.
J. J. Sehule - K. Terada - H. Walden - G. Verploegh .
Precipitation measurements at sea. Review of the prescnt state of the problem
prepared by a working group of the Commission fOl, :Mal'itime Meteorology .
) Sw.fr. 6.-
No. Lt8 The present status of long-range forecasting in the world. J. 1\'1. Craddock -
H. Flohn - J. Namins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , Sw.fr. 4.-
No. ,19 Reduction and use of data obtained by TIROS meteorological satellites. (Pre~
pared by the National Weather Satellite Center of the U.S. Weather Bureau) Sw.fr. 6.-
No. 50 The problem of the professional training of meteorological personnel of all
grades in the less-developed countries. J. Van Mieghem (reprinted 1967) Sw.fr. 6.-
Note: Publications ill the "Technical Note" series not appearing in this list are out of print, and will not be reprinted.
No. 50 Le problema de In fOl'mation professionnellc du personnel metcorologique de
tout grade dans les pays insuffisammcnt dcveloppes. J. Van Mieghem . . . Sw.fr. 4.-
No. 51 Protection against frost damage. l\L L. Blanc - H. Goslin - 1. A. Holzberg -
B. Th'Iason . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . Sw.fT. 6.-
No. 52 Automatic weather stations. H. 'freussart - C. A. Kettering - M. Sanuki -
S. P. Venkiteshwaran - A. Mani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SW.fT. 3.-
No. 52 Stations mcteorologiques autolllutiqucs. H. 1'rew.s£U't - C. A. Kettering -
M. Sanuki - S. P. Venkitesh"waran - A. Mani. . , . . . . . . . . SW.fT. 3.-
No. 53 The cHcct of weather and climate upon the keeping quality of fruit . . . SW.fT. 8.-
No. 54 :Meteorology and the migration of Desert Locusts. R. C. Rainey . . . . . SW·fT.25.-
No. 55 The influence of weather conditions on the occurrence of apple scab. J . .T. Post-
C. C. Allison - H. Bm'ckhardt - T. F. Preece, , ' . Sw.fr. 5.-
No. 56 A study of agroclimatology in semi-arid and arid zones of the Near East.
G. Penin de Bl'ichambaut and C. C. Wallen (repTinted 1968) , . . . . . . , Sw·fT.12.-
No. 56 Une etude d'agroclimatologie dans les zones mides et semi-arides du Proche-
Orient. G. Perrin de Brichambaut ct C. C. Wallen , . ' . . , ' , . . . , Sw.fr. 6.-
No. 58 Tidal phenomena in the upper atmosphere. B. Haurwitz. . . . . . . . . . SW.fT. 3.-
No. 59 \Vindhl'caks and shelterbelts. J. Van Eimern - R. Karschon - L. A. Razumova -
G. W. Rohertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sw·fT.10.-
No. 60 -Meteorological soundings in the upper atmosphere. "\V. W. Kellogg . . . • . SW.fT. 8.-
No. 61 Note on the standardization of pressure reduction methods in the international
network of synoptic stations. 1\1. Schuepp - F. W. Burnett - K. N. H.ao-
1-\.. Rouaud , ' ......•....... SW.fT. 3.-
No. 62 Problems of tropical meteorology. 1\-1. A. Alaka . SW.fT. 5.-
No. 63 Sites for wind-power installations. B. Davidson - N. Gel·bier - S. D. Papagia~
uakis - P. J. Rijkoort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SW.fT. 5.-
No. 64 High-level forecasting for turbine-ellgined au'craft operatiolls over Africa and the
Middle East. Proceedings of tho Joint ICAOj\VlYIO Seminar, Cairo-Nicosia, 1961 Sw·fr.24.-
No. 65 A sUTvey of human biometeorology. Edited by FredN'ick Sargent, II, and
Solco W. 'Il'omp . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . • . . . . Sw·fT.14.-
No. 66 W:MO-I~GG symposium on research and development aspects of long~range
forecastrng. Boulder, Colorado, 196/1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . Sw·fr·40.-
No. 67 The present situation >..ith regard to the application of numerical methods for
routine weather prediction and prospects for the future. Bo R. Doos -
E. M. Dobrishman - A. Eliassen - K. H. Hinkelmann - H. Ito - F. G. Shuman SW.fT. 6.-
No. 68 lYIeteorological aspects of atmospheric radioactivity. Edited by \V. Bleeker. Sw·fT.18.-
No. 69 Meteorology and the Desert Locust. Proceedings oIthe WMOjFAO Seminar on
Meteorology and the Desert Locust. Tehran, 25 November-ll Decembcr 1963 SW·fT.30.-
No. 70 The circulation in the stratosphere, mesosphere and lower thernlOsphcre.
R. J. l'Ilurgatroyd - F. K. Hare - B. W. Boville - S. Teweles - A. Kochanski Sw·fT.18.-
No. 71 Statistical analysis and prognosis in meteorology. Proceedings of the WlVIO
inter-regional Seminal' on Statistical Analysis and Prognosis in Meteorology.
Paris, 8-20 October 1962. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sw·fT.41.-
No. 72 The preparation and use of weather maps by mariners. . . . . . . . . . . Sw·fT.18.-
No. 73 Data processing in meteOl'ology. Proceedings of the WlVIOjIUGG Symposium
on Meteorological Data Processing. Brussels, 1965. . . . . . . . . . . • . Sw·fT.11.-
No. 74 Data-processing by machine methods (Report of the eel Working Group on
Data~Proces8ing by Machine Methods,!.repared by J. F. Boscn, chairman-
P. E. Kamenskaja - K. N. HaD - E. . Sumner - T. Werner Johannessen) Sw.,(r. 5.-
No. 75 The use of sal:ellite pictures in weather analysis and forecasting.
R. K. Anderson - E. W. Ferguson -V. J. Oliver (Applications Group, National
Envh'onmental Satellite Center of the Environmental Science Services
Administration) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . . . . . Sw·fr.24.-
No. 76 Instruments and measurements in hydrometeorology. Lectures given at the
second session of the Commission for Hydrometeorology, Warsaw, 29 Sep-
temher -15 October 19M . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . Sw.fr. 7.-
No. 77 Lower troposphere soundings (Report of a working group of the Commission
for Instruments and Methods of Observation, prepared by D. H. Pack, chair-
man - G. Cena - A. Valentin - M. F. E. Hinzpetel' - P. Vockeroth and
P. A. Vorontsov) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Sw.fr. 5.-
No.78 (Revised version of Technical Note No. 27.) Use of ground~based radar in
meteorology (excluding upper-wind measurements) (Report by two working
groups of the Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observation, pre~
pared by R. F. Jones, chairman - J. P. Henderson - R. Lhermitte - H. Mitra -
A. Perlat - Y. D. Rockney - N. P. Sellick and revised by S. G. Bigler, chair-
man - H. N. Brann - K. L. S. Gunn- 1. Imai - R. F. Jones - L. S. Nlathur -
H. Trens'art) (reprinted 1968) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sw·fr.18.-
No. 79 Climatic change (Report of a working group of the Commission for Clima~
tology, prepared by J. M. Mitchell, Jr., chairman - B. Dzerdzeevskii - H. Flohn-
W. L. Hofmeyr - H. H. Lamh - K. N. Rao - C. C. Wallen) . Sw.fr. 7.50
No. 80 Utilization of aircraft meteorological reports (A revised edition of Technical
Note No. 57, published under the same title) (Report of a working group of
the Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology, prepared by S. Simplicio, chair-
man, and Y. Hoem) . Sw.fr. 6.-
No. 81 Some methods of climatological analysis. H. C. S. Thorn. . . . . . . . . . Sw.fr. 6.-
No. 82 Automatic weather stations (Proceedings of the WMO Technical Conference
. on Automatic Weather Stations, Geneva, 1966) . Sw·fr.32.-
No. 83 Measurement and estimation of evaporation and evapotranspiration (Report
of the ClMO Working Group on Evaporation Measurement, prepared by
M. Gangopadhyaya, chairman - G. Earl Harbeck, Jr. - Tor J. Nordenson -
M. H. Omar - V. A. Uryvaev) (reprinted 1968) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sw·fr.18.-
No.84 A note on climatological normals. Report of a working group of the Commis-
sion for Climatology, prepared by P. Jagannathan, chairman - R. ArIery -
H. ten Kate - 1\'1. Y. Zavarina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sw.fr. 4.-
No. 85 Precisions des mesures pyrheIiometriques. Communications et discussions
presentees au conrs de la troisieme session du GI'oupe de travail du rayonne-
ment de l'Association regionale VI qui a'est tenne a I'Institut Royal Meteoro~
logique de Belgique a Bruxelles, 23-27 mai 1966 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sw·fr.22.-
No. 86 An agroelimatology survey of a semiarid area in Mrica south of the Sahara.
J. Coeheme and P. Franquin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sw·fr.15.-
No. 86 Etude agl'oclimatologique dans une zone scmi·aride en Afrique au sud du
Sahara. J. Cocheme et P. Franquin. , . Sw. fr.15.-
No. 87 Polar meteorology. Proceedings of the WMOjSCARjICPM Symposium on PolaI'
NIeteOTo1ogy, Geneva, 5-9 September 1966. . . . . . , . . . . . . . , . Sw. fr. 78.-
No. 88 La meteorologla aeronautica en America Latina. Procedimielltos del Seminario
de formaci6n regional de la OMM, Costa Rica, 29 de :i:lOviembre - 17 de diciem~
hre de 1965 (In preparation)
No. 89 Meteorological problems in the design and operation of supm'sonic aircraft.
R. F. Jones, R. M. McInturff and S. Teweles. . . . . . , , . , . . . . . Sw.fr. 9.-
No. 90 Measurement of peak discharge hy indirect methods. Prepared by M. A. Benson Sw. fr. 10.-
No.91 Methods in use for the reduction of atmospheric pressm'e . Sw . .I'. 10.-
No. 92 Hydrological fm'ecasting (Proceedings of the W:i\iOjUNESCO Symposium on
Hydrological FOl'ecasting, Suders' Paradise, Australia, 1967) (In preparation)
No.93 Vel' tical "wind shear in the lower layers of the atmosphere (In preparation)
No. 94, Measurement of atmospheric radioactivity. O. Suschny . , . . . , . , , Sw. Jr. 30.-
No, 95 Ael'onautical meteorology (Proceedings of the Scientific and 'l'eclmical Confer-
ence on Aeronautical Meteorology, London, 18-29 March 1968) (In preparation)
No. 96 Air pollutants, meteorology, and plant injury by E. 1. Mukammal (Chair~
man), C. S. Brandt, R, Neuwirth, D. H. Pack and W. C, S"w"inbank . , . , . Sw. fr. 10.-