Chemical Tanker

HAZARDS AND PROPERTIES OF CHEMICALS

By Capt. Bambang Purnomo

Reference
International Chamber of Shipping
Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals)
Third Edition 2002
1.1 Introduction
A chemical tanker is a type of tanker designed to
transport chemicals in bulk.
1.2 Flammability
Flammable (also referred to as ‘Combustible’)
Capable of being ignited and of burning. For the
purposes of this guide the terms ‘flammable’ and
‘combustible’ are synonymous.

FIRE
1.3 Health Hazards
1.3.1.Toxicity
Toxic means the same as poisonous.
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.
1.3.2 Asphyxia
Asphyxia is unconsciousness caused by lack of Oxygen,
and means suffocation.
Any vapour may cause asphyxiation, whether toxic or
not, simply by excluding oxygen in air.
Danger areas include cargo tanks, void spaces and cargo
pumprooms.
1.3.3. An aesthesia
Certain vapours cause loss of consciousness due to
their effect on the nervous system. In addition,
anaesthetic vapours may or may not be toxic.
1.3.4. Additional health hazard
Additional health hazards may be presented by non-
cargo handling.
One hazard is that of frostbite from liquid nitrogen
stored on board for use as atmosphere control in cargo
tanks see in MFAG.
Another hazard is that of burns from accidental contact
with equipment used while handling heated cargoes.
1. 4 Reactivity
A chemical may react in a number of ways;
- with self,
- with water,
- with air,
- with other chemical
- with other materials.
1.4.1 Self-reaction
The most common from of self-reaction is polymerization.
Polymerization is The phenomenon whereby the molecules
of a particular compound link together into a larger unit
containing anything from two to many thousand of
molecules, the new unit being called a polymer.
1.4.2 Reaction with water
Certain cargoes react with water in a way that could
pose a danger to both the ship and its personnel.
Example cargo isocyanates shall be carried in inner
condition.
Can damage equipment or tank materials , oxygen
depletion ( O2 decreasing ).
1.4.3.Reaction with air
Certain chemical cargoes, mostly ethers and aldehydes,
may react with oxygen in air or in the chemical to form
unstable oxygen compounds( peroxides which, if
allowed to build up could cause an explosion.
Such cargoes can be either inhibited by an anti-oxidant
or carried under inert condition
1.4.4 Reaction with other cargoes
Some cargoes react dangerously with one another.
Such cargoes should be stowed away from each other
( not in adjacent tanks) and prevented from mixing by
using separate loading, discharging
1.4.5.Reaction with other materials
The materials used in construction of the cargo
systems must compatible with the cargo to be carried,
and must be taken to ensure that no incompatible
materials are used or introduced during maintenance.
Reaction with certain alloys will ne non-hazardous to
ship or crew, but can impair the commercial quality of
the cargo or render it unusable.
1.5 Corrosiveness
 Corrosive substances: Acids, anhydrides and alkalis
 Characteristic:
 - They can rapidly destroy human tissue irreparable damage
 - Corrode normal ship construction materials and create
hazard for a ship.
 Acid in particular react with most metals, evolving gas which is highly
flammable.

CORROSIVE
1.6.PROPERTY OF Chemical CARGO
1. Aggressive Cargo
2. Viscosity of Cargo
3. Solidity of Cargo
4. Corrosive of Cargo
5. Vapor Pressure Cargo
6. Static Electricity Cargo
7. Solubility in Water Cargo
8. Dry oil Cargo
9. Reaction of Cargo
10. Smell of Cargo
11. Specific gravity
12. Freezing point
13. Cubic expansion
1.6.1. Aggressive of Cargo
Example is Methyl Ethyl Ketone ( MEK ) and
Methanol ( NAOH )
Such cargo makes coating of cargo tank soften and
damages
1.6.2. Viscosity of Cargo
Example : Lubricating oil
Viscosity is the internal resistance created in fluids
such as water, oil and gas when these materials
flow, Shown as (mPa.s) at 20 deg C.
Higher temperature and pressure can make it easy
to remove cargo residue in cargo tank using solvent
is effective.
1.6.3. Solidity of Cargo
Example : Fatty Alcohol, Palm Oil
Every cargo has its melting point which is the
temperature that the absorption of heat energy
causes the molecules to more freely breaking up
the solid structure.
1.6.4. Corrosive of Cargo
Example: Acetic Acid, Caustic Soda
These are liquids which corrode normal
constructional material such as steel & coating at
an excessive rate.
Those Cargo tank are required to do tank cleaning
by abundant water immediately as soon as
completion unloading cargo.
1.6.5. Vapor Pressure of Cargo
Example: Methanol and Acetone
The pressure exerted by the vapor above the liquid at a
given temperature T/C by simple method only one step of
machine because there is no residue on the wall but only
bottom and shortest time which can remove residue cargo
residue of substances with a vapor pressure greater than 5
kpa= 37.5 mm Mg at 20 deg C may be removed from a cargo
tank ventilation.
1.6.6. Static Electricity of Cargo
 Example : Benzene, Toluene, Xylene
 Required following precautions before / during / after tank cleaning in
order to avoid explosion:
 Before washing the tank bottom should be flushed with water and
stripped
 Before washing the tank should be ventilated to reduce the gas
concentration of the atmosphere to 10% or less of the lower flammable
limit.
 If portable washing machines are used, all hose connection should be
made up and tested for electrical continuity before the washing machine
is introduced into the tank.
 Connections should not be broken until after the machine has been
removed from the tank.
 To drain the hose a coupling may be partially opened and then re-
tightened before the machine is removed.
1.6.6. Static Electricity of Cargo
 Re-circulated wash water should not be used for tank cleaning
 Steam should not be injected into the tank
 Wash water does not exceed 60 deg C
 The total water through put per cargo tank should be kept as low as
practicable and must in no case exceed 180m3/h
 Equipment should be bonded and securely earthed until removed
1.6.7. Solubility in Water
Example: MEG, IPA, Aceton, Methanol
The cargo which is completely soluble in water is very easy
to remove the residue in cargo tank by only wash water
without using any detergent or chemical solvent.
Solubility in water or some cargo depends on temperature
Phenol is completely soluble in water at 66 deg C.
1.6.8. Dry oil of cargo
Example: Fish oil, Linseed oil, Sunflower oil, Soya bean oil
It is the oil exceeding 130 in iodine value.
T/C of dry cargo tank has to be done as soon as completion
unloading cargo.
If not available to do T/C immediately, pre-wash is required
1.6.9. Reaction of cargo
Example : Styrene Monomer.
The tendency of a chemical to react with itself or
with other
Outside influence such as O2 or heat, usually
resulting in
Polymerization : Decomposition whereby the molecules
of a compound can be made to thousands of molecules.
T/C immediately required is not available required pre-wash
1.6.10. Smell of cargo
Example : 2-Ethyl Hexanol, DINP, Octanol
Cargo remain strong smell in cargo tank for a long time
Machine wash by warm and hot water, detergent, steaming
and fanning repeatedly are required.
1.6.11. Specific gravity
The ratio of the weight of a volume of a substance at a
given temperature to weight of an equal volume of fresh
water at the same temperature or at a different given
temperature
Cargo tanks on chemical tanker are normally designed to
carry cargoes of a higher specific gravity than an oil tanker.
Especially important is the risk of slack loading a tank
because this can lead to sloshing forces that may cause
damage to the tank structure or its equipment.
Density Sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid is 1.85, Caustic
soda 1.56.
1.6.12. Freezing point
The temperature at which the liquid state of a substance
is in equilibrium with the solid state, i.e. at a higher
temperature the solid will melt and at a lower
temperature the liquid will solidify.
Some product such as lubricating oil additives,
vegetables oil and animal oils, polyols etc, do not have a
defined point but a freezing or melting point.
1.6.13. Cubic expansion
Liquids will expand as temperature rises, or contract
when temperature falls. Sufficient space must be
allowed in the tank to accommodate any cubic
expansion expected during the voyage.
A useful formula is
Filling ration (% full )= 100 (1-RT-S
 R: coefficient of expansion per deg C ( from MSDS)
 T: Expected maximum temperature rise in deg C (during voyage )
 S: Safety margin, usually 2% of tank capacity.