Apart from the main vents smaller breather press/vac valves are often installed.

Again, it
is important that they be checked regularly for easy moveability. The breather valves
must not have any means of being closed permanently. By-pass connections, however,
are permitted and can be of practical use. Press/vac valves should normally not be set
higher than positive/negative pressures of 0, 14 kp/cm2.

In order to ensure cargo segregation each separate tank should have its own separate
vent pipe. These pipes should drain towards the tank. In some cases pockets are
arranged just before the tank entry, provided with a water drain cock. The pockets
also serve as collectors for rust coming from the pipe.

Some very toxic and volatile cargoes should, if corresponding shore facilities exist,
be loaded with vapour return to shore tanks to eliminate vapour release to
atmosphere. Det norske Veritas requires a vapour return connection with shut off
valve to each tank intended for e g following cargoes: acetone cyanohydrin,
acrylonitrile, aniline, nitrobenzene and phenol.

Gasfreeing before entry is an important safety matter. The means, which are
commonly installed today and described below are often of relatively small capacity.
There is room for improvements.

If possible one tries to carry out tank cleaning with the tanks inerted, see 3.05. In the
majority of cases, however, one is forced to clean air-filled tanks, which then should
be gasfreed to well below explosive limits, say 25 % of LEL, see 3. 10. Similarly,
after cleaning,the tanks are to be gasfreed before entry of personnel to the very low
vapour concentrations for toxity discussed in 3. 10. See also Chapters 6 and 7
regarding toxity and cleaning procedures. In some cases cargo vapours are first
displaced by filling the tank with water and then emptying the same. Where inert gas
generators are installed, see 3.05, they can also be used for ventilation of the tanks
with air. Often, however, they are not

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