Inert Gas requirements

A summary of the current requirements

INTERTANKO Tanker Event at Istanbul 2008

Otto Nyquist, Det Norske Veritas (MTPNO880)
2008-04-21
 Are the present IG requirements complicated?

„ Above table gives DNV’s understanding of present IG requirements in SOLAS

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 Why do we have IG requirements?

T/T ”KONG HAAKON VII”

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 Keep in mind:

IG requirements relate only to low flash-point cargoes

IG requirements are given in 2 different statutory instruments:

„ Chem Code
„ SOLAS

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 Chem Code IG requirements
„ Applies when ”Inert” is given in Ch. 17 column ”h” of the IBC Chem Code
„ Applies for this product irrespectively of ship age, ship size, tank size, etc.
„ Operational requirement only; (no specific technical requirements are
given):
- Pre-purging with IG supplied from shore before loading is OK
- Bottles with N2 for topping up during voyage
- Supply from shore during unloading, (if required)

„ IG used is normally N2

© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved 22 April 2008 Slide 5
 SOLAS IG requirements
„ Requirements given in Ch. II-2 Reg. 4, item 5.5
„ Applicable to tankers of 20 000 DWT and above
„ Full cycle required:
- Pre-purging
- Topping up during voyage
- Filling during unloading
- Topping up during tank cleaning
- Purging until less than 2% hydrocarbons

„ Both detailed equipment requirements and detailed operational

requirements

© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved 22 April 2008 Slide 6
 SOLAS IG requirements
„ The requirements are given in SOLAS Ch. II-2 Reg. 4, item 5.5 with detail
requirements in:
- FSS Code
- MSC Circulars
- Res. A 567(14) (modified requirements for tankers holding Chem Code
Certificate of Fitness)
- IACS UR F20

„ Oil tankers:
- must have IG capacity not less than 125% of unloading rate
- must have deck water seal

„ Tankers with Chem Code CoF:

- must limit the unloading rate to max 80% of IG capacity
- may have double block-and-bleed arrangement in lieu of deck water seal

© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved 22 April 2008 Slide 7
 SOLAS IG requirements
Historical development
„ Original SOLAS 74 text included IG requirements for oil tankers above
100 000 DWT and combination carriers above 50 000 DWT
„ TSPP 78 SOLAS Protocol requires IG for “new” oil tankers on or above
20 000 DWT and gives time scheme for upgrading “existing” tankers
above on or above 20 000 DWT
„ SOLAS 81-Amendments make reference to Res. A 473(XII) with some
relaxations for combined oil/chemical tankers when carrying oil cargoes;
(IG not required for low-flash chemicals)
„ SOLAS 83-Amendments make IBC Code mandatory under SOLAS
(IG still not required for chemicals)

© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved 22 April 2008 Slide 8
 SOLAS IG requirements
Historical development (continued)
„ SOLAS 89-Amendments clarified that:
- Chemical tankers keel-laid before 1986-07-01 need not use IG for Ch. 17 and
Ch. 18 products
- Chemical tankers keel-laid on or after 1986-07-01 must use IG for low FP Ch.
17 and 18 products
- when tanks are 3 000 m3 or above or
- when tank cleaning machines exceed 17.5 m3/h pr. nozzle or 110 m3/h
totally

© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved 22 April 2008 Slide 9
 SOLAS IG requirements
Background for present requirements
„ Tank size limitations because water washing in larger tanks was taken to
cause possibility for electrostatic charges causing ignition
„ Relaxations for chemicals because gas from IG generator will cause
contamination of cargo; (N2 generators not available when the
requirements were established)

© Det Norske Veritas AS. All rights reserved 22 April 2008 Slide 10
 DNV understanding of SOLAS IG requirements

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