In the instances cited, the terminal had insisted on a closed loading procedure meaning that all tank lids and butterworth hatches be closed. The terminal then delivered high pressure nitrogen purging, padding, line clearing and cargo to the ship without the vessel knowing the delivery volume or pressure.

While the consequences initially are the owner's problem, cargo owners, the facility, hull and machinery underwriters and P&I are all affected.

In standard tanker voyage charterparties - and in particular ASBATANKVOY - the risk of pumping in the cargo is on the charterers. Clause 10 of part 2 of this charterparty states:

Whilst this may be of some comfort to owners from the legal and insurance point of view, the obligation to operate a safe system as well as loss of time, repair costs and risk to crew, are in the first instance, owner's concern.

The advice to chemical tanker owners must therefore centre on managing the nitrogen risks which includes seeking information about nitrogen delivery rates and pressures used by shore facilities, and operating a system of pressure monitoring. This may include monitoring of the tank vapour space volume and nitrogen entry point, opening the ullage hatches/lids (for purging) and having pressure control regulators and flow control valves/PV valves.

Source of Information:

+44 (0)20 7452 4000