9.2 Ships carrying liquid bulk dangerous cargoes
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1216 – Revised Recommendations on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Cargoes and Related Activities in Port Areas – (26 February 2007) - Annex - Revised Recommendations on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Cargoes and Related Activities in Port Areas - 9 Liquid Bulk Dangerous Cargoes (Including Liquefied Gas) - 9.2 Ships carrying liquid bulk dangerous cargoes

9.2 Ships carrying liquid bulk dangerous cargoes

9.2.1 Compatibility

  9.2.1.1 The master of a ship should in co-operation with the port authority and berth operator , where appropriate, ensure that during the handling of liquid bulk dangerous cargoes , which may react in a hazardous manner (physically or chemically) with any other cargo carried or handled, every precaution is taken to prevent such hazard by selecting non-adjacent tanks with separate venting systems for their carriage and using separate pumping and piping systems for their handling .

  9.2.1.2 The master of a ship should ensure that no liquid bulk dangerous cargoes comes into contact with any tank, pipe, valve or any other equipment in the ship which may cause a hazard by weakening, chemical reaction or any other means. He should also be aware of the hazard associated with solidification of cargo in ships’ vent lines, substances which react with water and oxidizing agents.

9.2.2 Handling

  9.2.2.1 The master of a ship should ensure that:

  • .1 precautions are taken at all times to prevent flammable and/or toxic vapour from entering a service or control station, accommodation or machinery spaces on the ship ;

  • .2 except for vents designed to prevent excess pressure or vacuum within a cargo space, all openings from cargo spaces are kept closed during handling of flammable and/or toxic cargoes, or ballast water contaminated with such cargoes, except with the permission of the port authority and berth operator ; and

  • .3 any tools or equipment used, e.g. for sampling or ullaging are used in a manner so as not to cause ignition.

  9.2.2.2 In the case of flammable cargoes sighting and ullage ports should be kept closed unless required to be open for operational purposes. If, for design reasons, they are required to be open, the openings should be protected by a flame screen which may be removed for a short period during ullaging, sighting, sounding and sampling. The flame screens should be a good fit and be kept clean and in good condition.

  9.2.2.3 The master of a ship should ensure that, if an incident occurs during the handling of liquid bulk dangerous cargoes or ballast water contaminated with liquid bulk dangerous cargoes which necessitates a repair to the cargo piping system or connections, or which interferes in any way with the uninterrupted flow of liquid bulk dangerous cargoes or ballast water, such handling is stopped and not resumed until adequate safety measures have been taken with the approval of the port authority and, where appropriate, the berth operator .

9.2.3 Gas-freeing, tank cleaning and inerting

  9.2.3.1 The master of a ship carrying or having carried liquid bulk dangerous cargoes should ensure that gas-freeing, tank cleaning (including crude oil washing), or purging with inert gas is carried out in accordance with the ship’s operating manuals which lay down the correct procedure to be employed. Such operating manuals should deal comprehensively with the procedure to be employed and should incorporate the recommendations and guidelines of IMO or other organizations where they are appropriate.

9.2.3.1 Ship’s operating manuals should be approved by the Administration. The guidelines referred to concern inert gas systems and crude oil washing systems.

  9.2.3.2 No gas-freeing, tank cleaning or purging should be carried out without the permission of the port authority and the berth operator , where appropriate.

9.2.4 Containment of spillage

  9.2.4.1 The master of a ship should ensure that during handling operations all scuppers are kept closed except to the extent that it is necessary to allow water to drain off, and that the scuppers are inspected regularly. Where corrosive liquids or refrigerated gases are being handled, the scuppers may be kept open if permitted by the port authority , provided that an ample supply of water is available at all times in the vicinity of the manifolds. Attention is, however, drawn to the requirements of regulations of Annex I and Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 for provision of shipboard oil pollution emergency plans and marine pollution emergency plans for noxious liquid substances.


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