Doing Hot Work On Gas Ship

If the conditions under which the permit has been issued, should change, hot work must
stop immediately. The permit should be withdrawn or cancelled until all conditions and
safety precautions have been checked and re-instated to allow the permit to be re-issued
or re-approved.
When alongside a terminal, hot work should only be permitted in accordance with
prevailing national or international regulations, port and terminal requirements and after all
necessary approvals have been obtained.
A Responsible Officer, not involved in the hot work, should be designated to ensure that
the plan is followed.
Table 9.1 depicts how guidance for hot work on an inerted ship may be presented within
the SMS.
Note : Table 9.1 to be inserted as close to this text as possible.
9.4.2
CHECKS BY THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICER

A Responsible Officer should inspect the equipment involved in the hot work prior to use.
Immediately before hot work is started, the Responsible Officer should examine the area
where the work is to be undertaken and ensure that all the requirements of the permit are
being fully complied with.
Monitoring should be continued for at least thirty minutes after completion of hot work or
until the risk of fire no longer exists.
Atmospheres should be re-tested after each break in work periods, and at regular
intervals. Checks should be made to ensure there is no ingress of flammable vapours,
liquids, toxic gases or inert gas from adjacent or connected spaces.
9.4.3
HOT WORK INSIDE THE MACHINERY SPACE

Hot work inside the main machinery space, when associated with fuel tanks and fuel
pipelines, must take into account the possible presence of hydrocarbon vapours in the
atmosphere, and the existence of potential ignition sources.
No hot work should be carried out on bulkheads of bunker tanks containing bunkers, or
within 500 mm of such bulkheads.
9.4.4
HOT WORK OUTSIDE THE MACHINERY SPACE
9.4.4.1
General
Account must be taken of the possible presence of hydrocarbon vapours in the
atmosphere, and the existence of potential ignition sources.
Hot work should be prohibited during cargo, ballast, tank cleaning, gas freeing, purging or
inerting operations. If hot work needs to be interrupted to carry out any of these
operations, the permit should be withdrawn or cancelled. On completion of the operation,
all safety checks should be carried out once more and the permit re-approved or a new
procedure developed.
9.4.4.2
Hot Work in a Dangerous or Hazardous Area

Dangerous or hazardous areas are locations on board or within the terminal where an
explosive atmosphere could be present, as defined in Section 4.4.2. For ships, this
effectively means an area slightly larger than the cargo tank deck, which includes cargo
tanks and pumprooms, and the atmospheric space around and above them.
Confirmation from Master or

designate that work is OK to
proceed.
Work on fixtures/fittings in the

main deck area
Maindeck (deck plating)
Dangerous Spaces (other than

Pumprooms)
Cargo or ballast tanks
Adequate ventilation.
Cargo Pumprooms
Work on any cargo-related pipelines incl. heating coils in a cargo

tank.
Work in designated space with

shield or curtain erected.
Other parts of non-hazardous

area
Minimum Requirements
ER Workshop
Work Location
Open deck aft of accommodation
No hot work should be undertaken in a dangerous or hazardous area until it has been
made safe, and has been proven to be safe, and all appropriate approvals have been
obtained.
Hot work permit to be issued on

board.
Hot work permit issued in
agreement with Company.
Hot work permit approved by

Master or Responsible Officer.
Tank atmosphere checks carried

out and entry permit issued.
Tank to be washed and gas freed.
Cargo tanks to be purged and
inerted to <8% O2 and not more
than 2% HC.
Work to be carried out >500 mm

from the tank deck or bulkheads.
Work to be carried out >500 mm
from a F.O. tank deck or
bulkheads.
All inter-connecting pipelines

flushed and drained.
Tank valves isolated.
Local cleaning to be carried out

as per requirements.
Work planning meeting to be held

and risk assessment completed.
Table 9.1 Example of SMS Guidance for Hot Work on an Inerted Ship
9.4.4.3
Hot Work in Enclosed Spaces

Where hot work involves entry into an enclosed space, the procedures outlined in Chapter
10 for enclosed space entry should be followed.
A compartment in which hot work is to be undertaken should be cleaned and ventilated.
Particular attention should also be given to the condition of any adjacent spaces.
9.4.4.4
Hot Work in Cargo Tanks

General
All sludge, cargo-impregnated scale, sediment or other material likely to give off
flammable vapour, should be removed from the work area. The extent of the cleaned area
should be established following a risk assessment of the particular work to be carried out.
Special attention must be given to the reverse side of frames and bulkheads. Other areas
that may be affected by the hot work, such as the area immediately below the work
location, should also be cleaned.
Table 9.2 provides guidance on the safe distance for areas to be cleaned and represents
minimum requirements which may need to be extended, based on the output of the risk
assessment. Cleaning distances are based on the type of work being carried out and the
height above the tank bottom. Cleaning is taken to mean the removal of all sludge, cargoimpregnated scale, sediment or other material likely to give off a flammable vapour.
Height of
Work Area
Operators Side
Gas Cut
Welding
Gouging
Opposite Side
Gas Cut
Welding Gouging
0 5 metres
1.5 m
5.0 m
4.0 m
7.5 m
2.0 m
2.0 m
5 10 metres
1.5 m
5.0 m
5.0 m
10.0 m
2.0 m
2.0 m
10 15 metres
1.5 m
5.0 m
7.5 m
15.0 m
2.0 m
2.0 m
> 15 metres
1.5 m
5.0 m
10.0 m
20.0 m
2.0 m
2.0 m
Table 9.2 Radius of Areas to be Cleaned in Preparation for Hot Work in Tanks
Consideration should be given to using fire resistant blankets or putting a water bottom in
the tank to prevent falling sparks coming into contact with paint coatings.
All inter-connecting pipelines to other compartments should be flushed through with
water, drained, vented and isolated from the compartment where hot work will take place.
Cargo lines may be subsequently inerted or completely filled with water, if considered
necessary.
Heating coils should be flushed or blown through with steam and proved clear of
hydrocarbons.
An adjacent fuel oil bunker tank may be considered safe if tests give a reading of less
than 1% LFL in the vapour space of the bunker tank, and no heat transfer through the
bulkhead of the bunker tank will be caused by the hot work.
Noninerted ships
The possibility of using an external source of inert gas should be considered if practicable.
The compartment should be cleaned, gas freed to hot work standard and ventilated.
Adjacent cargo tanks, including diagonally positioned cargo tanks, should either have
been cleaned and gas freed to hot work standard, or completely filled with water.
All slops containing volatile liquid should be either removed from the vessel or isolated in
the tank furthest from the hot work location.
Vapour lines to the compartment should also be ventilated to less than 1% LFL and
isolated.
Inerted ships
The compartment should be cleaned, gas freed to Hot Work standard and ventilated.
All other cargo tanks should be cleaned and the hydrocarbon vapour content reduced to
not more than 2% by volume and maintained at that level, or should be completely filled
with water.
Consideration should be given to reducing the inert gas pressure for the duration of the
hot work.
Inert gas lines to the compartment should be purged with inert gas to not more than 2%
by volume and isolated.
Where slops containing volatile liquids remain onboard, consideration should be given to
placing them in a tank as far removed from the work location as possible and isolating the
tank from the inert gas main for the duration of the hot work.
9.4.4.5
Hot Work on Tank Deck Plating.

Non-inerted ships
Hot work on the tank deck plating, or on a structure within 500 mm of the deck plating
when the tank is empty, will require precautions for local cleaning and the preparation of
surrounding tanks to the same standard as if hot work was being undertaken within the
enclosed space below the work location.
Particular attention must be given to ensure the structure below the work location is clean,
especially if the structure could be contaminated with cargo residue or wax.
Inerted ships
Hot work should be carried out with all adjacent spaces, including the space below the
work location, cleaned and inerted as for hot work within an enclosed space. Precautions
for cleaning and isolating pipelines serving the space should also be taken.
9.4.4.6
Hot Work Above the Tank Deck

No hot work should be carried out on the deck above bunker tanks containing bunkers, or
within 500 mm from such decks.
Non-inerted ships
If hot work is to be undertaken at a height greater than 500 mm above the tank deck,
cargo and slop tanks within a radius of at least 30 metres around the working area must
be cleaned and gas freed to less than 1% LFL.
Adjacent ballast tanks and compartments, other than cargo tanks, should be checked to
ensure they are gas free and safe for hot work. If adjacent ballast tanks and
compartments are found to contain hydrocarbon liquid or vapours, they should be cleaned
and gas freed.
All cargo tanks, except those containing slops, must be cleaned and gas freed to less
than 1% LFL. Tanks containing slops should be kept closed and should be more than 30
metres from the work area.
Inerted ships
If hot work is to be undertaken at a height greater than 500 mm above the tank deck,
cargo and slop tanks within a radius of at least 30 metres around the working area must
be purged and the hydrocarbon vapour content reduced to less than 2% by volume and
inerted. All other cargo tanks in the cargo area must be inerted with openings closed.
Adjacent ballast tanks and compartments, other than cargo tanks, should be checked to
ensure they are gas free and safe for hot work. If adjacent ballast tanks and
compartments are found to contain hydrocarbon liquid or vapours, they should be cleaned
and gas freed.
9.4.4.7
Hot Work on Pipelines

Wherever possible, sections of pipelines and related items, such as strainers and valves,
should be removed from the system and repaired in the designated space. (See Section
9.4.1.1).
Where hot work on pipelines and valves needs to be carried out with the equipment in
place, the item requiring hot work must be disconnected by cold work, and the remaining
pipework blanked off. The item to be worked on should be cleaned and gas freed to a
safe for hot work standard, regardless of whether or not it is removed from the hazardous
cargo area.
Where the disconnections from the system are not in the immediate vicinity of the work
location, consideration should be given to continuous through ventilation of the pipeline
with fresh air and monitoring the exhausting air for hydrocarbon vapour.
Heating coils should be flushed or blown through with steam and proved clear of
hydrocarbons.
9.5
WELDING AND BURNING EQUIPMENT

Welding and other equipment used for hot work should be carefully inspected before each
occasion of use to ensure that it is in good condition. Where required, it must be correctly
earthed. Special attention must be paid when using electric arc equipment to ensure that:
Electrical supply connections are made in a gas free space.
Existing supply wiring is adequate to carry the electrical current demand without
overloading, causing heating.
Insulation of flexible electric cables is in good condition.
The cable route to the work site is the safest possible, only passing over gas free or
inerted spaces.
The earth return cable leads directly back to the welding machine. The ships structure
should not be used as an earth return.
9.6
OTHER HAZARDOUS TASKS

A hazardous task is defined as a task, other than hot work, which presents a hazard to
the ship, terminal or personnel, the performance of which needs to be controlled by a risk
assessment process, such as a Permit to Work system.
It follows that for each hazardous task, a work permit or controlled procedure should be
developed and approved. The permit or controlled procedure should follow the process
outlined in Section 9.3 and should be discussed with the personnel who are performing
the task.
The procedure, approval and record of compliance, should be retained within the SMS
records.

Doing Hot Work On Gas Ship

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If the conditions under which the permit has been issued, should change, hot work must

CHECKS BY THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICER

HOT WORK INSIDE THE MACHINERY SPACE

HOT WORK OUTSIDE THE MACHINERY SPACE

Hot Work in a Dangerous or Hazardous Area

Confirmation from Master or

Work on fixtures/fittings in the

Maindeck (deck plating)

Dangerous Spaces (other than

Cargo or ballast tanks

Work on any cargo-related pipelines incl. heating coils in a cargo

Work in designated space with

Other parts of non-hazardous

Open deck aft of accommodation

Hot work permit to be issued on

Hot work permit approved by

Tank atmosphere checks carried

Work to be carried out >500 mm

All inter-connecting pipelines

Tank valves isolated.

Local cleaning to be carried out

Work planning meeting to be held

Hot Work in Enclosed Spaces

Hot Work in Cargo Tanks

Hot Work on Tank Deck Plating.

Hot Work Above the Tank Deck

Hot Work on Pipelines

WELDING AND BURNING EQUIPMENT

OTHER HAZARDOUS TASKS

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