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Reactivity of noxious liquid chemicals while carrying at sea

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

1. 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. ....

2. 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. ....

3. 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. .....

4. 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.....

5. 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.....
6. 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. ....

7. General precautions onboard chemical tankers

Additional precautions for specific cargoes are necessary and

should also be incorporated in the ship’s cargo handling
procedures....

8. 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.

9. 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.
.....

10. 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......

11. 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.

12. 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. ....

13. 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 .....

14. 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.....

15. 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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