11 January 2012

Technical eNewsletter
mesG test requirements for devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo tanks
(applies to ships issued with a certificate of fitness for the carriage of dangerous chemicals in Bulk)

The amendments to the revised standards for the design, testing and location of devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo tanks in tankers (MSC.1/Circ.1324) define the test media to be used when determining the appropriate Maximum Experimental Safe Gap (MESG) value for the flame preventing device.
Depending on their physical properties and thereof assigned carriage requirements (apparatus group in this case), flammable chemicals (FP60C) subject to the IBC Code will require the cargo tank to be fitted with flame preventing devices approved for the products MESG value. These amendments take effect as follows: Newbuildings: ships keel-laid on or after 1 January 2013 Existing ships: first scheduled dry docking after 1 January 2013 New requiremeNt In order to carry chemicals that require electrical equipment apparatus group IIB or IIC once the new amendments become applicable to a ship, the MESG value for which devices such as P/V valves, gas-freeing covers and flame arresters protecting a cargo tank are approved has to be documented according to the revised standard. The required apparatus group for a product is given in column (i) in chapter 17 of the IBC code or in MEPC.2/circ.17 Annex 1 and Annex 3*. impact for owNers aNd yards As a consequence of the MESG testing requirements, ships keel-laid before 1 January 2013 which are currently certified for the carriage of chemicals assigned apparatus group IIB or IIC will need to document the MESG value of their flame preventing devices no later than at the first dry docking which occurs after 1 January 2013. Alternatively, a revised Certificate of Fitness product list may be issued, excluding those products that require apparatus group IIB and IIC. The documentation will be reviewed and the devices verified as part of the periodical Chemical Code survey. Existing ships with an NLS Certificate (Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) for the carriage of chapter 18 products only** and ships that have a Certificate of Fitness but are not certified to carry products requiring apparatus group IIB or IIC will not be affected and no further action is required. New ships keel-laid on or after 1 January 2013 must have the appropriate flame preventing devices which meet the requirements of the cargoes intended for carriage fitted before delivery. steps to take To assist customers, DNV will issue an RR (Retroactive Requirement) to ships certified for the carriage of products requiring apparatus group IIB or IIC if DNV has issued the Certificate of Fitness. However, as some ships may be omitted, ship owners are urged to check whether or not their ships are affected, and to take the appropriate action. This can be done by simply checking whether any IIB products are listed on the current Certificate of Fitness. Acceptable documentation can be the type approval certificate, laboratory report (which should be included in the manufacturers instruction manual) or MED certification. The MESG value may also be printed on the nameplate of the device itself or specified in P/V-valve flow curves. For a tank fitted with devices that have different MESG values, e.g. pressurevacuum valve combinations or gas-freeing covers, the highest MESG value is the governing one. We strongly recommend examining the documentation in time and assessing whether further steps need to be taken. If it is unclear whether or not a device meets a required standard, you are advised to contact the maker of the device.
* The correct information has now been assigned to most of the approximately 140 products for which the electrical equipment information was previously missing (MSC.1/ Circ.1325). These corrections are shown in Annex 1 of MEPC.2/Circ.17 and will take effect with the next amendment to the IBC code, which is expected to enter into force on 1 July 2014. ** Offshore support vessels may have chapter 17 products listed on their NLS certificate. Those products will be subject as well if the apparatus group is IIB or IIC.

For more information, please contact DNV GCSNO861, Safety Systems GCSNO861@dnv.com MSC.1/Circ.1324 MSC.1/Circ.1325 MEPC.2/Circ.17 IBC Code Chapter 17 IBC Code Chapter 18 More newsletters from DNV: www.dnv.com/newsletters

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