Fire protection method for seagoing chemical tankers

Fire prevention is one of the most essential safety measures on board a

chemical tanker. If a fire occurs, the action taken in the first few moments is
vital. The man on the spot should raise the alarm and assess the situation.
The minimum requirements for any ship's fire fighting equipment are laid
down by the flag administration. The regulations are generally based on the
principles of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
and, for ships certified to carry dangerous chemicals, on the IMO Bulk Chemical
Codes. It is essential to maintain equipment to a high standard.

Specialist training for crew members, in particular as required for chemical

endorsement of officers' professional certificates, should be supplemented by
regular drills on board. Discipline is needed in the daily routines.

Watch out for obvious things such as:

i) Look out for all leaking flanges, valve and pump glands

ii) Keep pump room bilges free from cargo spills

iii) See to it that steam pipe insulation does not get soaked with oil or cargo

iv) Check cargo tank and pump room atmosphere for cargo vapours before
starting any work there

v) Do not steam a cargo tank simultaneously with washing

vi) Use flame-proof lights in cargo tanks and pump rooms

vii) Check pump glands and bearings regularly for heating

viii) Cigarette lighters in the cargo tank area to be forbidden

ix) Observe cargo vapour release during loading and take action if vapours
reach accommodation areas
x) Check cargo pump glands for heating

xi) Take active part in safety-drills and get acquainted with all the safety
equipment

xii) Instruct newcomers on board on safety procedures

xiii) Get to know your ship, cargo handling gear etc.

The formal responsibility for surveillance of the fire fighting equipment

normally rests with the respective National Authority, but is in some cases
delegated to the Classification Society.
It rests with the Owner and the Master to keep all equipment in order and to
provide additional means for any cargo not covered by the intent of the Rules
of the National Authority.

Tanker on fire

Fire requires a combination of three elements: fuel, oxygen and heat or a

source of ignition, and chemicals need the same combination in order to burn.
The principal means of controlling and extinguishing a fire is to remove one or
more of the elements, either by removal of the fuel, by cooling, or by excluding
a supply of oxygen (air).

But in chemical fires, the source of ignition may be heat from a reaction within
the chemical itself or from a reaction after mixing chemicals. A supply of
oxygen may be released from the chemical through heating by the fire
(Chemical chain reaction). So fire fighting will be made more difficult. Without
doubt, the best course is to prevent any fire occurring.

Some liquid chemicals have properties which necessitate fire fighting

techniques that differ from those used on simple oil fires.
The following list indicates some of these properties:

• Some chemicals are soluble in water and at certain concentrations may be

flammable;

• Chemicals which are soluble in water will generally destroy normal foam, so
alcohol resistant or dual purpose foam is required;
• Some chemicals are heavier than, and insoluble in, water: they can be
smothered by a blanket of water, provided application is gentle;

• Some chemicals react with water to produce heat and thus give off increased
amounts of flammable (and in some cases toxic) gases;

• Some chemicals evolve large volumes of toxic vapours when heated;

• Some chemicals form otherwise unexpected toxic vapours when burning;

• the comparatively low auto-ignition temperature of some chemicals

increases the chance of re-ignition.

The cargo data sheet for a chemical will draw attention to these unusual
properties and indicate the correct fire fighting medium and special
precautions for fire fighters.