Process of and apparatus for ingot cooling during direct casting of metals

A process and apparatus for producing a cast and cooled metal ingot. The process comprises: casting a molten metal by a direct chill casting operation to form a metal ingot emerging from a mould, and directing one or more streams of liquid coolant onto an outer surface of the metal ingot adjacent to the mould at positions spaced around the periphery of the ingot to achieve a rate of heat extraction from the ingot. The one or more streams of liquid coolant are orientated at an angle relative to the outer surface of the ingot, and the angle is varied during the casting operation to change the rate of heat extraction from the ingot to minimize cooling-related defects in the cast and cooled ingot.