5.6 Cargo system valving requirements
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - 1983 IGC Code - International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk - Chapter 5 Process Pressure Vessels and Liquid, Vapour and Pressure Piping Systems - 5.6 Cargo system valving requirements

5.6 Cargo system valving requirements

  (Paragraph 5.6.5 applies to ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002)

  5.6.1 Every cargo piping system and cargo tank should be provided with the following valves, as applicable:

  • .1 For cargo tanks with a MARVS not exceeding 0.7 bar gauge, all liquid and vapour connections, except safety relief valves and liquid level gauging devices, should have shutoff valves located as close to the tank as practicable. These valves may be remotely controlled but should be capable of local manual operation and provide full closure. One or more remotely controlled emergency shutdown valves should be provided on the ship for shutting down liquid and vapour cargo transfer between ship and shore. Such valves may be arranged to suit the ship's design and may be the same valve as required in 5.6.3 and should comply with the requirements of 5.6.4.

  • .2 For cargo tanks with a MARVS exceeding 0.7 bar gauge, all liquid and vapour connections, except safety relief valves and liquid level gauging devices, should be equipped with a manually operated stop valve and a remotely controlled emergency shutdown valve. These valves should be located as close to the tank as practicable. Where the pipe size does not exceed 50 mm in diameter, excess flow valves may be used in lieu of the emergency shutdown valve. A single valve may be substituted for the two separate valves provided the valve complies with the requirements of 5.6.4, is capable of local manual operation and provides full closure of the line.

  • .3 Cargo pumps and compressors should be arranged to shutdown automatically if the emergency shutdown valves required by 5.6.1.1 and .2 are closed by the emergency shutdown system required by 5.6.4.

  5.6.2 Cargo tank connections for gauging or measuring devices need not be equipped with excess flow or emergency shutdown valves provided that the devices are so constructed that the outward flow of tank contents cannot exceed that passed by a 1.5 mm diameter circular hole.

  5.6.3 One remotely operated emergency shutdown valve should be provided at each cargo hose connection in use. Connections not used in transfer operations may be blinded with blank flanges in lieu of valves.

  5.6.4 The control system for all required emergency shutdown valves should be so arranged that all such valves may be operated by single controls situated in at least two remote locations on the ship. One of these locations should be the control position required by 13.1.3 or cargo control room. The control system should also be provided with fusible elements designed to melt at temperatures between 98°C and 104°C which will cause the emergency shutdown valves to close in the event of fire. Locations for such fusible elements should include the tank domes and loading stations. Emergency shutdown valves should be of the fail-closed (closed on loss of power) type and be capable of local manual closing operation. Emergency shutdown valves in liquid piping should fully close under all service conditions within 30 s of actuation. Information about the closing time of the valves and their operating characteristics should be available on board and the closing time should be verifiable and reproducible. Such valves should close smoothly.

  5.6.5 The closure time of 30 s for the emergency shutdown valve referred to in 5.6.4 should be measured from the time of manual or automatic initiation to final closure. This is called the total shutdown time and is made up of a signal response time and a valve closure time. The valve closure time should be such as to avoid surge pressure in pipelines. Such valves should close in such a manner as to cut off the flows smoothly.

  5.6.6 Excess flow valves should close automatically at the rated closing flow of vapour or liquid as specified by the manufacturer. The piping including fittings, valves, and appurtenances protected by an excess flow valve, should have a greater capacity than the rated closing flow of the excess flow valve. Excess flow valves may be designed with a bypass not exceeding an area of 1.0 mm diameter circular opening to allow equalization of pressure, after an operating shutdown.


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