19 Cleaning of oil residue (sludge) tanks and discharge of residues
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19 Cleaning of oil residue (sludge) tanks and discharge of residues

 To assist Administrations in determining the adequacy of the design and construction of oil residue (sludge) tanks to facilitate their cleaning and the discharge of residues to reception facilities, the following guidance is provided, having effect on ships the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction on or after 31 December 1990:

  • .1 sufficient man-holes should be provided such that, taking into consideration the internal structure of the oil residue (sludge) tanks, all parts of the tank can be reached to facilitate cleaning;

  • .2 oil residue (sludge) tanks in ships operating with heavy oil, that needs to be purified for use, should be fitted with adequate heating arrangements or other suitable means to facilitate the pumpability and discharge of the tank content;

  • .3 the oil residue (sludge) tank should be provided with a designated pump for the discharge of the tank content to reception facilities. The pump should be of a suitable type, capacity and discharge head, having regard to the characteristics of the liquid being pumped and the size and position of tank(s) and the overall discharge time.

  • .4 where any oil residue (sludge) tank (i.e. oil residue (sludge) service tankfootnote) that directly supplies oil residue (sludge) to the means of the disposal of oil residues (sludge) prescribed in paragraph 3.2 of the Supplement to IOPP Certificate Form A or B is equipped with suitable means for drainage, the requirements in subparagraph .3 above may not be applied to the oil residue (sludge) tank.


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