5/17/2017 Sulphuricacidloading,carrying&dischargingSpecialhandlingmethods

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Loading,carrying&dischargingofSulphuricacidregulatoryrequirements&
specialhandlingmethods

Loading,carryingatsea&dischargingofSulphuricacidinvolvehighriskandrequire
sophisticatedhandlingforsafety,healthandlosspreventionreasons.Theyneedcareful
considerationpriorloading,tankcoatingcompatibility,crosscompatibilitywithother
cargoescarried,environmentalcontrolsifrequired(inerting).

ACIDProductCharacteristics

Productsafetydatasheetsmaybeavailablefromvarioussources.Forsafety
preparation,untilthespecificproductsafetydatasheetcanbeobtained,theChemical
DataGuideforBulkShipmentbyWater(U.S.DoT),shouldbeused.Concerningthe
IBC/BCHcode(respective16.2/5.2)themastershouldrequestthespecificproduct
safetydatasheetbeforecommencementofloading.Thesafetydatasheetpostedmust
beinalanguageunderstoodbyship'sOfficersandCrew(English).

Regulatoryrequirements

SulphuricAcidisregulatedforbulktransportationbytheIMO,BCHandIBCcodes.
Followingisthesummaryofthecodes'minimumrequirements

1.UNnumber:1830
2.Pollutioncategory:Y
3.HazardsPollutionandsafetyhazard:(S/P)
4.Shiptype:3
5.Tanktype:Integralgravitytank
6.Tankvents:Openventing
7.TankEnvironment:Nospecialrequirement
8.Electricalequipment:Nospecialrequirement
9.Gauging:Open
10.VapourDetection:No
11.FireProtection:No
12.Materialofconstruction:Seespecialrequirements
13.Respiratoryandeyeprotection:Individualunitsnotrequiredforemergencyescape
purpose
14.SpecialRequirements:SeeIBCCode:15.11,15.16.2,15.19.6andtheBCHCode:
4.8,4.15.2,5.2.7,5.2.8.

SpecialarrangementsSulfuricacid

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Ensurethatthereisonboardsufficientacidresistanthosesforthecargotransfer.Ensure
thatthereisonboardsufficientacidsprayshieldstocoverflangesonmanifoldandhose
connectionsaccordingtoIBCcode15.11.4andBCHcode4.8.4.

Preloadingprecautions&loadingsulfuricacid

IBCcodecompatibilitychartstrictlyprohibitswaterinadjacentcompartmentto
Sulphuricacidasyouareawareifbothcomeincontactwitheachotherwill
generateaviolentreaction.Itisthereforerecommendedthattheduringloadingof
sulphuricacidadjacentballasttankstobealwaysstrippeddrytothemaximum
efficiencyofthedeballastingequipmentused.

SulphuricAcidisnormallycarriedinstainlesssteeltankswithaminimum
concentrationof90%andattemperaturesnotexceeding35C.
Highlyconcentrated,sulphuricacidmaybecarriedinmildsteeltanks,butonlyafter
obtainingspecialpermitsfromtheclass.
ItishighlyrecommendedthatChemicalsuitstobewornbyallthedeckhands
involvedinthecargohandling.

PreparationsforLoading

Thetankmustbecleanedto"VisualWaterWhiteStandard"andfreeofany
residuesfrompreviouscargoes,chloridesandanyotherforeignmatters.
Athoroughinspectionofthetank'slowerareasandtanktopmustbecarriedout,
withspecialemphasisonsteeldefectdetection.Anysuspectedareas,andwelding
seams,mustbe"dyechecked"forcracks.
Heatingcoilstobepressuretestedforleaks,blownemptyanddriedwithnitrogen.
Thetankmustbedrybeforeloadingispermitted.
Thesurroundingcofferdamsanddoublebottomsmustbeemptyanddry.

DischargingSulfuricacid

BecauseofthehighspecificgravityofSulphuricAcid,veryhighpumppressuremaybe
experienced.Insuchcasescaremustbetakennottoquicklyopenorclosevalvesinthe
pumpsystemasthiscausespressuresurgesthatmayrupturelinesorhoses

Cleaningandslop

SulphuricAcidin3070%concentrationsisnonoxidizingandattacksthesteelrapidly,
particularlyatelevatedtemperatures.WhenconcentratedSulphuricAcidisdilutedthe
reactionisexothermicandthetemperatureofacidwillrapidlyincrease.Ifthetankis
cleanedwithinadequatequantitiesofwater,theacidwillbecomehot,asitisdiluted,and
rapidattackwilloccuronthestainlesssteeluntilsufficientwaterisintroduced.

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5/17/2017 Sulphuricacidloading,carrying&dischargingSpecialhandlingmethods

Largequantities(preferablyfreshwater)mustbeputintothetanktorapidlypassthe
dangerousconcentrationrangeandheatincrease.Preferablyifstainlesssteelhoseswere
usedonthemanifoldfordischargeshouldbereplacedwithnonstainlesssteelacid
resistanthose(s)beforethecleaningoperationstarts.

Cleaningprocess

Preferably,freshwatershouldbeusedascleaningmediumbutifnotavailablelarge
amountsofseawatermustbeused/addedtothetank.Cleaningmuststartassoon
aspossibleafterdischarge,butdonotcommencecleaningunlessslopdisposalis
available,eithertoshoreorasperMarpolregulations.
SulphuricAcidslopsshouldnormallynotbekeptonboardasdilutedacidslopsare
veryaggressivetoallmetals.Incaseswhereacidslopsmustberetainedonboard,
consulttheShipOperatorforadvice.
Cleaningwithwater(addingwatertoacid)willgeneratemuchheatwithreleaseof
Hydrogengas.
Cleaningmustbestartedwithasmuchwateraspossibleintroducedintothetank
fromthebeginning.
Continuouslydrainthetank,donotallowacid/watermixturetocollectinthetank.
Donotstopcleaningbeforealitmuspapercheckofthedrainwaterreadsneutral.
6.Ifseawaterwasused,thetankmustbeimmediatelydesaltedwithfreshwateror
diwater.
Ensurethatthelinesystems,includingtheventsystem,arecleanedoutandfreeof
anyacidremains.
Flushouttheheatingcoilswithfreshwaterandcheckforacidityusinglitmuspaper.

Slopdisposalandarrangements:

Theslopsaretobedisposedaccordingto:Regulationsforcontrolofpollutionbynoxious
liquidsubstancesinbulk,IMO,MARPOLAnnexII.

Acidresistanceofstainlesssteel

Duetovariousresistanceofstainlesssteelmaterialsconsultthespecificmanufacturer's
manual/informationwhennecessary.

Wehavesummarizedbelowsomeofthespecialchemicalcargoesfrequently
carriedonboardchemicaltankers

Handlingbenzene&methanolsafetyprecautions

Handlingcarcinogensrequirementsforcertainchemicalcargoes

HandlingACRYLONITRILEsafetyprecautions

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5/17/2017 Sulphuricacidloading,carrying&dischargingSpecialhandlingmethods

handlingISOCYANATESsafetyprecautions

handlingSulfuricacidsafetyprecautions

handlingPhenolsafetyprecautions

HazardsofPhenolsafehandlingofPhenolonchemicaltankers.

MarinetransportationofPhenolandmoresafetyguideline

Handlingbenzene&methanolsafetyprecautions

Requirementsofvariousgradechemicalcargoheating

Followingdetailpagesexplainallliquidchemicalhazards&precautionarymeasureswhile
carryingatsea.

1.Toxicologyandassociatedhazardsonboardchemicaltankers
2.Hazardsofvapourgivenoffbyaflammableliquidwhilecarryingatsea
3.Reactivityofvariousnoxiousliquidchemicals
4.Mostcorrosivechemicalscarriedonboardchemicaltankers
5.Whatisputrefactionprocessofliquidchemicals?
6.Specificgravity,Vapourpressureandboilingpoint,Electrostaticcharging&
measuringViscosity
7.Generalprecautionsonboardchemicaltankers
8.Mooringprecautionsonboardchemicaltankers
9.Berthprecautionsonboardchemicaltankers
10.Coldweathercountermeasures,avoidingelectricstorms
11.Restrictiononusingradioequipmentsandothermobiledevicesincargoworking
areas
12.Handlingprecautionsforcarcinogensorcyanidelikesubstances
13.Meansofaccess(gangwaysoraccommodationladders)safetyprecautions
14.Preparationsforhotworkandsafetyprecautions
15.Precautionsagainststaticelectricity

Followingreferencepublicationsprovideusefulguidanceandinternationalregulationsfor
carryinghazardouschemicalsatsea.

SOLAS(latestconsolidatededition)
MARPOL73/78(latestconsolidatededition)
BCH/IBCCode

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5/17/2017 Sulphuricacidloading,carrying&dischargingSpecialhandlingmethods

InternationalSafetyGuideforOilTankersandTerminals(ISGOTT)
TankerSafetyGuide(Chemicals)
ShiptoShipTransferGuide(Petroleum)
SafetyinOilTankers
SafetyinChemicalTankers
IMDGCode
SupplementtoIMDGCode(IncludingMFAGandEms)
SOPEP
CleanSeasGuideforOilTankers
FOSFA(forOils,SeedsandFats)
PreventionofOilSpillagethroughCargoPumproomSeaValves
CHRISGuide(USCG)
ChemicalDataGuideforBulkShipmentbyWater(CondensedChris)
MSDSforparticularcargocarried
ChemicalTankCleaningGuide

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