U.K. Club warns about possible wood pellet hazards

U.K. Club warns about possible wood pellet hazards The U.K. P&I Club is publicizing potential combustion and carbon monoxide hazards in the haulage of wood pellets aboard ships.
   The association said it was aware of several recent incidents of stevedores being overcome by fumes associated with the carriage of wood pellets.
   As oil and gas prices have increased, pellets produced in Scandinavia and North America have become increasingly popular as a fuel.
   The U.K. Club Web site features an article produced by Dr. J H Burgoyne & Partners, which notes that during transit pellets can break, producing dust.
   Burgoyne notes the pellets are combustible, and under some conditions, dust can give rise to an explosion. Stored piles of pellets with high humidity can self-heat in parts, leading to spontaneous combustion.
   In addition to the combustion hazards, the article notes: “wood pellets also undergo oxidation to produce carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. In a closed space such as an unventilated ship’s hold, this can lead to a dangerous reduction in the oxygen concentration in the hold as well as the development of a dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide which is toxic (and flammable).”
   “It is well known that carbon monoxide is produced when wood products are burned in reduced oxygen environments, but the low temperature emission of the gas from wood products is rather unexpected.”
   The entire article can be read at: https://www.ukpandi.com/ukpandi/infopool.nsf/HTML/LPNewsHead20070518.