7.

CARGO CARE

7.1 REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS

The following reference publications are to be read in conjunctions with this section:

Publication

International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT)

Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk

Ship’s “Procedure and Arrangements Manual” (Approved by Class)

BCH/IBC Code

ICS CTSG

7.2 COMPANY FORMS

The following Company Forms are to be used in conjunction with this section:

Company
Form No Title

TNK 08 Cargo Heating Report

CHEM 04 Pressure & O2 Log

7.3 CARGO CARE REQUIREMENTS

This section describes measures to ensure that the cargo remains on spec. in accordance with the
requirements stipulated by the Charterer during the entire period on board the vessel.

Cargoes transported on a Chemical Tanker differ widely in characteristics and mode of handling, a
fact that requires attention and, in some cases, records are to be maintained during transit.

Precaution/attention & record sheets are necessary for cargoes that need:

 Cargo heating - Cargoes that require heating must be monitored at least once daily
and a temperature log must be kept. Ensure that correct heating medium is used, and
that heating coils in tanks that do not require heating are blown dry and blanked. Prior to
loading heated cargo, heating coils should be pressure tested and results recorded in the
log book.

 Tank Atmosphere – monitoring and recording of the ullage space of pressure and/or oxygen
should be carried out at regular intervals (daily) to ensure that the correct environment is
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 being maintained.

 Temperature Control - Cargoes that may self-react must be monitored on a daily basis for
any increase temperature that deviates from the ambient climatic conditions.

 Nitrogen cover - Prior sailing the vessel must have sufficient Nitrogen of the correct quality
on board to comply with the padding requirements.
No of bottle = Total Ullage Space (m3) x 0.2 / 180` x 50, for 4 changes maintaining 50mb,
N2 bottle = 50l x 180bar

 Tank atmosphere – O2 content strictly controlled

 Agitation/ Circulation

 Other as defined by Shippers

7.3.1 Heating and High Viscosity and Solidifying Cat X, Y Substances

The voyage orders will contain heating information, if heating is required. As a rule the final heating
instructions are given by the Shipper in writing to the Master / Chief Officer in the port of loading.
If those written instructions are not given, the master should request them and issue a Letter of
Protest if they are not received at departure. In the latter case the management office should be
immediately informed.

The heating instructions may contain any, or all, of the following:

 Minimum and maximum temperature during the voyage

 Minimum and maximum temperature during discharge
 Maximum temperature of adjacent cargo
 Heating medium (when loading edible oils only steam and / or hot water should be utilised
as the heating medium in coils / heat exchangers. Thermal oil should not be used as a
heating medium for edible oils)
 Maximum temperature of the heating medium
 The maximum possible temperature increase per unit of time: delta T°C/hour

All heating activities and temperature records are to be recorded on TNK 08.

Unintended heating

The risk of heating a cargo, which should not be heated, must be eliminated. An ‘unintended heating’
of a cargo can not only influence the quality of the cargo, but can endanger the crew, the vessel and
the environment, e.g. lifetime of an inhibitor can be shortened drastically by unintended heating and
a monomeric cargo such as styrene monomer can polymerise.

In order to prevent unintended heating of cargoes that do not require heating the following
preventive measures should be taken:

 Blank the supply and return of the heating coils

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  When heat is supplied to other tanks, check manually the supply and return of the tanks that
do not require heating. Maintain a log of temperatures of tanks being heated along with
surrounding tanks on TNK 08.

 Do not stow heated cargo adjacent to cargoes that do not require heating
Beware of hot wash of adjacent besides cargo not requiring heating

Heating required by Marpol Annex II

Category Y, high Viscosity and solidifying cargoes may require prewash, if not heated. These
cargoes do not require a prewash if the following is complied with:

Category Y Cargoes with a melting point less than 15°C.

Discharge temperature should be at least 5°C. above melting point of the product. Example: Benzene
with a melting point of 4.5°C. should be discharged with a temperature of at least 9.5°C. to
avoid the prewash requirements.

Category Y Cargoes with a melting point above 15°C.

Discharge temperature must be at least 10°C. above melting point of the cargo. Example: Phenol,
with a melting point of 40.9°C. should be discharged with a temperature of at least 51°C. in
order to be considered not solidifying.

Category Y Cargoes with Viscosity < 50mpa at discharge temperature

The Master has to obtain the shipping document with above information from shipper when
transporting such cargoes so that the products will be heated accordingly so as to avoid the
prewash obligation if at all possible.

Temperature checks

When carrying heated cargoes the following parameters are to be checked regularly:

 Temperature of the cargo at 3 levels

 Inflow temperature of the heating medium (or steam pressure)

 Outflow temperature of the heating medium (or steam pressure)

The results as well as failures, if any, should be recorded in TNK08 and the ‘Voyage-Log’.

7.3.2 Cooling/Refrigeration

Cooling, in specialised cases, is required to prevent products from giving-off toxic and flammable
vapours.

Special care requirements are generally documented in the condition of carriage details contained in
the ships Certificate of Fitness and also in the IBC/BCH Codes. The Company and Charterers are to
be consulted if additional information is required.
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7.3.3 Nitrogen Cover (Padding)

Some cargoes require a nitrogen blanket to prevent oxygen or moisture entering into the vapour
space of the tank. Otherwise the cargo could react with the oxygen, moisture or salts dissolved in
the air and become off-specification.

A nitrogen blanket can only be maintained properly if:

 The pressure sensor or installed manometer is working correctly. (regular checking

and calibrating throughout the year).

 A positive pressure is maintained above atmosphere pressure (normally above 50mb above
atmospheric pressure).

 The P/V valve shall be set accordingly.

 The Vapour return line is disconnected

 Tank openings are fully closed, (sealed with silicon, if necessary)

Tank leaks must be repaired immediately, as the amount of nitrogen on board is limited.
Tank vapour pressures have to be checked daily and recorded in the N2 padding log (CHEM04).

Personnel must be aware of the asphyxiating properties of Nitrogen and

precautions must be in place to prevent the possibility of incidents when handling /
working with Nitrogen.

7.3.4 Oxygen

Some cargoes like Hexane-HMD-Octene do have a maximum requirement with respect to oxygen
in the vapour space. The vapour space has to be checked with the appropriate oxygen
meter. The Shipper determines the frequency of the routine checks. The results are to be recorded
in ‘Voyage Log’.

7.3.5 Agitation/Re-circulation

Some chemicals, e.g. Phosphoric Acid, require agitation to prevent sediment separation and
different temperature/density layers from forming. Re-circulating through a diffuser is one
method of agitating the cargo.

7.3.6 Inhibited Cargoes

In certain conditions of heat, pressure and in the presence of Oxygen, some cargo types can become
viscous and possibly solid and dense in nature. This self reaction can cause some cargoes , especially
in the presence of high temperatures and Oxygen, to begin an exothermic reaction, becoming self
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 heating and rapidly expanding which may result in possibly disastrous consequences for the vessel.

As a precaution against this, a chemical inhibitor may be added to prevent the cargo from bonding
with itself, however, one aspect of inhibitors is that they sometimes require Oxygen to activate
them and this means that the tank cannot be inerted. When such a situation exists, the
management Office must be contacted. See IBC code regarding carriage of inhibited flammable
products in cargo tanks of more than 3000m3 and using inerting.

There are many inhibitor types, most of which are toxic and need to be handled with care. Usually
the inhibitor is added by the Terminal personnel during the loading programme.

Shippers of inhibited cargoes must advise the vessel (and present an inhibitor certificate on board
prior to loading) of the quantity of inhibitor added, the hazards of the inhibitor, the time validity of
the inhibitor, the temperature parameters within which the inhibitor will work and the emergency
actions should these be exceeded. Masters are to check that the Inhibitor validity is sufficient for the
voyage length.

The vapour of the cargo will not necessarily contain inhibitor as the two liquids will have differing
evaporation properties. Therefore, it is possible for some solid polymer build-up to occur in the tank
vents / screens, these must be verified as clear during voyage and prior to commencing discharge in
order to prevent the possibility of damage from under pressure being created in the tanks during the
discharge.

The temperature of inhibited cargoes must be checked and recorded daily (TNK 08) in order to
be able to note any abnormal rise that may indicate either inhibitor failure and/or polymerisation.
Notice of any rise or excessive temperatures should be notified immediately to the
Management Office with a request for the action to be taken.

7.3.7 Addition of Substances to Cargoes

The vessel may be required / requested by Charterers etc to add a substance to the cargo; these
may include but not be limited to:

 Water for dilution purposes (Alcohols and Phenols)

 Additives for stabilisation, colouring or odour (inhibitors, dyes, stanching agents etc)

Before adding any substances to the cargo the Management Office must be contacted and approval
sought.

Before adding any additives to the cargo, check coating compatibility of the substance to add and
any effect it may have during tank cleaning to remove the substance added. E.g.: -

 Water in alcohol will make epoxy coating soft

 Dye in coating will create cleaning problem

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