LIQUID CARGO CALCULATION

An oil volume can only be measured at its prevailing temperature and it, therefore, follows that the standard
volume must usually be calculated. Unfortunately, different countries have different standard (reference)
temperatures.

Generally, the reference temperatures are:

1. In Eastern Bloc, Brazil 20oC;
2. In Western Europe 15oC;
3. In the USA 60oF.

The situation is further confused in that there are primarily two volumetric units, which are:
1. In metric countries the cubic meter (m )
2. In non-metric countries the barrel (Bbl).

GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

Quantities
1. On Board Quantity (OBQ) : All the oil, water, sludge and sediment in the cargo tanks and associated
lines and pumps on a ship before loading commences.
2. Quantity Remaining On Board (ROB) : All the measurable oil, water, sludge and sediment in the
cargo tanks and associated lines & pumps on a ship after discharging a cargo has been completed,
excluding vapour.

Sediment
Suspended sediment are non-hydrocarbon solids present in the oil but not in solution. Bottom sediment are
non-hydrocarbon solids present in a tank as a separate layer at the bottom. Total sediment is the sum of
suspended and the bottom sediment.

Water
Dissolved water: is the water contained within the oil forming a solution at the prevailing temperature.
Suspended water is the water within the oil which is finely dispersed as small droplets
Note: It may over a period of time either collect as free water or become dissolved water depending on
the conditions of the temperature and pressure prevailing. Free water is the water that exists in a separate
layer,

Volumes
1. Total Observed Volume (TOV) is the volume of oil including total water and total sediment
measured at the oil temperature and pressure prevailing.
2. Gross Observed Volume (GOV) is the volume of oil including dissolved water, suspended water and
suspended sediment but excluding free water and bottom sediment, measured at the oil temperature
and pressure prevailing.
3. Gross Standard Volume (GSV) is the volume of oil including dissolved water, suspended water and
suspended sediment but excluding free water and bottom sediment, calculated at standard condition
e.g 15oC or 60oF and 1013.25 hPa.
4. Net Observed Volume (NOV) is the volume of oil excluding total water and total sediment at the oil
temperature & pressure prevailing.
5. Net Standard Volume (NSV) is the volume of oil excluding total water and total sediment, calculated
at standard conditions e.g 15oC or 60oF and 1013.25 hPa.
6. Total Calculated Volume (TCV) is the gross standard volume plus the free water measured at the
temperature & pressure prevailing.
7. The Volume Correction Factor (VCF) is the factor depending on the oil type, density or its
equivalent and temperature which corrects oil volumes to the Standard Reference Temperature (s).
(ASTM Tables 54 A, B, C, D or 6 A, B)
Units of Measurements

1. Mass: Mass is a measure of the quantity of material in a body & constant, regardless of geographical
location, altitude, atmospheric conditions or air buoyancy effects.
2. Weight: Weight is accepted as being the value secured when an object is weighed in air. Now often
referred to as ‘apparent mass’, and can be converted to mass by the application of an air buoyancy
correction (Table 56 = weight correction for oils).
3. Gross Weight In Air: Gross Weight in Air is the weight of oil including dissolved water, suspended
water & suspended sediment but excluding free water & bottom sediment.
4. Net Weight In Air: Net Weight in Air is the weight of oil excluding total water & total sediment.
5. Density: The density is the ratio of the mass of a substance to its volume. (typically kg/m3 or
sometimes kg/litre Since density is dependent on temperature & pressure these should be stated.
6. Density @ 15oC (VACUO): Mass / Unit volume @ 15oC (typically kg/m3 or sometimes kg/litre)
7. Relative Density @ 60 60oF (Specific Gravity @ 60 60oF): The Relative Density @ 60 60oF is the
density of a substance at 60oF to the density of pure water, also at 60oF = The Density of a substance
@ 60oF ÷ The Density of pure water @ 60oF. Specific Gravity is now internationally known as
Relative Density.

8. API Gravity :
9. Weight Conversion Factor (WCF): The Weight Conversion Factor is a factor dependent on the
density, for converting volumes to weight in air. Such factors shall be obtained from the API-ISO-
ASTM-IP Petroleum Measurement Tables (Tab56)
ASTM Tables Usage & Procedure of Calculations
Series I – TABLE 5 & 6 – FOR API, OF, 60OF
Volume I: Generalized Crude Oils (Tables 5A & 6A)
Volume II: Generalized Products (Tables 5B and 6B)
Volume III: Individual and Special Applications (Table 6C)

Series II – TABLE 23 & 24 – FOR RELATIVE DENSITY, oF, 60oF

Volume IV: Generalized Crude Oils (Tables 23A & 24A)
Volume V: Generalized Products (Tables 23B and 24B)
Volume VI: Individual and Special Applications (Table 24C)

Series III – TABLE 53 & 54 – FOR KG/cm3 DENSITY, oC, 15oC

Volume VII: Generalized Crude Oils (Tables 53A & 54A)
Volume VIII: Generalized Products (Tables 53B and 54B)
Volume IX: Individual and Special Applications (Table 54C)

Volume X: Background, Documentation, Program Listings

Volume XI / XII – ASTM D 1250-80 – API standard 2540 and IP Designation 200 apply

Volume XI – ENTRY WITH API GRAVITY

Table 1 Interrelation of Units of Measurement
Table 2 Temperature Conversions
Table 3 API Gravity at 60oF to Relative Density 60/60oF and to Density at 15oC
U.S. Gallons at 60F and Barrels at 60F to Litres at 15C against API Gravity
Table 4
at 60F
Pounds per US Gallon at 60F and US Gallons at 60F per pound against API
Table 8
Gravity at 60F
Short Tons per 1000 US Gallons at 60F and Barrel at 60F against API
Table 9
Gravity at 60F
US Gallons at 60F and Barrels at 60F per Short Ton against API Gravity at
Table 10
60F
Long Tons per 1000 US Gallons at 60F and per Barrel at 60F against API
Table 11
Gravity at 60F
US Gallons at 60F and Barrels at 60F per Long Ton against API Gravity at
Table 12
60F
Metric Tons per 1000 US Gallons at 60F and per Barrel at 60F against API
Table 13
Gravity at 60F
Cubic Metres at 15C per Short Ton and per Long Ton against API Gravity at
Table 14
60F

Volume XII – ENTRY WITH RELATIVE DENSITY

Table 21 Relative Density 60/60oF to API Gravity at 60oF and to Density at 15oC
US Gallons at 60F to Litres at 15C and Barrels at 60F to Cubic Metres at
Table 22
15C
Pounds per US Gallon at 60F and US Gallons at 60F per Pound against
Table 26
Relative Density 60/60F
 Short Tons per 1000 US Gallons at 60F and per Barrel at 60F against
Table 27
Relative Density 60/60F
US Gallons at 60F and Barrels at 60F per Short Ton against Relative Density
Table 28
60/60F
Long Tons per 1000 US Gallons at 60F and per Barrel at 60F against
Table 29
Relative Density 60/60F
US Gallons at 60F and Barrels At 60F per Long Ton against Relative
Table 30
Density 60/60F
Cubic Metres at 15C per Short Ton and per Long Ton against Relative
Table 31
Density 60/60F
Specific Gravity Reduction to 60F for Liquefied Petroleum Gases and
Table 33
Natural Gasoline
Reduction of Volume to 60F against Specific Gravity 60/60F for Liquefied
Table 34
Petroleum Gases
Table 51 Density at 15C to Relative Density 60/60F and to API Gravity at 60F
Barrels at 60F to Cubic Metres at 15C and Cubic Metres at 15C to Barrels at
Table 52
60F
Kilograms per Litre at 15C and Litres at 15C per Metric Ton against Density
Table 56
at 15C
Table 57 Short Tons and Long Tons per 1000 Litres at 15C against Density at 15C
Table 58 US Gallons and Barrels per Metric Ton against Density at 15C

Volume XIII: LUBRICATING OILS, TABLES 5D & 6D

Volume XIV: LUBRICATING OILS, TABLES 53D & 54D
Please remember that normally the density or API is provided by the terminal or surveyor in the load
ports and what is used will be dependent on the region/port of loading. For example in USA / Canada,
Persian Gulf, API usage is prevalent, while entire of Europe and Asia use Density at 15C. However
please ascertain, if Density at 15C is provided, whether it is in air or in vacuum. This is very important
when finding out from Table 54, since the density provided there is in Air and hence same must be used.
(Density at 15C in Air = Density at 15C in Vacuum – 0.0011
PROCEDURE OF CALCULATIONS

Working with Density at 15oC in air:

1) Observed Ullage – apply corrections – get Corrected Ullage

2) Observed Interface – apply corrections – get Corrected Interface
3) From Corrected Ullage, find Total Observed Volume TOV (in cubic metres)
4) From Corrected Interface, find Volume of Water (in cubic metres)
5) TOV – Water = Gross Observed Volume (GOV) of Cargo (in cubic metres)
6) Use Density at 15C and Observed Temperature (oC) and find Volume Correction Factor
(VCF) from Table 54
7) Gross Standard Volume (GSV) = GOV x VCF (cubic metres)
8) Weight Correction Factor (WCF) = Density at 15C in vacuum – 0.0011 (or the Density at
15C in air)
9) Weight in Air (Metric Ton) = GSV x WCF(Density at 15C in air)
10) Weight in Vaccum (Metric Ton) = GSV x Density at 15C in vacuum
Working with API Gravity at 60oF :
1) Observed Ullage – apply corrections – get Corrected Ullage
2) Observed Interface – apply corrections – get Corrected Interface
3) From Corrected Ullage, find Gross Observed Volume (in US Barrels)
4) From Corrected Interface, find Volume of Water (in US Barrels)
5) GOV – Water = Observed Volume of Cargo (in US Barrels)
6) Use API Gravity at 60F and Observed Temperature (oF) and find Volume Correction
Factor (VCF) from Table 6
7) Gross Standard Volume (GSV) = Observed Cargo Volume (Barrels) x VCF (in US
Barrels)
8) Find Weight Correction Factor (WCF) from Table 13
9) Weight in Air (Metric Tons) = GSV x WCF
Working with Relative Density at 60/60oF :
1) Observed Ullage – apply corrections – get Corrected Ullage
2) Observed Interface – apply corrections – get Corrected Interface
3) From Corrected Ullage, find Gross Observed Volume (in cubic metres)
4) From Corrected Interface, find Volume of Water (in cubic metres)
5) GOV – Water = Observed Volume of Cargo (in cubic metres)
6) Use Relative Density at 60/60F and Observed Temperature (oF) and find Volume Correction Factor
(VCF) from Table 24
7) Gross Standard Volume (GSV) = Observed Cargo Volume (m3) x VCF (in m3)
8) Weight in Air (Metric Ton) = GSV x Relative Density at 60/60F
Total observed volume (TOV)
The total volume of material measured in the tank including cargo (oil or chemical), free water (FW), entrained sediment and
water (S&W), sediment and scale as measured at observed temperature and pressure.
Free water (FW)
Water layer existing as a separate phase in the tanks, normally detected by water-paste or interface detector and usually settled
at the bottom of the cargo tank depending on relative density of the cargo.
Sediment & Water (S&W or BS&W)
Entrained material within the oil bulk, including solid particles and dispersed water, also sometimes known as base sediment
and water (BS&W). Expressed always as a percentage of the total cargo quantity, is found out be collecting average sample of
the cargo inline during transfer and calculated by centrifuge technique in a laboratory.
Gross observed volume (GOV)
It is the Total Observed Volume (TOV) less free water (FW) and bottom sediment, being the measured volume of product and
sediment & water (S&W) at observed temperature and pressure. Bottom sediment are normally not present on board a
chemical or clean oil product tanker and therefore not deducted whereas it may be present in a dirty oil carrier, but be very
difficult to ascertain.
Gross standard volume (GSV)
It is the measured volume of product and S&W at standard conditions of 15°C and atmospheric pressure. In practice is the
GSV the GOV multiplied by the volume correction factor (VCF) obtained from the appropriate ASTM/IP Petroleum
Measurement Tables.
Net standard volume (NSV)
It is normally applicable only to Crude Oils. NSV is the GSV minus S&W, being a measurement of the dry oil quantity at
standard conditions. For clean oil products and chemicals, the S&W is not normally included within the receiver’s quality
specifications.
The term Weight in Air is that weight which a quantity of fluid appears to have when weighed in air against standard
commercials weights so that each will have a mass (weight in vacuum) equal to the nominal mass associated with it.
The term Weight in Vacuum refers to the true mass of a fluid.
The calculation method for the Geometric edition of the Wedge Formula:

Assumption: Given the small angle involved with the trim of the vessel, then the ‘Sine’ of an angle can be
considered as the same as the ‘Tangent’ (Tan) of an angle and consequently:

Step 1:
Correct the position of the sounding position with respect to the aft bulkhead of the cargo tank due to the
trim of the vessel, distance = A

A = Tank Reference Height (Observed Height) x Tan X;

where X = the Trim angle of the vessel and;
Tan X = (Aft draft – Forward draft) / Length Between Perpendiculars (L.B.P.) of the vessel.

Step 2:
Determine the distance of the apex of the wedge from the aft bulkhead for obtaining information whether:
(1) should a Wedge Formula be used at all (kindly note that a wedge formula is not applicable if:
(a) the liquid surface covers the total cargo tank bottom or the calculated apex of the wedge is at or
beyond the forward bulkhead of
the cargo tank or:
(b) it is sludge ROB volumes only);
And
(2) whether the wedge is a regular wedge (which can be checked by comparison with alternative
soundings being taken).

S = Observed Sounding;
F (Distance of the apex of the wedge from the sounding position) = S x Tan X;
E (Distance of the apex of the wedge to the aft bulkhead) = (F – A) + B;
where B is the distance on deck from the point of sounding to the aft bulkhead.

Step 3:
Determine the depth of the wedge at the aft bulkhead of the cargo tank, depth = D; D = E x Tan X

Step 4:
Knowing D (sounding depth at the aft bulkhead) and E (the distance from the aft bulkhead to the apex of
the wedge), then the area of the longitudial cross section of the wedge may be calculated,
thus as the area of a triangle = (Base x Height) / 2 then; (D x E) / 2 = cross sectional area of wedge.

Step 5:
Having obtained the cross sectional area of the wedge, the volume of the wedge is calculated by
multiplication by the breadth of the cargo tank (please note that the breadth of the cargo tank should be
measured at the bottom of the tank at the aft bulkhead position and not at deck level or elsewhere within
the cargo tank).
Volume of the Wedge = Cross sectional Area x Breadth of Tank

Throughout this calculation it is very important that all distances are in metres. Do not use centimetres for
the observed sounding.
Alternatives:
Regardless above stated requirement, an I.S.O. standard method is also available in the event that any
Cargo Inspector do not accept the geometric edition of the wedge formula. This method depends upon the
accuracy of the vessel’s tank ullage calibration tables for the larger ullages / smaller soundings in the
cargo tank. If the tank calibration tables are accurate for this region of the cargo tanks, then this method
will give added accuracy to the general method of calculating tank residues after discharge.
This method is as follows:
Step 1:
Calculate DA (the Corrected liquid sounding at the aft bulkhead position); DA = D + {f(Y – (H x f))}
where:
D is the observed liquid sounding;
f is the Trim factor ( TS / LS );
TS is the vessel’s trim;
Y is the distance of the sounding point to the aft bulkhead;
H is the reference height of the cargo tank;
LS is the vessel’s Length Between Perpendiculars.
Step 2:
Calculate Ct (the Tank constant); Ct = LS / ( 2 x TS x Lt ) (where Lt is the Length of the Cargo Tank).
Step 3:
Calculate the ‘k‘ coefficient; k = DA x Ct
if k > 0.5 wedge is not required to be carried out;
if k = 0.5 wedge must be carried out.
Step 4:
if k > 0.5 then calculate the volume of the liquid contained in the cargo tank from the calibration tables
using the Observed sounding, D, applying the trim corrections.
Step 5:
if k = 0.5 then calculate DX (the wedge sounding). DX = DA / 2
Step 6:
Enter the cargo tank calibration tables with DX, without applying trim corrections to equivalent
volume VO.
Step 7:
Calculate the liquid wedge volume V1; V1 = VO x 2 x k

In addition to above methods it should be noted that if the procedures as specified in the vessel’s COW
manual are being followed for the determination of the ‘Dryness’ of a cargo tank, namely, the sounding
of the residues in four(4) differing locations within the cargo tank, then the foregoing methods of
calculations can be avoided.
Assuming the shape of the individual cargo tanks is fairly regular / constant in a fore and aft direction
and, notwithstanding the fact that the vessel will be significantly trimmed by the stern, then the four
measurements, as suggested in the COW Manual guidelines, as obtained by sounding can be used to
calculate an average sounding so as to obtain a single sounding. The single average sounding can be used
directly in order to obtain an equivalent volume from the vessel’s tank ullage calibration tables
Such a method will provide a clearer indication as to the type and nature of the residues on the cargo tank
floor as well as provide much clearer indications as to the profile of the residues within the cargo tanks.