Tank Sweeping on Chemical Tankers / Vegetable Oil / #tanksweeping #chemicaltankers #palmoilsqueezing
Vegetable/Palm Oil is usually transported in the international trades on board chemical tankers with stainless steel or coated tanks in segmented parcels. In the domestic and short sea trades it is often carried in smaller and less sophisticated tankers with mild steel and uncoated tanks. The risk of next cargo contamination due to inadequate previous cargo tank cleaning exists in both trades, along with the risk of regulatory non-compliance due to improper tank washings disposal to the sea.
Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) and Palm Acid Oil: ruins the coatings of Cargo Tanks, due to its acidic characteristic. Same should never be loaded in coated or partially coated tank. Also, suggest loading in tanks closest to pumproom, as possible to cater to its high heat requirements and enable easier discharging. Attempts should be made to discharge this cargo first so that the pipelines , and cargo pumps can be automatically cleaned of residues with lighter grade cargoes. Where center tanks are not coated, such high heat cargoes should be loaded in them to get an insulation effect from wing tanks (and double bottom tanks where exist).
Palm Stearin: is another high heat cargo and should be stowed in tanks as close as possible to Pumproom and preferably in center tanks. Stearin products do not damage the coatings but tend to leave heavy sediments in tanks after discharge. All cargo pumps and pipelines used for discharge should be thoroughly blown through to ensure nil deposits.
Palm Olein: is the simplest of grade. Same suggested to load in forward tanks, especially wing tanks, as does not require much heating. Also, this product does not pose any difficulty in discharging. However, blowing of cargo lines with air is a standard procedure after discharge.
Crude Palm Oil: is an average heated cargo. Same does not pose difficulty in discharging. However, manual squeezing of all tanks would be required when tanks are being stripped. This product can be loaded in wings or center tanks, including coated tanks.
