ELECTRICAL HAZARD PROTECTION OF TANK VESSELS WHILE MOORED TO SHORE FACILITIES

The scope of this task is limited to tanker/terminal operations involving the transfer of liquid flammable cargoes. A literature search and review has been conducted to collect available information pertinent to the electrical hazards related to the ship to shore transfer of flammable cargoes. The literature search revealed that a great amount of work has been accomplished in the area of static charge hazards, however very little has been done to characterize the nature of stray currents. It has not been feasible to produce mathematical stray current models using the available literature. A review of current practices of various operators was accomplished, mostly by observation and interview. Specific documents dealing with electrical hazards were not available at the terminals. The personnel involved with cargo transfer at the terminals are, in general, only vaguely aware of the nature and hazards of stray currents and static charges. Instrumentation was designed and fabricated for the measurement of stray currents. The instrumentation will measure voltage, current, and the capability of the tanker/terminal circuit to produce an arc when the circuit is opened. The measurement of stray current was accomplished at several terminals. In some cases, significantly high current flows capable of producing arcs were observed between the tanker and terminal. In one case, the presence of two bonding cables and a connected loading arm did not prevent arcing. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive
  Pasadena, CA  United States  91103

  United States Coast Guard

  2100 Second Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20593
• Authors:
  • Harrison, R
  • Thiele, C
  • Hoff, D
• Publication Date: 1981-5-15

Media Info

• Pagination: 59 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bonding; Cathodic protection; Docks; Electric arcs; Electric circuits; Electric current; Electrostatics; Fires; Hazards; Loading and unloading; Moorings; Tankers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fire hazards; Unloading
• Old TRIS Terms: Circuits; Loading handling; Tanker ships
• Subject Areas: Construction; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00347767
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: JPL-PUB-5030-503, USCG-D-57-81
• Contract Numbers: MIPR-Z70099-9-95956-
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 2003 12:00AM