Maritime shipping companies are facing increased pressure to limit their time at port and maximize cost savings. Chemical tanker cleaning is a rigorous component of safe cargo handling, and if not done correctly, can lead to environmental safety hazards, ruined cargoes and delays, further driving time in port and unnecessary costs.
INTERTANKO, the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have established standardizations and guidelines, under frameworks like MARPOL Annex II and the IBC Code, that require specific cleaning procedures and documentation which need approval before loading the next cargo.
Chartering and operations often have competing interests, with operations focused more on completing procedures safely, and chartering more focused on contract terms and limiting time at port. Having the right digital tools in place is key to achieving both teams’ goals and successfully managing all the risks that come with preparing tanks for volatile cargoes.
Milbros, the industry’s most reliable and extensive database of liquid bulk products, is transforming traditional cleaning practices with a safer, more efficient approach. With Milbros UV Graphs, charterers, shipowners, and surveyors can maintain compliance while growing their bottom line.
How UV spectrophotometry is powering a sustainable future
As the maritime industry embraces digitalization and the power of data, a relatively new technology—the spectrophotometer—is gaining popularity.
A spectrophotometer is a tool onboard ships that accepts a sample of the residue, or wash water, from the tank. The machine measures the absorbance of light at different wavelengths, including the ultraviolet (UV) range.
Traditional cargo handling involves wall wash analysis, which requires crew to enter confined spaces to sample various sections of the tank, exposing them to harmful chemicals that can result in crewing incidents. The wash water analysis allows commercial operators and crew to perform inspections remotely, limiting the total number of times they have to physically enter the tanks.
Partnered with a UV graph, the data will show how much UV light is absorbed at specific wavelengths, helping you identify any remaining contaminants. Milbros offers at least 250 of these UV graphs with the number expected to rise. How it works, is you’ll choose your desired chemical to test and download the chart, where you’ll enter the data from the spectrophotometer to populate a graph. If the graph’s reading is below 100ppm, then the tank is clean. If not, the graph will indicate how much chloride, hydrocarbons, etcetera could still be present.
Try entering the data yourself by downloading our free chart on acetic acid here.
How Milbros UV Graphs can help maritime companies gain a competitive advantage
Chemical and oil shipping companies are more focused than ever on meeting their ESG goals, but the complex nature of cargo handling can make it difficult to drive these sustainability initiatives forward. Milbros UV Graphs can help you establish a competitive advantage in the market, positioning you favorably to charterers with similar green values.
Here are three quick wins that UV graphs can help you achieve:
- Limit the release of hazardous chemicals
Milbros UV Graphs can detect remaining contaminants in real time, helping crew members adjust how much time they’re spending cleaning the tanks. Because the tool assists with cleaning only to the required level, they can avoid overusing cleaning products and releasing additional fumes into the environment, Additionally, chemical and oil shipping companies can maintain compliance by limiting their emissions to align with environmental standards.
- Prevent crewing incidents across your fleet and improve fatality across the industry
Despite wearing special personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering the tanks, crew members still put their health at risk as they must work efficiently and take many breaks to limit their chemical exposure.
UV graphs are a safer alternative because they reduce the need for multiple tank entries, keeping your workers safe and opening you up to future opportunities and growth.
- Reduce time and regulatory costs with accurate reporting
UV graphs provide the accuracy you need to stop overcleaning and meet full regulatory compliance—all while saving time and money on each voyage.
Instead of it taking four hours to clean one-to-two tanks, UV graphs could help you cut it down to three hours. For ships with 20 to 40 tanks onboard, you could shave an entire day or two off your in-port turnaround time. If we can shorten a two-day period to 1.5 days cleaning 22 stainless steel tanks, then we could save a total of $20K USD off in-port operations.
Milbros UV Graphs are also trusted by many surveyors as a valid proof of tanker inspection, providing a huge advantage to speeding the approval process. Instead of paying $1K USD for a physical inspection, you could save 90% by paying $100 to submit a UV graph via email.
Safety, efficiency, and compliance is the future of chemical tanker cleaning
Although spectrophotometers are already the norm for major chemical and oil companies, such as MOL Chemical Tankers, more and more small-to-mid-size companies are starting to see the value of UV spectrophotometry.
As a leader in tanker management, Milbros can assist companies with meeting regulations and standards set by the IMO, OCIMF, and INTERTANKO. Milbros UV Graphs provide the validated testing, extensive chemical information, and industry expertise that charterers, shipowners, and other maritime personnel need to ensure safe cargo handling while growing its bottom line.
Visit https://veson.com/products/milbros/ to learn how you can safely clean cargo tanks while minimizing port congestion and growing your cost savings.
Jay Campbell
Russ Hubbard
Aidan Williams