Chemical Tankers

Precautions on Chemical Tankers
Prepared by :Capt. Nitin Pathak

Chemical & Gas Carriers
• Hazards of carrying noxious liquid chemicals at sea and safety practice
• Chemical Cargoes may present a fire hazard. Smoking Regulations shall be strictly adhered to.
Smoking should only be allowed at Designated Locations.
• Notices shall be posted all the conspicuous locations to warn the personnel.
Type of Warning Notice :

• WARNING !
DANGEROUS CARGO
NO NAKED LIGHTS
NO SMOKING
NO UNAUTHORISED PERSONS
SWITCH OFF MOBILE PHONES
• In addition Temporary Notices pertaining to the Cargo being carried shall be displayed at Prominent
Locations on the vessel.
Chemical & Gas Carriers
• What are the main types of Coatings used at
Chemical Tanker’s Tank? 1. Epoxy resins. 2.
Phenolic resins. 3. Zinc silicate. 4. Polyurethane.
5. Rubber
• Why heating is used at Chemical Tanker’s Tank?

1. Prevent the Chemical cargo to solidify.
2. Keep the viscosity below a certain level for
transferring of cargo.
Chemical Tankers
• Chemical Cargoes may pose a hazard to the Marine life and Human
health.
• Health Hazards
Most of the chemical present more than one hazard to health, for
example, it may:
• Be corrosive
• Be poisonous
• Produce toxic vapours
• Pose an asphyxiation hazard
• Result in long term damage to eyes or the nervous system
• Have long term carcinogenic effects.
Chemical Tankers
• Personnel Exposure to Chemicals, Noxious Liquids and Fumes
Unplanned exposure of personnel to toxic or corrosive fumes or
liquid should always be treated as an emergency and in serious
cases the emergency team should be mobilised and the rescue plan
put into operation.
First Aid should be administered as documented in the MSDS,
however, the Master must evaluate the seriousness of the exposure
and, if in doubt, seek further advice regarding treatment.
Chemical Tankers
• Officers must be trained in essential First Aid measures for the cargoes to
be resulting in large concentrations of fumes. In the event of a serious
leakage consideration must be given to the organisation of alternative
mustering points inside the accommodation in order for personnel to don
the Escape Sets located at various work places and in cabins, prior to an
orderly evacuation of the vessel, should this be necessary. Regular drills
utilising this scenario should be practiced.
Enclosed Spaces
Enclosed spaces like ballast tanks, cofferdams etc in the cargo area may
contain flammable or toxic vapours or lack sufficient oxygen and must not
be entered without permission from the Master and only if proper
ventilation is provided. The Master is responsible for ensuring that the
proper Enclosed Space Entry procedures are understood and adhered to.
Chemical Tankers
• Pollution prevention
It is the responsibility of the Master and the person he delegate to be in
charge of cargo operations, including bunkers, to know the applicable
international and local pollution prevention regulations and to ensure that
they are not violated. Exercises should be held to train personnel in
accordance with the Vessel Response Plan and/or the Shipboard Oil
Pollution Emergency Response Plan.
Notification of Spillage into the Sea

Any incident, whether accidental or intentional, concerning the discharge
of Noxious Liquids into the sea, whether in harbour or at sea, must be
reported to the proper authorities.
Chemical Tankers
• Deck scuppers
Prior to any cargo operation taking place all deck scuppers are to be
plugged and checked for tightness. Careful attention is to be given to
keeping scuppers dry and clean.
Manifold savealls
Manifold savealls are to be provided under each manifold connection.
These are to be kept clean and dry wherever possible, with any cargo
spillages being drained at the earliest opportunity. Operational
contamination is to be prevented by use of portable collection drums
during connection/disconnection.
Chemical Tankers
• Following detail pages explain all liquid chemical hazards & precautionary
measures while carrying at sea.
Toxicology and associated hazards onboard chemical tankers
• Chemical Cargoes are Toxic and pose serious hazard to human health. MSDS of the
Cargo should be referred in case any crew members comes in contact with
Chemicals. First Aid shall be provided to the person been exposed as per MSDS.
Master may evacuate the crew member exposed to Chemicals, in case a need arise.
Proper PPEs should be used by the crew member working with Chemicals.
Hazards of vapour given off by a flammable liquid while carrying at sea
• Vapour given off by a flammable liquid will burn when ignited provided it is mixed
with certain proportions of air, Tank Atmosphere shall be kept in a Too-Lean or Too-
Rich state in order to prevent Falmmable Mixture range.
Reactivity of various noxious liquid chemicals

• Self-reaction: The most common form of self-reaction is polymerisation (Combining
of smaller molecules). It can result in a rapid, exothermic reaction evolving large
amounts of heat and gases. .....
Chemical Tankers
• Most corrosive chemicals carried onboard chemical tankers
• Acids, anhydrides and alkalis are among the most commonly carried
corrosive substances. They can rapidly destroy human tissue and
cause irreparable damage. They can also corrode normal ship
construction materials, and create a safety hazard for a ship.....
Posoning hazards & first aid treatment
• The poison is a very toxic substance which when absorbed into the
human body by ingestion, skin absorption, or inhalation produces a
serious or fatal effect. Poison may enter the human body orally, by
inhalation, or by skin contact. After being absorbed by the body it
may affect certain organs or give a general poisonous effect. Lately
the cancerogene effects of some industrial chemicals have been
noticed. This has led to significant reductions of hereto accepted
TLV- values in many countries.....
Chemical Tankers
• Specific gravity,Vapour pressure and boiling point,Electrostatic
charging & measuring Viscosity
• Tanks on a Chemical Tanker are normally designed to load cargoes of
a higher specific gravity than an oil tanker. Very often the design
strength differs between groups of tanks on the same ship. ....
General precautions onboard chemical tankers
• Additional precautions for specific cargoes are necessary and should
also be incorporated in the ship’s cargo handling procedures....
Mooring precautions onboard chemical tankers
• The consequences of a chemical tanker ranging along a jetty or
breaking away from a berth could be disastrous, especially during a
cargo transfer involving multiple different chemicals. Correct and
sufficient mooring is therefore of the utmost importance.
Chemical Tankers
• Berth precautions onboard chemical tankers
• If an unauthorised craft comes alongside or operates in an area which may
create a danger, it should be reported to the port authority and, if
necessary, cargo transfer operations should cease. .....
Cold weather countermeasures, avoiding electric storms
• During cold weather, precautions should be taken to prevent equipment
and systems from freezing. Attention should be given to pneumatic valves
and control systems, fire lines and hydrants, steam driven equipment,
cargo heating systems, pressure/vacuum valves etc......
Restriction on using radio equipments and other mobile devices in cargo
working areas
• During medium and high frequency radio transmissions significant energy
is radiated, which can create a danger of incendicive sparking by inducing
an electrical potential in unearthed steelwork.
Chemical Tankers
• Securing cargo tank lids and required safety precautions
• Improper closing and sealing of cargo tank hatches can be a major
cause of cargo contamination. A properly closed and sealed tank
hatch/opening will prevent sea water ingress and maintain a positive
pressure Nitrogen blanket in the ullage space. ....
Means of access (gangways or accommodation ladders) safety
precautions
• Emergency towing-off wires ( fire wires) ,Ship’s readiness to move
Deckhouses and superstructures safety precautions .....
Precautions against static electricity
• Static electricity is generated by friction that occurs between different
materials during relative motion. Electrostatic charges can then
accumulate in materials which are poor conductors of electricity or
which are good conductors but are insulated.....
Chemical Tankers
• Cargo tank entry safety precautions
• On chemical tankers the entry of personnel into cargo tanks
is a more common practice than on oil tankers as a result of
the requirement for inspections between grades etc;
despite this, it is essential that the necessary checks are
conscientiously made and recorded prior to entry in order
to ensure the safety of personnel, enclosed space rescue
equipment must be made ready for immediate use. .....
• Pollution Hazard :
Noxious Liquid substances may only be discharged into the
sea as per provisions of MARPOL Annex II. NLS pose serious
hazard to the Aquatic and marine life.

Chemical Tankers

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Chemical Tankers

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What are the main hazards of carrying chemicals on tankers?

What safety precautions should be followed on chemical tankers?

Precautions on Chemical Tankers

Prepared by :Capt. Nitin Pathak

Type of Warning Notice :

• Why heating is used at Chemical Tanker’s Tank?

Notification of Spillage into the Sea

Reactivity of various noxious liquid chemicals

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