Can Rain Increase Coal Moisture Enough to Cause a Specification Dispute?
Rain does not automatically breach a moisture specification—but open storage, incomplete coverage, and voyage exposure can move results enough to trigger disputes when tolerance bands are tight.
Moisture disputes spike when cargo is exposed during loading, at anchorage, or during discharge in wet conditions. The commercial question is whether the increase is within normal variance, covered by contractual adjustment mechanisms, or sufficient to trigger rejection.
Factors that matter
- Total moisture vs inherent moisture and which basis the contract uses
- Whether the cargo was stored open vs under cover before loading
- Hold ventilation, condensation, and bilge management during voyage
- Timing of load-port vs discharge-port moisture tests
- Price adjustment formulas tied to moisture bands
Documenting weather at load and discharge, alongside sampling methodology, is often the difference between a manageable adjustment and a prolonged cargo acceptance fight.
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