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Lets begin.
Receiving voyage orders
In both the case we need to check the list, trim and stability
criteria for each leg of the voyage. This is no brainer as we do
same on all type of ships. But there are few things specific to
chemical tankers that we need to check while planning the
stowage.
Exclusive Bonus: Download this simple checklist for stowage
planning on chemical tanker
There are steps that we need to follow while preparing the
stowage plan on chemical tanker. If you have been sailing on
chemical tanker for some time now, these might come naturally
to you. But for the first timers or first time mates, these need to
be followed religiously.
Acetic acid
TDI
Methanol
We need to know if we can load these chemicals. Let us go step by step to know if
we can load these cargoes.
Certificate of fitness lists all the cargoes that a vessel is fit to load. The name of the
cargoes in the COF are proper shipping names (IBC name) and not trade names.
So if the charterer has given you trade names, you first need proper shipping name
of such cargoes. For example in the cargoes above, methanol is a trade name.
Proper shipping name of Methanol is methyl alcohol.
Just go to IBC code chapter 17. See if you can find that cargo. If it is there, then it
is proper shipping name. If it isnt there in chapter 17, then it is a trade name.
If we just have the trade name of the cargo, how can we know its IBC name ?
There are 3 ways that I can think of.
First, you can go to chapter 19 of the IBC code and see if you can find your cargo
name there. If you can, then it will give you the proper shipping name (IBC name)
in the next column.
Second, you can go to tank cleaning guide software such as Miracle and Milbros.
This software has more or less become a necessity to have on all chemical tankers.
More often than not you will find one of these software on chemical tanker. So for
example, if you open milbros, go to commodities.
In the search option, you can type in the name of the cargo and then choose from
the list.
This will give you the product name (IBC name) of the cargo you entered.
In fact, if you go to the synonyms section it will give all the names this cargo is
known as.
Third way to know the IBC name of cargo is by just asking your operator or
charterers. Knowing the proper shipping name of cargo being loaded is very
important.
Acetic acid does not appear in the COF of this ship. So this ship cannot load this
cargo.
Methyl Alcohol appears in the list and we can load this cargo too.
In the same way we can check for Toluene Diisocyanate and Palm fatty acid
distillate.
There are number of coating that the cargo tanks of a chemical tanker can have.
Stainless steel
Epoxy
Zinc silicate
Marine Line
Rubber
These are the few of the most popular coatings of cargo tanks on chemical tanker.
If the tanks are stainless steel coated then you do not need to worry about the
coating.
The coating manual will have the resistant list of all the chemical cargoes. Each
cargo will have either of these atleast these three options
cargo is acceptable
Now lets see the coating manual of this ship. Let us look for cargo TDI and
Palm fatty acid Distillates to see if the coating is resistant to this cargo.
For example for this cargo, it meant that fatty acid content of the cargo should not
be more than 10%. In this case we need to inform charterers about this. Charterers
will get this confirmed from the shipper. Before their written confirmation of the
fatty acid content is received, you should not load this cargo.
d) Check Heating requirements
Some cargoes require heating during the voyage. Charterers instruction may
include maintaining a minimum temperature during the voyage and having a
minimum temperature during discharge.
While planning a stowage chief officer must check if the ship has the capability to
heat the cargo to that extent.
If the vessel is not capable of heating to that extent, this cargo should not be
loaded.
Even when the ship is designed to load a particular chemical, each chemical can
have its own requirement.
Chapter 17 of the IBC code is the best way to start with finding the special
requirements for a cargo.
Let us discuss some of the requirements you should check for each cargo
a. Safety equipments
Chapter 14 of the IBC code lists the safety equipment requirements with respect to
chemicals.
For example, the ships carrying cargoes for which 15.12, 15.12.1 or 15.12.3 is
listed in column O of chapter 17 should have 3 IBC sets which contains
Chemical Suits
While planning the stowage, Chief officer need to keep in mind if these
equipments are available. If not then he should inform to the company
immediately.
b. Drager tubes
To be safe on chemical tankers, it is important to measure the presence of toxic gas
in the area accessed by the crew. Each cargo can release a different toxic gas and
as such need equipment to measure it.
Drager and Gastec are two of such equipments that mesures toxic gas
concentration. The Drager and Gastec have pump that uses tubes to measure toxic
gases. Each type of toxic gas has its own tube.
Before loading the cargo, chief officer must ensure that he has drager (or Gastec)
tubes for the toxic vapours that require measuring.
But not all cargoes are toxic and not all cargoes have the drager tubes available. To
check this, again you can use Milbros or Miracle software.
In the Milbros software, search for the commodity and go to Safety/MSDS section.
You can find the information regarding Drager and Gastec tubes applicable for that
cargo.
c) PV Valves
There has been a new requirement for the PV valves on chemical tankers. Check if
in chapter 17 of IBC code, the column i shows IIB requirement for the cargo. If
yes, vessel need to have new type of PV valves which are MSC/Circ.677 IIB
compliant.
So you have checked and found that you can load the intended cargoes. You have
also ensured that you have all the required safety equipments on board. Now the
time is to make the stowage plan. There are number of things that you need to keep
in mind while planning the stowage. Let us see each of it.
a) Cargo compatibility
Some chemicals react with each other. We call these incompatible chemicals.
These chemicals cannot be stowed adjacent to each other. This be because of the
simple reason that if there is a crack in the common bulkhead, it can lead to
disastrous situation.
For example any acid cargo cannot be stored next to bases like Caustic soda
solution.
Most common method of checking if two cargoes are compatible or not is the
compatibility chart from US coast gaurd. USCG has released full guidelines on
compatibility of chemical cargoes which if you like you can download by clicking
here.
Bottom line that you need to keep in mind is not to stow any incompatible cargoes
together.
b) Cargo density
Cargo density of the chemicals loaded on chemical tanker can vary drastically.
Once you may be asked to load a cargo of density as low as 0.7 and then that
which have density as high as 1.9.
Chief officer must know what is the allowed cargo density for the vessel. You can
find this information in vessels Procedure and arrangement manual.
For example let us assume that the allowed maximum density is 1.025. If we need
to load a cargo that has a density more than 1.025, we need to load the quantity that
does not exceed the load density of the cargo tank.
For example, let us say that a cargo tank has total volume of 3000 M3 and
maximum allowed load density of 1.025. This tank can load a total of 3075 MT
(3000 x 1.025) of cargo. Now if we need to load a cargo with density 1.5, we can
only load 2050 m3 ( 3075 / 1.5) volume in that. The whole idea is not to exceed
total weight of 3075 MT in this case.
Bottom line, keep in mind the allowed load density of your tanks while planning
stowage.
These are the cargoes for which chapter 16.6 of IBC code applies. If in column o
of the chapter 17 IBC code mentions 16.6, these restriction would apply to that
cargo.
Apart from polymerising cargoes, some cargoes can become off-spec if it is loaded
adjacent to a high temperature cargo. IBC code does not take into account the
quality of the cargo. So if any cargo has any restriction regarding adjacent
temperature, the charterers need to advise in their voyage instructions.
You can also find a fair idea from the Milbros/Miracle software.
If Milbros software mentions these restrictions but your voyage instructions dont,
then you may need to clarify from the charterer regarding any of such limitations.
Bottom line, do not stow a heat sensitive cargo adjacent to the heated cargo.
For example I have worked on chemical tanker with 39 cargo tanks carrying 20
grades of cargo at a time. Some people work on chemical tankers with as many as
50 cargo tanks.
This makes the satisfying of intact stability, strength, damage stability and drafts
and trim requirements a challenge for chief officer.
And there is no other way than checking each leg on the loadicator. This off course
takes a lot of time. Charterers at times may want you to send the stowage plan in
seconds. But you have a responsibility that a person sitting on other end may not
be able to fathom.
Bottom line is you should make it quick if the stowage plan is urgently required
but not before checking each leg on the loadicator.
Conclusion
Cargo stowage planning on chemical tanker is not like other vessels. There are
number of factors that need to be checked to ensure that chemicals can be loaded,
carried and discharged safely.
Specially as a first time mates on chemical tankers, you might find it difficult to
know where you should begin with the planning of stowage, as it can all seem
complex at first.
Hopefully after reading this post, you can have a framework you can stick to while
planning the stowage.