A chemical may react in a number of ways; with itself, with water, with air, with other chemicals or with other materials.
Self-reaction:
The most common form of self-reaction is polymerisation. Polymerisation generally results in the conversion of gases or
liquids into viscous liquids or solids. It may be a slow, natural process which only degrades the product without posing any
safety hazards to the ship or the crew, or it may be a rapid, exothermic reaction evolving large amounts of heat and gases.
Heat
produced by the process can accelerate it. Such a reaction is called a run-off polymerisation that poses a serious danger to both
the ship and its personnel. Products that are susceptible to polymerisation are normally transported with added inhibitors to
prevent the onset of the reaction.
An inhibited cargo certificate should be provided to the ship before a cargo is carried.
The action to be taken in case of a polymerisation situation occurring while the cargo is on board should be covered by the
ship's emergency contingency plan.
Reaction with water
Certain cargoes react with water in a way that could pose a danger to both the ship and its personnel. Toxic gases may be
evolved. The most noticeable examples are the isocyanates; such cargoes are carried under dry and inert condition. Other
cargoes react with water in a slow way that poses no safety hazard, but the reaction may produce small amounts of chemicals
that can damage equipment or tank materials, or can cause oxygen depletion.
Certain chemical cargoes, mostly ethers and aldehydes, may react with oxygen in air or in the chemical to form unstable
oxygen compounds (peroxides) which, if allowed to build up, could cause an explosion. Such cargoes can be either inhibited
by an anti-oxidant or carried under inert conditions.
Reaction with other cargoes
Some cargoes react dangerously with one another. Such cargoes should be stowed away from each other (not in adjacent
tanks) and prevented from mixing by using separate loading, discharging and venting systems. When planning the cargo
stowage, the master must use a recognised compatibility guide to ensure that cargoes stowed adjacent to each other are
compatible.
Reaction with other materials
The materials used in construction of the cargo systems must be compatible with the cargo to be carried, and care must be
taken to ensure that no incompatible materials are used or introduced during maintenance (e.g. by the material used for
replacing gaskets). Some materials may trigger a self-reaction within the product. In other cases, reaction with certain alloys
will be non-hazardous to ship or crew, but can impair the commercial quality of the cargo or render it unusable.
Heat adjacent
The maximum temperature of adjacent cargo permitted for each cargo to be loaded shall be
obtained from shippers when handling heated cargo. In addition, care shall be taken to avoid
indirect heating of adjacent cargoes and bulkheads during hot water washing of adjacent
tanks.
Related info
- Toxicology and associated hazards onboard chemical tankers
Toxicity is the ability of a substance, when inhaled, ingested, or absorbed by the skin, to cause damage to living tissue, impairment of the central nervous system, severe illness or, in extreme cases, death. The amounts of exposure required to produce these results vary widely with the nature of the substance and the duration of exposure to it.
....
- Hazards of vapour given off by a flammable liquid while carrying at sea
Vapour given off by a flammable liquid will burn when ignited provided it is mixed with certain proportions of air, or more accurately with the oxygen in air. But if there is too little or too much vapour compared to the air, so that the vapour-and-air mixture is either too lean or too rich, it will not burn.
....
- Reactivity of various noxious liquid chemicals
Self-reaction: The most common form of self-reaction is polymerisation. Polymerisation generally results in the conversion of gases or liquids into viscous liquids or solids. It may be a slow, natural process which only degrades the product without posing any safety hazards to the ship or the crew, or it may be a rapid, exothermic reaction evolving large amounts of heat and gases.
.....
- Most corrosive chemicals carried onboard chemical tankers
Acids, anhydrides and alkalis are among the most commonly carried corrosive substances. They can rapidly destroy human tissue and cause irreparable damage. They can also corrode normal ship construction materials, and create a safety hazard for a ship.....
- Posoning hazards & first aid treatment
The poison is a very toxic substance which when absorbed into the human body by ingestion, skin absorption, or inhalation produces a serious or fatal effect. Poison may enter the human body orally, by inhalation, or by skin contact. After being absorbed by the body it may affect certain organs or give a general poisonous effect. Lately the cancerogene effects of some industrial chemicals have been noticed. This has led to significant reductions of hereto accepted TLV- values in many countries.....
- Specific gravity,Vapour pressure and
boiling point,Electrostatic charging & measuring Viscosity
Tanks on a Chemical Tanker are normally designed to load cargoes of a higher specific gravity than an oil tanker. Very often the design strength differs between groups of tanks on the same ship.
....
- General precautions onboard chemical tankers
Additional precautions for specific cargoes are necessary and should also be incorporated in the ship’s cargo handling procedures....
- Mooring precautions onboard chemical tankers
The consequences of a chemical tanker ranging along a jetty or breaking away from a berth could be disastrous, especially during a cargo transfer involving multiple different chemicals. Correct and sufficient mooring is therefore of the utmost importance.
- Berth precautions onboard chemical tankers
If an unauthorised craft comes alongside or operates in an area which may create a danger, it should be reported to the port authority and, if necessary, cargo transfer operations should cease.
.....
- Cold weather countermeasures, avoiding electric storms
During cold weather, precautions should be taken to prevent equipment and systems from freezing. Attention should be given to pneumatic valves and control systems, fire lines and hydrants, steam driven equipment, cargo heating systems, pressure/vacuum valves etc......
- Restriction on using radio equipments and other mobile devices in cargo
working areas
During medium and high frequency radio transmissions significant energy is radiated, which can create a danger of incendive sparking by inducing an electrical potential in unearthed steelwork.
- Securing cargo tank lids and required safety precautions
Improper closing and sealing of cargo tank hatches can be a major cause of cargo contamination. A properly closed and sealed tank hatch/opening will prevent sea water ingress and maintain a positive pressure Nitrogen blanket in the ullage space. ....
- Means of access (gangways or accommodation ladders) safety precautions
Emergency towing-off wires ( fire wires)
,Ship’s readiness to move
Deckhouses and superstructures safety precautions
.....
- Precautions against static electricity
Static electricity is generated by friction that occurs between different materials during relative motion. Electrostatic charges can then accumulate in materials which are poor conductors of electricity or which are good conductors but are insulated.....
- Cargo tank entry safety precautions
On chemical tankers the entry of personnel into cargo tanks is a more common practice than on oil tankers as a result of the requirement for inspections between grades etc; despite this, it is essential that the necessary checks are conscientiously made and recorded prior to entry in order to ensure the safety of personnel, enclosed space rescue equipment must be made ready for immediate use.
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