What is crude oil washing system?

What is crude oil washing system?

Crude oil washing (COW) is a system whereby oil tanks on a tanker are cleaned out between voyages not with water, but with crude oil – the cargo itself. The solvent action of the crude oil makes the cleaning process far more effective than when water is used.

How is crude oil washing done?

Crude oil washing (COW) is washing out the residue from the oil tanker using the crude oil cargo itself, after the cargo tanks have been emptied. Crude oil is pumped back and preheated in the slop tanks, then sprayed back via high pressure nozzles in the cargo tanks onto the walls of the tank.

What are the precautions for crude oil washing?

Precautions to be taken while Crude Oil Washing:

  • Commencing washing with large accumulations of oil remaining in the tank.
  • Adding chemical agents to the tank washing water.
  • Recirculating tank washing water.
  • Washing large cargo tanks (greater that 10,000 cubic meters).

How many tanks should be crude oil washed?

Crude oil washing was made mandatory under MARPOL Annex 1 regulation 13 which states that every crude oil tanker which is 20000 dwt and above must be fitted with COW system for every cargo hold tank.

What are the advantages of crude oil washing system?

Substantial reduction in air pollution capacity since less oil continues to be aboard after discharge and also much less oil-contaminated water is handed throughout the ballast passage. Increased cargo out turn. Decreased storage tank rust caused by water washing. Reduction in time and cost of tank cleaning.

Which one is a disadvantage of crude oil washing?

Disadvantages of crude oil washing It does not eliminate completely the need to clean tanks with salt water whether it be for clean ballast or for entering a repair yard. The ship’s pipelines cannot be gas freed.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of crude oil washing?

CRUDE OIL WASHING MANUAL

  • Advantages of Crude Oil Washing:  Increase Cargo outturn.  Reduce Sludge Accumulation.
  • Disadvantages of Crude oil Washing:  Does not Eliminate water washing.  Need for additional equipment.
  • Parts of COW System:  Pumps ( Dedicated pumps or Cargo Pumps )

What is IBC Code?

International Building Code
The International Building Code (IBC) is a model building code developed by the International Code Council (ICC). It has been adopted for use as a base code standard by most jurisdictions in the United States.

What is BCH and IBC Code?

(BCH Code) Under regulation 11 of MARPOL Annex II , chemical tankers constructed before 1 July 1986 must comply with the requirements of the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code) – the predecessor of the IBC Code.

What is the latest IBC Code?

As such, the current version of the IBC is the 2021 edition, also known as ICC IBC-2021.