NAME: GRANT KYLE DE GUZMAN DATE: SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

YEAR: BSMT-3 SUBJECT: SEAM4B/L

STUDENT ACTIVITY

QUESTION:

Essay writing about the tank cleaning, purging, gas freeing and inerting system.

ANSWER:

Tank cleaning is the process of removing hydrocarbon vapors, liquids, or residues from cargo tanks
onboard a tanker. Tank cleaning may be required for one or more of the following reasons

• To carry clean ballast.

• To gas-free tanks for internal inspections, repairs, or before entering the dry dock.
• To remove sediments from tank top plating. This may be required if the vessel is engaged in the
repetitive carriage of fuel oil or similar sediment settling cargoes. Although washing may not be
necessary for between consecutive voyages, assuming the cargoes are compatible, many Ship
Owners have found it prudent to water wash a small group of tanks on a rotation basis between
voyages, thus preventing any large accumulation of sediments.

To load a different and not compatible grade of cargo. Washing in between carrying different grades
of cargo is the most common reason for tank cleaning. In most cargo sequences on product tankers,
the cleaning may consist of no more than a simple hot or cold seawater wash.

A simple water wash will disperse many types of chemicals and has been found effective between
clean petroleum products such as gasoil and kerosene. However, it should be noted that there is a
number of grade sequences, particularly in the petroleum product trade, where no washing at all
needs to be be carried out. Thus the decision for necessary tank cleaning required in such trades is
often made only when knowledge of the next grade to be loaded is obtained.

Gas-Freeing for Cargo Tank entry: Cargo Tank entry shall not be permitted unless the Oxygen
Content is 21%, and the hydrocarbon vapor content is less than 1% of the Lower Flammable Level
(LFL). Follow the company's "Procedure for Entry into Enclosed Spaces" with related permits. If the
previous cargo contains Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) or other toxic contaminants that could evolve
poisonous gases (e.g., benzene, toluene, Mercaptans, etc.), the tank should be checked for such
gases. Carrying out "Hot Work" inside Tanks within the 'Dangerous Area' need special caution as per
"Procedures for Hot Work" and carry out preparation accordingly.
Gas-Freeing or Purging for the Reception of Cargo: If the intention of Gas-Freeing or Purging
operations is to prevent the next cargo from being loaded from contamination due to the previous
cargo oil hydrocarbon gas, use the gas content indicated by the Charterer as standard, but go on
with the operations mentioned in (2) of Article 1 until the LFL decreases down to 40% or under.