Hazards of carrying noxious liquid chemicals at sea and

safety practice 

Chemical cargoes may present a fire hazard which will be

determined by the flashpoint, boiling point, flammability limits
and auto-ignition temperature of the product. The marine
pollution hazard will be dependent on several factors that include
bioaccumulation and the attendant risk to aquatic life or human
health. In addition, release into the marine environment may
cause damage to living resources, hazard to human health and
consequent reduction of amenities. The air pollution hazard posed
by release into the atmosphere may categorised by the
emergency exposure limit (EEL) of the substance. 

Watch standing personnel must ensure that no one who is

smoking approaches or boards the vessel. Smoking on board
must only take place in designated smoking areas. The company
policy on drugs and alcohol must be strictly enforced.

Fig: Modern Chemical tanker underway

Parmanent Noictes 

Permanent notices complying with international standards should

be displayed in conspicuous spaces onboard, indicating prohibited
smoking and use of naked lights areas. Enclosed areas that need
to be ventilated prior to entering must also be marked. 
Temporary Notices and signals 

On arrival at a terminal, and throughout the vessel’s stay at

anchorage or alongside, temporary notices are to be displayed at
the point of access or other conspicuous spaces, in the English
language, to indicate the following:

WARNING !
DANGEROUS CARGO
NO NAKED LIGHTS
NO SMOKING
NO UNAUTHORISED PERSONS
SWITCH OFF MOBILE PHONES

In addition, when hazardous chemicals are being handled a

further notice should be displayed stating:

Local national or port regulations may require additional notices

which the Master must ensure are complied with. Day and night
signal for dangerous cargo as per local regulations and
international code flag are to be displayed as appropriate. 

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.

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.

Officers must be trained in essential Firs Aid measures for the

cargoes to be carried. In the event of a serious leakage resulting
in large concentrations of fumes, 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. A list of spaces
deemed to require Enclosed Space Entry procedures is to posted
up for all crew to comply and all such spaces marked.

On vessels capable of carrying toxic, flammable, or oxidising

cargoes, special consideration should be given to the construction
of the deck areas which may impede air flows from dissipating
cargo vapours. There are many such areas on ships but
commonly found in the vicinity of butterworth hatches, ullaging
points and sampling points. They should be identified and risk
assessments conducted to determine the appropriate risk control
measures such as warning signs posted and personal gas meters
to be worn.

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. The Master should ensure that both local and
international regulations pertaining to the discharge of ballast
water are complied with .

Before any Tank Cleaning takes place, the pollution categories

(X,Y,Z or OS) of the cargo residues in the tanks to be washed
must be clearly established from one or more of the following
sources: Shipping Document, IBC Code and Certificate of Fitness,
If any ambiguity exists as to the Pollution Category the Master
must seek advice from the Management Office prior to
commencement of operations . 

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, a list of which
can be found in the SOPEP manual.

Sea valves and overboard discharge valves in pumprooms

In cargo pumprooms, particular care must be taken to ensure

that no leakage of cargo takes place through overboard discharge
or sea suction valves when starting or running cargo pumps.
Manual valves are to be chained/locked. These valves are to be
air pressure tested regularly for integrity and a log entry made.
Officers should refer to the ICS/OCIMF Publication “Prevention of
Spillages through Cargo Pumproom Sea Valves”.

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. Mechanical type scupper
closures are required to be used in USA ports and all ports. 
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.

Following detail pages explain all liquid chemical hazards &

precautionary measures while carrying at sea.

1. Toxicology and associated hazards onboard chemical tankers

Toxicity is the ability of a substance, when inhaled, ingested,

or absorbed by the skin, to cause damage to living tissue,
impairment of the central nervous system, severe illness or,
in extreme cases, death. The amounts of exposure required
to produce these results vary widely with the nature of the
substance and the duration of exposure to it. ....

2. 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,
or more accurately with the oxygen in air. But if there is too
little or too much vapour compared to the air, so that the
vapour-and-air mixture is either too lean or too rich, it will
not burn. ....

3. Reactivity of various noxious liquid chemicals

Self-reaction: The most common form of self-reaction is

polymerisation. Polymerisation generally results in the
conversion of gases or liquids into viscous liquids or solids.
It may be a slow, natural process which only degrades the
product without posing any safety hazards to the ship or the
 crew, or it may be a rapid, exothermic reaction evolving
large amounts of heat and gases. .....

4. 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..... 

5. 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..... 

6. 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. ....

7. General precautions onboard chemical tankers

Additional precautions for specific cargoes are necessary and

should also be incorporated in the ship’s cargo handling
procedures.... 

8. 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. 

9. 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. .....

10. 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...... 

11. 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
incendive sparking by inducing an electrical potential in
unearthed steelwork. 

12. 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. .... 
 13. 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 .....

14. 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.....

15. 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. .....

Following reference publications provide useful guidance and

international regulations for carrying hazardous chemicals at sea. 

 SOLAS (latest consolidated edition)

 MARPOL – 73/78 (latest consolidated edition)
 BCH / IBC Code
 International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals
(ISGOTT)
 Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals)
 Ship to Ship Transfer Guide (Petroleum)
 Safety in Oil Tankers
 Safety in Chemical Tankers
 IMDG Code
 Supplement to IMDG Code (Including MFAG and Ems)
 SOPEP
 Clean Seas Guide for Oil Tankers
 FOSFA (for Oils, Seeds and Fats)
 Prevention of Oil Spillage through Cargo Pumproom Sea
Valves
 CHRIS Guide (USCG)
 Chemical Data Guide for Bulk Shipment by Water
(Condensed Chris)
 MSDS for particular cargo carried
 Chemical Tank Cleaning Guide