Section 1 General

1.1 Personnel

1.1.1 Those involved in liquefied gas operations are to be made aware of the special requirements associated with, and precautions necessary for, their safe operation.

1.2 Cargo operations manuals

1.2.1 The ship unit shall be provided with copies of suitably detailed cargo system operating manuals approved by the Administration such that trained personnel can safely operate the unit with due regard to the hazards and properties of the cargoes that are permitted to be carried.

1.2.2 The content of the manuals shall include but not be limited to:

Overall operation of the ship unit including procedures for cargo tank cool-down and warm-up, cargo transfer, cargo sampling, gas freeing, ballasting, tank cleaning and changing cargoes;
cargo temperature and pressure control systems;
cargo system limitations, including minimum temperatures (cargo system and inner hull), maximum pressures, cargo transfer rates and filling limits;
nitrogen and inert gas systems;
fire-fighting procedures: operation and maintenance of fire-fighting systems and use of extinguishing agents;
special equipment needed for the safe handling of the particular cargo;
fixed and portable gas detection;
control, alarm and safety systems;
emergency shut-down systems;
procedures to change cargo tank pressure relief valve set pressures in accordance with Pt 11, Ch 8, 1.2 Pressure relief systems 1.2.9 and Pt 11, Ch 4, 3.3 Functional loads 3.3.2.(c);
emergency procedures, including cargo tank relief valve isolation, single tank gas-freeing and entry.

1.3 Cargo information

1.3.1 Information shall be on board and available to all concerned in the form of a cargo information data sheet(s) giving the necessary data for safe cargo operation. Such information shall include, for each product carried:

a full description of the physical and chemical properties necessary for safe cargo operations and containment of the cargo;
reactivity with other cargoes that are capable of being stored.
the actions to be taken in the event of cargo spills or leaks.
countermeasures against accidental personal contact.
fire-fighting procedures and fire-fighting media.
special equipment needed for the safe handling of the particular cargo.
emergency procedures.

1.3.2 The physical data supplied to the Operator, in accordance with Pt 11, Ch 18, 1.3 Cargo information 1.3.1.(a), shall include information regarding the relative cargo density at various temperatures to enable the calculation of cargo tank filling limits in accordance with the requirements of Pt 11, Ch 15 Filling Limits for Cargo Tanks.

1.3.3 Contingency plans in accordance with Pt 11, Ch 18, 1.3 Cargo information 1.3.1.(c), for spillage of cargo carried at ambient temperature, shall take account of potential local temperature reduction such as when the escaped cargo has reduced to atmospheric pressure and the potential effect of this cooling on hull steel.