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8. INERT GAS
8.1 General
Hydrocarbon gas cannot be ignited in an atmosphere containing less than about 12% oxygen
by volume.
Cargo spaces, which are kept inerted to a level of 8% oxygen or less are thus protected from
fire and explosion.
The company places the highest degree of importance on the continuous availability of inert
gas and on its correct use.
Cargo spaces and slop tanks are to be kept in a properly inerted condition at all times except
when required to be gas free for entry in to these spaces.
No transfer of oil cargoes or slops and no tank cleaning operations are permitted unless the
inert gas system is working properly.
8.2 Responsibility
Master has the overall responsibility for the safe and proper operation of the inert gas plant.
C/O is responsible for the use of the inert gas and control of cargo tank atmospheres and
pressures, including the setting of all valves on deck.
C/E is responsible for the technical maintenance of the complete inert gas plant.
8.3 Inert gas, system manual
The inert gas system manual for each individual ship should be consulted for exact details of
operational and maintenance procedures of the inert gas system fitted onboard.
8.4 Inert gas plant, oxygen analyser calibration.
Every time the inert gas plant is beeing used the inert gas oxygen analyser must be calibrated.
The records of this calibration shall be recorded in the engine log book.
8.5 Inert gas plant, oxygen analyser repeaters and recorders.
All repeaters and recorders for the oxygen content in the inert gas, must be synchronized to
show the value indicated on the inert gas oxygen analyser repeater, before the system is taken
in to use.
8.6 Inert gas, before loading.
Prior to arrival at a facility for loading, all empty tanks are to be inerted to an extent that the
empty tanks do not contain more than maximum 8% oxygen by volume.
Prior to arrival at a facility for loading a check is to be made with a portable oxygen analyser
to ensure that they do not contain more than maximum 8% oxygen by volume.
If the port facility has more stringent regulations concerning oxygen content, the ports
regulations are to be followed.
The inert gas plant must be operated to inert any cargo tanks that require to be de-ballasted
prior to loading.
8.7 Inert gas, during loading.
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During loading the inert gas plant will be shut down and the deck main isolating valve closed.
The by-pass valves to the pressure / vacuum relief system should be closed immediately on
completion of loading in order to keep a slight positive pressure in the cargo tanks.
8.8 Inert gas, during sea passage.
During sea passage a slight positive pressure should be maintained in the ullage spaces of the
cargo tanks to avoid the ingress of air through the p/v valves.
To maintain a positive pressure in the cargo tanks, the inert gas plant should be operated for
periods during sea passage, if needed.
8.9 Inert gas, during discharge.
The inert gas plant must be started prior to commencement of discharge and operated
continuously throughout the whole discharge until the ship is finished with cargo operations.
The main inert gas blower should have a higher capacity than the total pumping capacity of
the cargo pumps, to enable a positive pressure to be maintained in the tanks at all times.
If the cargo tanks are to be ballasted, the inert gas plant must first be shut down and the main
deck isolating valve closed.
8.10 Inert gas, during crude oil washing and tank cleaning
Prior to the commencement of crude oil washing or tank cleaning with water the atmosphere
in each tank to be washed must first be checked with a portable oxygen analyser and the
oxygen content established as being 8% by volume or less in the whole tank.
If the facility for discharge has more stringent regulations for oxygen content before crude oil
washing, then the facilities regulations are to be followed.
Testing should be made at three different levels in each tank and, where possible, from more
than one sampling point.
Inert gas must be supplied to the tanks throughout the crude oil washing or tank cleaning.
8.11 Inert gas, during gas freeing
If any tanks are required to be gas freed they must first be purged with inert gas to reduce the
hydrocarbon gas content to a maximum of 2% by volume as determined by a properly
calibrated measurement device, able to measure in an inert athmosphere.
The purpose of inerting the space is to reduce the hydrocarbon gas content to be below the
critical dilution line so that subsequent introductions of air will not result in a flammable
mixture developing.
8.12 Inert gas safety controls
The inert gas control panel provides constant information regarding system pressures together
with high and low pressure alarms.
The inert gas control panel must not be switched off at any time when the ship has petroleum
cargo or slops on board nor if in a ”dirty ballast” condition, i.e. there is ballast water in not
clean cargo tanks
The deck water seal, is the ultimate safety barrier between the cargo system and the engine
room and it is essential that the water is kept at the correct level at all times.
8.13 Inert gas, system failure
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In the event of a failure to supply a positive pressure of good quality inert gas, all cargo, de-
ballasting and tank cleaning, operations must be stopped immediately and action taken to
prevent any air being drawn into the tanks.
The main deck isolation valve, all vents and ullage ports must be shut, and the vent valves
between the deck isolation valve and the gas pressure regulating valve, (if fitted), opened to
atmosphere.
Inert gas passing through the distribution system can generate static electrical charges, which
are passed into cargo tanks or holds. With a constantly inert atmosphere this does not present
a hazard, as combustion cannot take place.
However if air has entered the system a resumption of inerting could introduce potentially
dangerous charge levels and therefore during re-inerting, no ullaging, sampling or dipping
equipment or portable tank cleaning machines may be inserted until it has been positively
established that the tank or hold is inert.
This should be done by first monitoring the oxygen content of the efflux gas from tank or
hold being inerted. After constant readings of less than 8% by volume have been obtained
over a 30 minute period a sampling line should be used to check that oxygen levels within the
tank or hold are also below 8% by volume.
No tank cleaning operations will take place, without permission from the company. In the
event of such permission being received, additional precautions as laid down in chapter 8.3 of
IMO publication ”inert gas systems for oil tankers” must be used.
If case of a total failure of the inert gas system and if the cargo carried requires that the tanks
are maintained in an inerted condition, all cargo operations must immediately be stopped.
In a case where the inert gas cannot be supplied by the ship´s inert gas plant due to a
malfunction in the ship´s system, an external supply of inert gas must be connected to the
ship's system, to avoid air being drawn into the cargo tanks.
Cargo operations may not be resumed until the ship´s own inert gas system is fully
operational, or an external inert gas supply is fully operational.
If a failure occurs in the inert gas system, which requires a change in the normal procedures,
the company must be contacted immediately.
8.14 Hydrocarbon / O2 flammable mixture diagram
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16
B
14 --
12 --
D
10 --
8 --
6 --
FLAMMABLE
4 -- ZONE
E
2 --
C
0 I I I I I I I I I I A I
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
21%
Oxygen - percentage by volume
Hydrocarbon air mixtures without inert gas lie on the line AB the slope of which reflects the
production in oxygen content as the hydrocarbon content increases. Points to the left of AB
represent mixtures with their oxygen content further reduced by the additional of inert gas.
The lower and upper flammability mixtures for hydrocarbon gas in air are represented by the
points C and D. As the inert gas content increases the flammability converge at point E. Only
those mixtures represented by points in the shaded area within the loop C-E-D are capable of
burning.
In the diagram changes of composition due to the addition of either air or inert gas are
represented by movements along straight lines directed either towards point A (pure air), or
towards a point on the oxygen content axis corresponding to the composition of the added
inert gas.
