Fisheries cargo damage assessment

Carriers and their insurers regularly face problems and claims involving alleged deterioration of frozen fish cargoes.  The majority of these involve alleged or actual deviation in temperature of the cargo during carriage,   with claims of contamination and other quality defects also significant.   Complaints can be raised by receivers or authorities in the point of discharge, with authorities often having sweeping powers to condemn entire holds or cargo lots.

Homarus can assist through objective assessment of the evidence both from a food science and fisheries market perspective.  Our fish product quality specialists have long experience of fish chemistry, microbiology and preservation issues and associated regulations.  They have investigated over 20 disputes involving fish cargo quality problems in recent years.  Excellent working relationships with chemical and microbial laboratories and expertise in data interpretation assists with rapid definition of nature and extent of quality problems. 

The company also subscribes to fish product market databases and maintains many links within the international fish commodity trade and can provide information on market trends and disposal issues. 

Services relating to fish cargo problems include:

• On site quality assessment at discharge or in cold store
• Determination of quality to internationally accepted criteria
• Sampling for defects to international statistical standards
• Analysis of contaminants
• Thermal calculations & modelling
• Guidance on regulation
• Monitoring of processing out-turn and/or merchantability
• Researching markets and prices

Assistance is flexible and can range from a brief desk-based appraisal of technical merits of a small claim, to fielding one or more assessors for on-site  investigations in larger or urgent cases. (see emergency contact details)