For detailed information regarding Safety consult the statutory and industry guidelines such as MARPOL, SOLAS, ISGOTT, CTSG, etc

Hazards

Typical hazards that exist during Tank Cleaning and related activities are:

• Flammable cargoes
• Reactive cargoes
  Self reactive
  Reactive with other cargoes
  Reaction with oxygen
  Reaction with water
• Corrosive cargoes
• Toxic cargoes
• Solidifying cargoes
• High Viscosity cargoes
• Asphyxiation as a consequence of breathing Nitrogen

Tank entry

To verify the result of the cleaning operation the tank and all other equipment that was in contact with the cargo must be inspected. This can usually only be performed by entering the tank. All standards and procedures related to tank entry have to be followed strictly.

Static electricity

Cargoes that are known to be static accumulators could generate substantial electrical charges during:

Loading / discharging
Tank cleaning by machine washing
Tank cleaning by Recirculation of cleaning agents
Tank cleaning by Injection of cleaning agents
Tank cleaning by Steaming

Before such cargoes are cleaned from, with the methods described above, in what is an undefined atmosphere, all precautions for avoiding electrical charge accumulation have to be applied carefully.

An adequate risk assessment based on the management of electrical discharge and subsequent explosion must be executed not only for the cargo tanks being cleaned but also the service tank, used for the supply and/or heating of cleaning chemicals. Typical precautions include as a minimum, the determination of whether the previous cargo is a static accumulator and cargo tank flammability/oxygen content measurement during cleaning,