9.

TANK-CLEANING OPERATIONS

9.2.1 9.1 General

The Chief Officer is responsible for the tank cleaning operation. He shall both before
and during the operation check that all necessary equipment is in good working
condition. All stages of the operation must be done in a safe manner, according to
each individual chemical’s physical and chemical character such as flammability,
corrosiveness, poisonousness and reactivity.

9.2.2 9.2.1 Pre Cleaning Conference.

A pre-cleaning conference under the leadership of the Chief Officer shall be held prior
to any cleaning operation. Number of other crewmembers involved in the conference
will be those appointed by the Chief Officer.
The conference shall clarify that all persons involved fully understand their duties
during the tank cleaning operation.

The conference shall state:

1) Which tank to be cleaned

2) What type of cargo to be cleaned from

3) Major risks involved during the cleaning, such as poisonousness flammability,

corrosiveness, reactivity, and use of safety equipment during
connection/disconnection on cargo manifold.

4) Cleaning instructions to be followed

5) Where to dispose the cleaning water

6) Intervals for measurement of explosive/poisonous gas in cargo deck area

during tank washing/gasfreeing.

9.2.3 9.2 Tank-cleaning procedures and disposal of slops

Cleaning Procedure

Prior to any tank washing operation the following shall be closely inspected by
chief officer or other person appointed.

a) Tank to be washed is empty

b) Tank cleaning hoses are correctly rigged and connected

c) Discharge hoses are correctly rigged and connected

d) Assigned slop tank is available

A tank cleaning check list is to be filled in and signed by the Chief Officer or
responsible person appointed by Chief Officer.
 9.2.1 Tank cleaning check list

Tank Cleaning Schedule/Check-list

Tank Last Slop Over Cold Hot Intervals of Gas Result

No. Cargo Tank board W W measurement
No. in deck area (if
applicable)

Date Chief Officer

Prior to any tank washing operation, the following shall be closely

inspected/checked by the chief officer or a responsible person appointed by
the chief officer:

1 Check that the tank(s) are empty

2 Check that the tank cleaning hoses are correctly rigged and
connected

3 Check that the discharge hoses are correctly rigged and

connected

4 Check that the assigned slop tank is available.

Rank/Name:

Date Responsible person Signature

 To be kept in file for 6 mnts.

In addition, the following is applicable during tank cleaning:

a) Necessary permits obtained from the authorities/installation when applicable

when applicable.

b) The ship’s main fire fighting systems is ready for immediate use.

c) Self-contained breathing equipment ready for use ready for use.

d) Eyewash and emergency shower under water pressure.

e) Safety equipment/protective clothing to be used when necessary.

f) Measurement of explosive/poisonous gas in cargo deck area including deck

lockers, forecastle space and pump rooms. Records to be kept.
Ref. Deck Cargo operation check list

Tank cleaning operations by means of spraying products with low flash

products (below 60° C) should be avoided, unless the tank atmosphere is
inerted.

If spraying with solvent is found necessary, it may be performend from

hatch openings by use of Non flammable products such as
Perchloroethylene, Methylene Cloride or Trichloroethylene.

9.2.4 9.2.2 Cleaning Phases :

Prewash : For the most harmful substances, for substances difficult to

unload and for certain areas, a prewash with delivery of the
prewashing water to a shore reception facility is required. This is
simply done by cleaning the tank and pumping simultaneously
to a shore reception station. Procedures, water consumption and
all other necessary information to perform a prewash is specified
in the P & A manual. Some products, which react violently with
water, are round washed with a compatible solvent and then
pumped to reception facility. This solvent is normally delivered
from a shore-based company and it’s very important to get a
sealed sample of this solvent for retainment on board. The
reason for this is that in some cases the solvent has contained
water and this has caused damage to the cargo tank.

Main Wash : This wash is done after the prewash and by normally cold and
hot seawater. After difficult cargoes such as vegoils, it may be
necessary to use cleaning agents in addition to seawater. If you
are not sure of the cleaning procedure after carriage of a
product, it’s a good idea to start with cold water around the
melting point of the cargo in question. However all chemical
 tankers should be equipped with a tank cleaning guidebook or
software.
When cleaning with very hot water we must take into
consideration the surrounding cargoes and their max adjacent
temperature as well as the resistance of the coating. It’s
important to be careful with the hot water as the products may
be burned on the bulkheads and almost impossible to remove.
On most chemicals a max temperature of 50 ° C is sufficient to
remove all residues.

Fresh Water : After the main wash, a fresh water rinse is necessary prior to
loading. The length of this depends on the tank size, coating and
the product to load.
A good idea is to measure the fresh water on the pump-stack for
chlorides while rinsing. If you measure the quality on the fresh
water in the freshwater tanks and the water that’s coming out
after rinsing, you will have a good idea of how much chloride
there are in the tank. This demands that the quality on the
freshwater on board is good.
On some of the newest chemical tankers all cleaning is done by
freshwater only. These ships are equipped with huge
evaporators and some of the ballast tanks are used for fresh
water only. This is ideal and will probably be on all new buildings
in the future.

Gas Freeing : Even if the tank has been cleaned, it’s not gas-free. The
atmosphere inside the tank has to be exchanged several times
with air in order to make the tank gas-free. This done by air
fans, either fixed drying system or portable fans. Before the tank
is classified gas-free it must be measured for Ox, Ex and traces
of the previous cargo.

Drying : The drying is done in the same operation as the gas-freeing.

However, the pump’s sump must be ejected manually and in
most cases the bottom of the tank has to be mopped in order to
achieve a complete dry and. Prior to tank entry, the tank must
be measured and found gas-free. A Tank Entry Check-List should
be on board and used for this purpose.

Inspection/testing : After the tank is clean, dry and found gas-free it’s ready
for inspection and testing. More and more cargoes require that a
wall wash with certain specifications should be analysed and
passed prior loading.

9.2.5 9.2.3 Disposal of Slops

When discharging overboard.

Annex I cargoes. Ref. MARPOL 73/78.

Retention.
(a) Transfer the oily waste to slop tank (One of the ship's cargo tanks may be
used)

(b) Allow the tank to settle

(c) Determine amount of oil by using the Oil/Water Interface Detector

(d) To determine sufficient settling, compare the quantity as determined under (c)
with residues according to the ship's P&A manual

Discharge.

(a) Calculate stop ullage of the slop tank in order to retain the separated oil on
board

(b) Discharge the wash-water trough the Oil Discharge Monitor (ODM)

(c) When approaching the oil/water interface level, stop discharge.

(d) Remaining slop shall be delivered to adequate reception facility.

Annex II cargoes.

Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 to apply.

Ref. Vessel's Procedure and Arrangement Manual (P&A).

When using vessel's cargo tanks as slop tanks.

(a) Avoid mixture of annex I and annex II slops.

(b) Avoid mixture of none compatible slops.

(c) Avoid mixture of vegetable oil slops with chemical slops.

9.2.6 9.2.4 Prewash Operations.

A principle of Annex II is that cargoes should be unloaded (removed from the
tanks/piping systems) to the maximum possible extent before being mixed with
water which subsequently will be discharged into the sea. For the most harmful
substances, for substances difficult to unload and for certain areas, this is obtained
by requiring a prewash with delivery of the prewashing water to a shore reception
facility. For less harmful substances satisfactory stripping is obtained by complying
with specific stripping capability requirements.
The purpose of the required prewash is thus to reduce the amount of cargo
remaining in the tank and piping system by flushing mainly the tank bottom, the
sump, the pump and the pipelines with the prewashing water. The prewash does not
aim at cleaning the tank for ballasting or loading purposes.
To reduce the volume of "problem waste" delivered to the reception facility, care
should be taken not to use excessive amounts of water for the prewash.
When prewashing after carriage of a category A substance, the prewash should
continue until the concentration of cargo in the washing water pumped out is below
0.1 % by weight outside special areas, and 0.05% by weight inside special areas as
given in Regulation 5(1) and (7), and until the tank is empty.
The measurement of the concentration should be accepted by a Government (Port)
Surveyor who should also endorse the Cargo Record Book as required by Regulation
8 (3).
The below given prewash procedures should be applied after unloading of category A
substances only in situations when the Government Surveyor in accordance with
Regulation 8 (4) has found it impracticable to carry out concentration measurements.

9.2.7 9.2.5 Solidifying or high Viscosity Substance

The properties of the substance should be obtained from the shipping document.

The definitions of solidifying/non-solidifying and high/low viscosity substances are

given below.

"Solidifying substance" means a noxious liquid substance which:

1) in the case of substances with melting points less than 15°C, is at a

temperature, at the time of unloading, of less than 5°C above its melting
point, or

2) in the case of substances with melting points equal to or greater than 15°C, is
at a temperature, at the time of unloading, of less than 10°C above its melting
point.

"Non-solidifying substance" means a noxious liquid substance which is not a

solidifying substance.

"High viscosity substance" means:

1) in the case of category A and B substances and in the case of category C

substances within Special Area, a substance with a viscosity equal to or
greater than 25 mPa.s at the unloading temperature, and

2) in the case of category C substances outside Special Area, a substance with a

viscosity equal to or greater than 60 mPa.s at the unloading temperature.

"Low viscosity substance" means a noxious liquid substance which is not a high
viscosity substance.

Reception facilities are required to be available for all potentially high viscosity or
potentially solidifying category B and C substances in all ports where these
substances are unloaded.

Potentially Solidifying are those substances with a melting point equal to or greater
than 0°C.
Potentially High Viscosity are those substances with a viscosity at 20°C equal to or
greater than:

25 mPa.s in case of category B substances unloaded outside a Special Area

60 mPa.s in case of category C substances unloaded outside a Special Area

25 mPa.s in case of category C substances unloaded within a Special Area

No requirements can based on Annex II be put on a ship to heat a cargo sufficiently

to make it a non-solidifying or low viscosity substance for the purpose of relieving the
port from its obligation to provide adequate reception facilities for potentially high
viscosity or potentially solidifying category B and C substances.
Nevertheless such substances should, as far as reasonable and practicable,
preferably be unloaded in low viscosity/non-solidifying condition.

Category A. Within and Outside Special Area

In all cases the cargo tanks should be prewashed as specified in the P & A manual,
and all prewashing water should be discharged to reception facilities prior to
departure from the unloading port.
The cargo Record Book should be endorsed by a Government Surveyor on
completion.

Any water subsequently added to the tank may be discharged through the
underwater outlet without pumping rate limitations when the vessel is proceeding at
7 knots or more, is more than 12 miles off land and is in a water depth of 25 metres
or more.

Any cargo tank which has been washed to commercial requirements to accept
loading of a different cargo, will normally be considered as clean.
Ballast water carried in such tanks will normally also be considered as clean, and may
be discharged to sea without any restrictions imposed by Annex II.

Category B. Outside a Special Area

Discharge of solidifying or high viscosity category B residues is not permitted.
With such substances a prewash, as specified in the P & A manual, is necessary.
All prewashing water should be discharged to reception facilities prior to departure
from the unloading port.
Any water subsequently added to the tank may be discharged as specified below.

Other category B tank washings may be discharged to the sea through the
underwater outlet at a maximum rate of 200 m 3/h when the vessel is proceeding at 7
knots or more, is more than 12 miles off land and is in a water depth of 25 meters or
more.

The following additional may be discharged into the sea without regard to the
discharge rate, ship's speed and discharge outlet position provided the ship is not
less than 12 miles off land, and in water that is not less than 25 metres deep.

Cargo residues and any washing/ballast water from a tank unloaded and stripped in
accordance with the P & A manual after carriage of low viscosity or non-solidifying
substances. This also includes cargo residues and prewashing water retained on
board after unloading such tanks within a Special Area.
Any washing/ballast water from a tank prewashed in accordance with P & A manual
after carriage of a high viscosity or solidifying substance.

Category B. Within a Special Area

Discharge of category B residues to the sea is not permitted.
With such substances a prewash, as specified in the P & A manual, is necessary.

Notwithstanding the above, non solidifying or low viscosity category B substance

residues/prewashing water may be retained on board for discharge outside a special
area.

Other category B tank washings may be discharged to the sea through the
underwater outlet at a maximum rate of 200 m 3/h when the vessel is proceeding at 7
knots or more, is more than 12 miles off land and is in a water depth of 25 meters or
more.

When a required prewash has been carried out, any water subsequently added to the
tank may be discharged into the sea through the underwater outlet at a maximum
rate of 200 m3/h when the vessel is proceeding at 7 knots or more, is more than 12
miles off land and is in a water depth of 25 metres or more.

If a tank which has been satisfactorily prewashed and afterwards washed with a
water quantity as indicated in P & A manual, any water subsequently added to the
tank may be discharged into the sea without regard to the discharge rate, ship's
speed and discharge outlet position provided the ship is not less than 12 miles off
land, and in water that is not less than 25 metres deep.

Discharges from clean cargo tanks may be carried out without any restrictions
imposed by Annex II.

Category C. Outside a Special Area

Discharge of solidifying or high viscosity category C residues is not permitted.

With such substances a prewash, as specified in the P & A manual, is necessary.

Other category C tank washings may be discharged to the sea through the
underwater outlet at a maximum rate of 200 m 3/h when the vessel is proceeding at 7
knots or more, is more than 12 miles off land and is in a water depth of 25 meters or
more.

The following additional may be discharged into the sea without regard to the
discharge rate, ship's speed and discharge outlet position provided the ship is not
less than 12 miles off land, and in water that is not less than 25 metres deep.

Cargo residues and any washing-/ballast water from a tank unloaded and stripped in
accordance with P & A manual after carriage of low viscosity non-solidifying
substances.

Cargo residues and prewashing water retained onboard from a tank unloaded
and stripped within a special area and in accordance with P & A manual after
carriage of a substance which was considered a high viscosity substance due
to being unloaded within the special area (i.e. viscosity between 25mPa·s.and
60 mPa·s.at the unloading temperature).
Any subsequent washing-/ballast water from a tank prewashed in
accordance with P & A manual after carriage of a high viscosity or
solidifying substance.

Category C. Within a Special Area

Discharge of solidifying or high viscosity category C residues is not permitted.
With such substances a prewash, as specified in the P & A manual, is necessary.

Notwithstanding the above, non-solidifying category C substances

residues/prewashing water originating from a cargo having been unloaded within the
special Area with viscosity between 25 and 60 mPa·s may be retained on board for
discharge to the sea outside the special Area as a low viscosity substance.

Other category C tank washings may be discharged to the sea through the
underwater outlet at a maximum rate of 200 m 3/h when the vessel is proceeding at 7
knots or more, is more than 12 miles off land and is in a water depth of 25 meters or
more.

The following additional may be discharged into the sea without regard to the
discharge rate, ship's speed and discharge outlet position provided the ship is not
less than 12 miles off land, and in water that is not less than 25 metres deep.

Cargo residues and any washing-/ballast water from a tank unloaded and stripped in
accordance with P & A manual after carriage of low viscosity non-solidifying
substances.

Category D. Within and Outside a Special Area

Discharge of category D substances to the sea is permissible if the residues are
diluted by ten times their volume of water.
The vessel should be more than 12 miles off land and proceeding at a speed of 7
knots or more. The discharge need not take place below the waterline.

Alternatively category D tank washings may be discharge to sea as specified for the
other categories.

9.2.6 Prewash Procedure for Non-Solidifying

9.2.8
Substances without recycling

1) Tanks should be prewashed using the vessel`s washing machines and ensure
that all tank surfaces are being washed.

2) During washing the amount of water accumulating in the tank should be

minimized by pumping out slops continuously and promoting flow to the
suction point (positive list and trim).
If this condition cannot be met, the washing procedure should be repeated
three times, with thorough stripping of the tank between washings.
If delivery of the washing water to the reception facility cannot take place
directly during the prewashing, another empty and suitable cargo tank may be
used as a temporary slop tank.
3) Those substances, which have a viscosity equal to or greater than 25 mPa.s at
20°C, should be washed with hot water (temperature at least 60°C), unless
the properties of such substances make the washing less effective.
(The viscosity for these substances are required to be stated in the shipping
document).

4) During the prewash the drop-lines should be flushed.

5) The quantities of wash water and the duration of the washing programme
used should not be less than those specified in the P & A manual.

6) After prewashing the tanks and lines should be thoroughly stripped.

3. Prewash Procedure for Solidifying Substances without recycling

1) Tanks should be washed as soon as possible after unloading. If possible, tanks

should be heated prior to washing.

2) Residues in hatches and manholes should preferably be removed prior to the

prewash.

3) Tanks should be prewashed using the vessel’s washing machines and ensure
that all tank surfaces are being washed.

4) During washing the amount of liquid in the tank should be minimised by

pumping out slops continuously and promoting flow to the suction point. If
this condition cannot be met, the washing procedure should be repeated 3
times with thorough stripping of the tank between washings.

5) Tanks should be washed with hot water (temperature at least 60°C), unless
the properties of such substances make the washing less effective.

6) During the prewash, drop-lines should be flushed.

7) The quantities of wash water, and the duration of the washing programme
used should not be less than those specified in the P & A manual.

8) After prewashing the tanks and lines should be thoroughly stripped.

4. Prewash Procedure with recycling of washing medium

1) Washing with a recycled washing medium may be adopted for the purpose of
washing more than one cargo tank. In determining the quantity, due regard
must be given to the expected amount of residues in the tanks and the
properties of the washing medium and whether any initial rinse or flushing is
employed. Unless sufficient data are provided, the calculated end
concentration of cargo residues in the washing medium should not exceed 5%
based on the stripping test results given in the P & A manual.

2) The recycled washing medium should only be used for washing tanks having
contained the same or similar substance.
3) A quantity of washing medium sufficient to allow continuous washing should
be added to the tank or tanks to be washed.

4) Tanks should be prewashed using the vessel’s washing machines and ensure
that all tank surfaces are being washed.

5) The quantities of wash water, and the duration of the washing programme
used should not be less than those specified in P & A manual.

6) Solidifying substances and substances with viscosity equal to or greater than

25 mPa.s at 20°C should be washed with hot water (temperature at least
60°C) when water is used as the washing medium, unless the properties of
such substances make the washing less effective.

7) During the prewash the drop-lines should be flushed.

8) After completing the tank washing with recycling to the extent specified
above, the washing medium should be discharged and the tank thoroughly
stripped. Thereafter, the tank should be subjected to a rinse, using clean
washing medium, with continuous drainage and discharge. The rinse should as
a minimum cover the tank bottom and be sufficient to flush the pipelines and
pump. For category B and C substances minimum 1,0 m 3 of clean washing
medium should be used for each tank. For category A minimum 3,0 m 3 should
be used for each tank.

5. Minimum quantity of water to be used in a prewash

The minimum quantity of water to be used in a prewash is determined by the

residual quantity of noxious liquid substance in the tank, the tank size, the cargo
properties, the permitted concentration in any subsequent wash water effluent, and
the area of operation. The minimum quantity is given in a table in the P&A Manual.

These factors are ship specific, but they are available in the vessel’s P & A manual.

The same procedure to apply in case of onboard transfer of cargoes

9.2.9 9.3 Gas freeing of cargo tanks

Cargo residues of substances with a vapour pressure greater than 5k Pa at 20°C

may be
removed from a cargo tank by tank ventilation.
When such procedure is used, it will replace any requirements for a prewash
procedure maintained in the P&A Manual. Once a tank has been ventilated by this
method, any water added to the tank is regarded as clean and is not subject to the
discharge requirement of Annex II.

Before residues of noxious substances are ventilated from a tank, the safety hazards
relating to flammability and toxicity should be considered. With regard to safety
aspects, the operational requirements for openings in cargo tanks in the Bulk
Chemical Code, and the ventilation procedures in the I.C.S. Tanker Safety Guide
(Chemicals) should be consulted.
Port authorities may also have regulations on cargo tank ventilation.

The procedures for ventilation of cargo residues from a tank are as follows:
The tank and pipelines should be stripped as specified in Section 3.

The trim and list should be adjusted to the minimum possible extent in order to
enhance evaporation of residues.

When venting with portable air driven fans, and in case extension hoses are not used
or lowered to the tank bottom, air flow rate inlet diameter and penetration depth
should be regarded. When cleaning tanks by ventilation, suction and cargo lines
including stripping system must be available for the air flow. It must be made sure
that each tank with its entire system is ventilated to complete dryness.
Check fans and accessories for proper condition before use. Follow the maker’s
recommendation of maintenance.

Intakes of central air conditioning or mechanical ventilating systems shall be adjusted

to prevent the entry of flammable or poisonous gas, if possible by recalculation of air
within the enclosed spaces.

If at any time it is suspected that gas is being drawn into the accommodation, central
air conditioning and mechanical ventilating systems shall be stopped and the intakes
shall be closed.

A tank is only to be considered as gas free when no traces of flammable and/or

poisonous gas
are measured.

On completion of all gas freeing make sure that all equipment and constructions,
which can
hold cargo residues, get the necessary attention.

1) Cargo lines

2) Cargo valves

3) Cargo pump

4) Stripping line and valves

5) Venting line and P/V valve

6) Ullage/sounding arrangements

7) Heating coils

8) Vapour line

9.2.10 9.4 Tests for cleanliness

As mentioned, the demands to tank cleanliness are getting stricter and stricter which
demands
more of the officer and crew on board. Some products require a standard which is
very hard to achieve, but with better testing equipment and cleaning agents on
board it’s easier for the vessel to meet the demands of the customer.
As a general rule the tank should be physically clean after every tank cleaning
without regard
of the next cargo to load.
For sensitive cargoes a wall wash will be required. This is done by a independent
Surveyor who will attend the vessel prior loading . The surveyor will wash spots on
the bulkheads with a solvent (mostly methanol) which are collected and sampled in a
sample bottle. The sample is then taken ashore for analysis in a laboratory. The
results of the analysis must be within the specifications made by the cargo owner or
the tank will not be accepted for loading and need to be re-cleaned.
More and more vessels are now equipped with equipment which makes the chief
officer able to do the most common tests and analysis on board. This will off course
give the vessel a good opportunity to be well prepared prior to port entry and
analysis by shore lab. Needless to say, this will save both the vessel and owner a lot
of extra time and money.
When the tank is inspected and wall wash, if applicable, has been approved, the
surveyor will issue a "Clean Tank Certificate" and the vessel can commence loading.