ANTI-POLLUTION VALVE AIDS SALVAGE

Following an R & D program lasting four years, an innovative anti-pollution/vent-closure device for use aboard all types of liquid-cargo tankers, barges and ship fuel-storage tanks has been patented worldwide. When a vessel using the anti-pollution valve (APV) is submerged due to a disaster, hydrostatically timed pressure closes the valve to stop the vent or overflow pipes from becoming a source of pollution. If the vessel is only partially submerged, as in a grounding, the APV can be closed manually to prevent cargo from being forced out of the vents by wave action, or to help keep the disabled vessel afloat. Should a vessel begin to sink, the APV automatically admits seawater to equalize the pressure between the outside and inside of the tank, thus preventing a pressure rupture. When the vessel is on the bottom with tank and outside pressure equalized, the valve remains closed regardless of orientation. Under normal operating conditions, the APV remains open and permits venting even under adverse conditions, such as green water over the deck. The APV has a quick- connection hookup so that salvage divers can attach a hose to pump liquids from the sunken vessel's tanks, enabling salvaging of a virtually intact cargo. After the liquid cargo has been removed, the process can be reversed, and air forced back through the APV into the tanks to assist in lifting the vessel to the surface for salvage.

• Corporate Authors:

  Maclean-Hunter Limited

  481 University Avenue
  Toronto 2, ONo,   Canada 
• Publication Date: 1976-6

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Canadian Shipping and Marine Engineering
  • Publisher: Maclean-Hunter Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Container tanks; Oil spills; Pollution control; Prevention; Salvage; Tankers; Ventilation systems; Water quality management
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil spill prevention; Tank venting; Tanker pollution prevention; Water pollution prevention
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148837
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Development Agency Centre
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 15 1977 12:00AM