ELIMINATION OF EXPLOSION RISK IN TANKER CLEANING

Gulf oil company has been conducting tank cleaning safety studies since a rash of tank cleaning related explosions on three of their vessels in December 1969. It has been concluded that two of the most widely used methods of tank cleaning, venting and water-washing, are not acceptable from a safety stand point. Gulf has found that ballasting used in conjunction with a tank surface cleaning device known as "skimclean" provides the best protection against the danger of tank explosions. A tank is ballasted with water. Any oil in the tank will then float to the surface of the water. The skim clean device removes the layer of oil residue floating on the ballast. This method not only removes oil residues in the tanks but the ballasting forces out most of the petroleum vapors in the tank denying the fuel required for any explosion. The skimclean device stows easily on deck and also provides a savings in tank cleaning time.

• Corporate Authors:

  Foxlow Publications Limited

  19 Harcourt Street
  London W1H 2AX,   England 
• Publication Date: 1971-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 219-220
• Serial:
  • DOCK AND HARBOUR AUTHORITY
  • Volume: 51 N
  • Issue Number: 611

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cleaning; Container tanks; Explosions; Marine safety; Oil spill cleanup; Storage tanks; Tankers; Ventilation systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Explosion prevention; Oil skimmers; Tank cleaning; Tank venting; Tanker safety
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00028563
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 10 1972 12:00AM