TANK CLEANING PRACTICE

It's a fine day, good visibility, calm seas, perfect weather for a passage, and yet this tanker is sailing towards danger. It is about to bring together a large explosive atmosphere with sources of ignition; in fact, it is playing with fire. If all goes well, no one will ever know; but if it goes badly, the results could be devastating, and everyone will hear about it...

Tank cleaning is one of the most critical and dangerous stages of any cargo carriage. If not conducted properly, it brings together things that are best to be kept apart - explosive atmospheres, sparks, toxic fumes, and personnel. It is a time consuming and often complex operation, but the benefits are clear. Both sludge build-up and contamination can significantly reduce a vessel's effectiveness, service quality and profitability.

They can also impact health and safety. Every year, many seamen die in accidents. Often, these involve enclosed space entry. It is the vessel's responsibility to arrive at the terminal ready to take cargo. And, the vessel has a duty to care to customers, too. Every year, port tank cleaning procedures lead to substantial costs through delays to loading schedules, port fines and legal damages which have run into many hundreds of thousands of dollars. Tank cleaning is normally undertaken on ballast voyages between loads, when changing cargo types or when changing charterer...