ISGOTT International Safety Guide for

Oil Tankers and Terminals

Fifth Edition

11.3.6.8 Special Tank Cleaning Procedures

After the carriage of certain products, tanks can only be adequately cleaned by steaming or by
the addition of tank cleaning chemicals or additives to the wash water.

Steaming of Tanks
Because of the hazard from static electricity, the introduction of steam into cargo tanks should
not be permitted where there is a risk of a flammable atmosphere. It should be borne in mind
that a non-flammable atmosphere cannot be guaranteed in all cases where steaming might be
thought to be useful.
Steaming can produce mist clouds, which may be electrostatically charged. The effects and
possible hazards from such clouds are similar to those described for the mists created by water
washing, but levels of charging are much higher. The time required to reach
maximum charge levels is also very much less. Furthermore, although a tank may be almost
free of hydrocarbon gas at the start of steaming, the heat and disturbance will often release
gases, and pockets of flammability may build-up.
Steaming may only be carried out in tanks that have been either inerted or water washed and
gas freed. The concentration of flammable gas should not exceed 10% of the LFL prior to
steaming. Precautions should be taken to avoid the build-up of steam pressure within the tank.
Strict observance of the static electricity precautions contained in Chapter 3 is essential.

Use of Chemicals in Tank Cleaning Wash Water

Constraints on the use of chemicals in tank cleaning wash water, will depend on the type of
tank atmosphere (see Section 11.3.5.2).
If tank cleaning chemicals are to be used, it is important to recognise that certain products may
introduce a toxicity or flammability hazard. Personnel should be made aware of the Threshold
Limit Value (TLV) of the product. Detector tubes are particularly useful for detecting the
presence of specific gases and vapours in tanks. Tank cleaning chemicals capable of producing a
flammable atmosphere should normally only be used when the tank has been inerted.

Use of Chemicals for Local Cleaning of Tanks

Some products may be used for the local cleaning of tank bulkheads and blind spots by hand
wiping, provided the amount of tank cleaning chemical used is small and the personnel entering
the tank observe all enclosed space entry requirements.
In addition to the above, any manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations for the use of
these products should be observed. Where these operations take place in port, local authorities
may impose additional requirements.
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for tank cleaning chemicals should be on board the ship
before they are used and the advice of any precautions to be taken should be followed.