Tanker fleet operations are a complex and challenging facet of the shipping industry. These vessels are among the largest moving objects ever built, carrying multi-million-dollar assets and often transporting valuable, volatile, and hazardous cargoes. In this competitive landscape, operational efficiency is paramount, and margins can be razor-thin. Safety is the highest priority at every stage of cargo handling, from loading and unloading to cleaning. Any mistakes can have disastrous consequences for the crew, the vessel, and the environment.

To address these challenges, Milbros has been providing essential information and expertise to streamline the handling of chemical and oil commodities. And now, we’re excited to introduce a new feature that will further enhance the efficiency and safety of these operations: the CPP additives database.

The CPP Additives Database: Enhancing Efficiency and Safety

Developed with a specific focus on product tankers, the CPP additives database within Milbros offers a centralized repository of vital information to facilitate the safe execution of cargo doping onboard. This database is a game-changer for tanker fleet operations, providing specialized information, such as coating restrictions (Max PPM levels) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for individual additives. Let’s delve deeper into the significance of this database.

Understanding Cargo Doping and Additives   

In the realm of tanker fleet operations, additives play a crucial role. These substances are added to petroleum products for various reasons, primarily to maintain the correct specifications and quality. Additives are also employed to protect the product from tank coating or the types of steel in which it is stored. Additionally, they can make the product easier to pump at different temperatures or conditions.

The cargo owner’s chemist or responsible blender makes the decision to add an additive and determine the quantity to be added. This information is then passed on to the surveyor accountable for supervising the doping operation. While the ship’s crew is not responsible for calculating additive quantities, they play an essential role in assisting the surveyor to ensure a uniform and safe end result.

In some cases, ships may be tasked with carrying additives onboard in drums or cans to the final destination of the main cargo, where they are handed over to the receiver at the discharge port. In such scenarios, it is crucial that the ship has comprehensive and timely knowledge of the additive.

The Role of the CPP Additives Database

Milbros’ CPP additives database is designed to bridge these knowledge gaps and ensure the efficient and safe execution of cargo doping operations. Here’s how it benefits tanker fleet operations:

• Safety Information: The database provides Safety Data Sheets (SDS) with essential safety information for each additive. This ensures that operators and ships have the correct safety guidelines at hand, minimizing delays due to missing safety information.
• Coating Limitations: The database outlines coating restrictions for each additive, including maximum Parts Per Million (PPM) levels. This information is crucial for preventing damage to tank coatings.
• Efficiency: By having all the required information readily available, tanker operators can save valuable time and ensure swift operations.
• Specialization: The database focuses on the needs of product tanker clients, offering them a comprehensive tool for finding the required information quickly and efficiently.
• Extensive Coverage: Currently, the database contains information on approximately 100 of the most commonly used additives in the industry, ensuring its relevance and utility.

Commitment to Maritime Safety

At Veson, we take maritime safety seriously. We understand that our clients rely on us to help them control risks when handling liquid bulk cargo and cleaning tanks. Safety is not just a business requirement; it’s a moral responsibility. To ensure we remain at the forefront of maritime safety, we continuously monitor and adapt to the evolving landscape of chemical and oil transportation safety.

Our mission is to empower you with the information and tools you need to navigate the challenging waters of tanker fleet operations safely and effectively. Book a free demo to learn more about how Milbros can enhance your tanker fleet operations and contribute to your commitment to safety and efficiency.

Author: Capt. Caspar Lavall – Principal Product Manager – Milbros

The post Streamlining Tanker Fleet Operations: Introducing Milbros’ CPP Additives Database appeared first on Q88.

That’s where Milbros comes in.

For many years, the Milbros platform has supported the chemical tanker sector in ensuring the utmost operational safety. The software is well-known for putting need-to-know chemical cargo information at the fingertips of every user. Its reliability and invaluable nature have made it the top trusted platform for the industry’s leading tanker operators.

For the past thirteen years, Capt. Soren Ibsen served as Q88’s Vice President of Milbros Systems, and in December, Capt. Ibsen stepped down from his position to retire. On that note, Capt. Lavall joined Q88 in June of 2022 filling the role of Milbros Product Manager.

Capt.Laval brings a wealth of experience from his 25+ years in the chemical tanker industry—both seagoing and shoreside. Adding to his long list of experiences in tanker operating companies, Capt. Lavall has also been a longtime user and advocate for the Milbros platform. With Capt. Lavall onboard, we know it will be smooth sailing from here.

We sat down with Capt. Lavall to discuss his aspirations for his new role and the future of Milbros.

Now that you are officially part of team Q88, what are your plans for Milbros?

Firstly, I am proud to be part of the team and to continue the legacy that Capt. Soren Ibsen has created. He has made the Milbros product very well-known in the tanker space and earned his widespread recognition as the face of Milbros.

For me, in addition to continuing his legacy, I bring new perspectives and will draw upon my experiences to evolve the system and continuously better it for users. Direct communication with the customer and the end user is also very important to me, so customer meetings are my first port of call in the coming months. Capt. Ibsen and I took many customer meetings together before his retirement, aiming to make the transition between us as seamless as possible and ensure that our customers know that they are in safe hands with me as the new Product Manager for Milbros.

Trying to assist customers with their challenges and making their lives easier is what gets me out of bed in the morning. Making the impossible, possible is part of my working mindset. In fact, I had a stamp for the back of my business cards with that exact phrase! I believe that with the right knowledge, many things that seem impossible can be made possible. When people say something cannot be done, I find a way to assist people and enable their success. I’ll bring this approach to Milbros and to helping our customers–particularly with technical queries.

How will you ensure Milbros remains ahead of chemical tanker operator needs?

That’s a really good question. Capt. Ibsen was a very active member of many regulatory forums and groups, including the US Coast Guard’s National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (NCTSAC) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). I will step into his roles in these regulatory communities to ensure that Q88 and Milbros remain at the forefront of what’s coming for chemical tanker operators from a regulatory perspective.

During my time as Head of Operations for Team Tankers, I served on the INTERTANKO Chemical Tanker Committee. This is one of many INTERTANKO committees, but is a very important one—participants see all proposed rules and regulations in advance and have their say in influencing them. I will continue to attend this forum in my new role as well.

Can you tell us a bit more about your background in the chemical tanker sector?

I started my career as a cadet when I was eighteen, sailing shortsea tankers. Following my studies at marine college I joined the Danish Navy as an operations officer and stayed for 22 months, slightly longer than the conscript period.

After I left the Navy, I sailed on shortsea tankers once again for Herning Shipping and Wonsild Tankers via EMS (Eitzen Maritime Services) Ship Management.

During my time with EMS, I quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the youngest captain in the company at the age of 27. I officially took command of a chemical tanker a month later when I turned 28. My career also took a turn into shore-based roles as a Marine Superintendent, dealing with the vetting aspects of the industry, and it also took me to work on ship building projects in China. That was until the global recession hit in 2009. 

Back in Copenhagen, I took another shore-based role—this time as Manager of Operations and Engineering for Oiltanking Copenhagen A/S at their Copenhagen terminal. At that time, there had been some bad accidents within that industry. So, equipped with an unlimited budget, it was my job to avoid ending up on CNN breaking news. We worked to enhance safety by refurbishing the terminal and implementing new safety procedures.

Eventually I went back to sailing as a Chief Officer with D/S Norden. I then joined Eitzen Chemical, where I was promoted to Head of Operations at their Westport office in Connecticut. I was the youngest person they had seen in this role, but I got to work quickly and earned the respect of my colleagues, changing the way the team worked.

During that time, Eitzen Chemical changed their name to Team Tankers. I was sent down to run a company that Team Tankers purchased in Houston, where I was responsible for overseeing operations. My next stop after Team Tankers was Hafnia, then Stolt Tankers USA, where after one week I had the full number of ships that I needed to manage, and I did not look back.

And we arrive at today—my role as Product Manager, Milbros. This is a new frontier for me and I couldn’t be more excited to bring the experiences from my career to-date to this role.

How was your experience as a user of Milbros?

Interestingly, when I joined Eitzen Chemical, one of my first calls was with Capt. Soren Ibsen. Since then, I have been using Milbros extensively during my commercial operations career.

I have worked with companies who have used their own chemical databases and filled their own proprietary information, which they fed with the products that they transported. I have had experience working across a wide variety of solutions over the course of my career. My overarching belief is that Milbros has so many strong aspects related to safety compared to some other sources, which are not as comprehensive.

I believe that the time savings related to searching for information on cleaning or different particulars for chemicals is an especially crucial feature of Milbros. When a crew hears a chemical name, they can instantly search for and find the correct information within the software. Getting your hands on information very quickly, particularly when the information might not have come down the chain, is critical from both a safety and time perspective. Even after working in the chemical tanker sector for over a quarter of a decade, I still don’t know all of the chemical products transported by sea. Therefore, having access to an up-to-date database for conducting risk assessments for loading products, safe handling, discharging, and tank cleaning after discharging the product is absolutely invaluable.

Compatibility and storage requirements form a big part of what crews search for in Milbros Onboard. All products are registered with a compatibility number as per USCG requirement, so that they can go in and check if they can stow products next to each other and understand the restrictions. Some products, if mixed, will ignite and make the ship into a bomb, and we have unfortunately seen that over the years.

What does the acquisition of Q88 by Veson Nautical mean for Milbros?

One of the reasons Veson acquired Q88 is due to the great number of synergies that exist across the products developed by both companies. I really see these synergies coming to fruition in the future that will combine the data and knowledge between Veson and Q88 products in the Veson IMOS Platform (VIP).

In the tanker sector, there is no one-stop solution, but Veson is working to expand its ecosystem of connected products to support tanker operators.

For me, it’s the perfect time to join the company and to continue the legacy created by Capt. Ibsen. Be sure to watch this space!

The post You’re in Safe Hands: Meet New Milbros Product Manager Capt. Caspar Lavall appeared first on Q88.

Capt. Ibsen has long been known as a chemical tanker industry expert, attending and acting as a key contributor to the IMO/ESPH (PPR Technical Group on the Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards of Chemicals) for the past 18 years. He served as a member of the INTERTANKO Chemical Tanker Committee (CTC) and Chemical Tanker Sub-Committee Americas (CTSCA) during the same period. 

Capt. Ibsen has also served on the board of the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (DGAC) for the last four years, and has been a member and advisor of the council for the past 13 years. In addition, he currently serves as Chair of the National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (NCTSAC), a Federal Advisory Committee to the United States Coast Guard, and will continue in this role in his retirement.  

We are so appreciative of Capt. Ibsen’s expertise, partnership, and work ethic over the years, and we reflect on his many accomplishments while at Q88. Looking back on his career, Capt. Ibsen said, “When I was brought onboard at Q88, shortly after Q88 acquired Milbros, the vision was to make the Milbros system the best liquid cargo database and handling and cleaning guide in the industry. I think it’s safe to say that we achieved that vision in the past 13 years.” Some highlights of Capt. Ibsen’s tenure include:

• Converting the original Milbros Commodity Information System (MCIS) to the current web-based platform. Additions included from/to cleaning recommendations and a booking list/stowage program module. 
• Building and releasing an improved Shipboard program, which easily integrates with the web-version via internet or email. Today, this program is used on over 700 ships. 
• Creating a new Q88 Response Center service to assist ships with chemical spills, as well as chemical and medical emergencies. 
• Updating the Milbros system to comply with the major changes to the IBC Code that took effect January 1, 2021. 
• Launching a variety of new tools within Milbros, including the Phosphoric Acid/Stainless Steel Compatibility Calculation Tool, Styrene Monomer Temperature Log, and Inhibitor Depletion Tool. 
• Helping countless Milbros Premium customers with questions and issues related to regulations, cargo classifications, cargo handling, safety, tank cleaning, and more.

The team at Q88 is incredibly grateful for the years of hard work that Capt. Ibsen has dedicated to Milbros and to the industry, and we congratulate him on his retirement. Capt. Ibsen served as a true partner to our customers over the years, remarking, “I had personal relationships with many key Milbros customers during my tenure, which I have enjoyed greatly. I always aimed to provide quick and useful replies to customers’ questions, and was always happy to hear that my advice and guidance had helped them. It has been a true pleasure to serve our loyal customers, as well as to represent the tanker industry at the IMO and other industry groups.” We extend Capt. Ibsen many thanks and warm wishes as he enters this new chapter.

We are also happy to announce Captain Caspar Lavall will take over as Product Manager, Milbros. Capt. Lavall brings 20+ years of industry expertise, and we are thrilled to have him onboard. Speaking on Capt. Lavall’s appointment, Capt. Ibsen said, “We undertook a long and broad search for my replacement, and we hired Capt. Lavall, who joined the Q88 and Veson team this past June. We have been working together closely over the last six months as he transitions into his new role, and I strongly believe that Milbros is being left in very capable hands.”

The post Captain Soren Ibsen Retiring After 13 Years with Q88 appeared first on Q88.

Although safe handling requirements are made available to chemical transporters, there have been several runaway polymerization incidents over the years that unfortunately result in violent industrial explosions. The most recent being the September 28, 2019 explosion and fire onboard chemical tanker Stolt Groenland in Ulsan, Korea.

Captain Soren Ibsen of Q88 Milbros says, “Styrene Monomer is considered by many to be an “easy” cargo to handle and carry, but with my industry experience and knowledge, I know that to be far from the truth. The industry had lacked proper tools to help chemical tankers safely carry this cargo, and when a ship is unable to accurately monitor the effect of temperature changes it can result in costly and catastrophic outcomes. Milbros has changed that.”

Expanding Value across the Chemical Tanker Industry

Regardless of the industry perception that Styrene Monomer is easy to transport, most likely attributed to the over 30 million metric tons of styrene produced and transported annually, we at Q88 have a different perspective: arm our customers with as many resources and tools as possible to ensure increased safety and protection of those onboard and the environment. Our Styrene Monomer Temperature Log and Inhibitor Depletion Tool is new technology developed by Milbros to provide chemical tankers a temperature log tool that can also calculate the estimated inhibitor depletion to provide current inhibitor levels in each tank. Ship crews and office staff can now have an additional layer of the confidence and peace of mind to carry styrene safely and without incidents. This new technology is available to Milbros Premium subscribers with a Milbros Onboard subscription. Ships with or without internet access can still use the tool, and data can be shared between the master/crew and office.

Access Mission Critical Information to Prevent Potential Disaster:

As stated earlier, Styrene Monomer needs to be inhibited to protect the cargo from polymerizing during transport. The styrene is normally inhibited with 15-25 ppm of TBC (4-tert—Butylcatechol) for a normal voyage duration of 45-60 days. The inhibitor TBC gets depleted over time based on the temperature of the styrene. More easily put, the higher the temperature the faster the depletion and to remain in a safe range the TBC content should always be greater than 10 ppm.

Our technology is calibrated to industry standards, so when you are logged into our Milbros system, you can easily see indicator levels marked in Green when good, Yellow when inhibitor levels are not sufficient for the remainder of the voyage, and Red when inhibitor levels are at dangerously low levels. Easily click into each level reading for more detailed information and to see the daily logs to monitor more closely.

Information is entered by the ship on a daily basis, and this information will be immediately available for office staff to investigate, monitor and review as required.

This tool will also give warnings when the inhibitor levels are at dangerously low levels, when the inhibitor effectiveness is less than the days left on the voyage, and indicating when the cargo needs to be tested or discharged immediately.

And for an added layer of protection, the system will send an email when the log hasn’t been updated for two days and when it reaches the warning or dangerous levels during the voyage.

“I am very pleased to know that the Milbros product development team goes all-out to ensure that seafarers and operators have all the pertinent information for safe carriage of chemicals.”

– Captain Srini Mullur , Global Head of Operations at Navig8 Group

So, the next time you’re considering carrying Styrene Monomer, make sure you’re onboard with Milbros Premium. Learn more about Milbros Premium and Milbros Onboard subscriptions.

The post Don’t Let A Styrene Monomer Disaster Happen Out Of The Blue appeared first on Q88.

What is the Risk Level in Damaging Your Tank Linings?
Historically some fertilizer/crude grade phosphoric acid cargoes with low inhibitor levels combined with high fluoride and chloride levels have caused significant and expensive damage to stainless steel (SS) tank linings. In addition, some damages have led to premature scrapping of chemical tankers.

To date, when chemical tanker owners, operators and/or managers want to assess the risk level for damages prior to carrying certain cargoes, they rely heavily on their SS Manufacturers to provide information about the compatibility of the cargo, but that can take days and the response may be vague and not helpful in determining the risk.

Introducing Q88’s Stainless Steel/Phosphoric Acid Compatibility Calculation Tool 
To provide users accurate damage risk information, we have launched a new calculation tool within our Milbros solution. Available to Milbros Premium Subscribers, this new compatibility calculation tool uses a unique combination of scientific and SS producers testing information in an easy-to-use format to allow users to quickly determine if a prospective, phosphoric acid cargo specification is:

• Well within tolerances – low risk of SS damage
• Borderline within tolerances – some risk of SS damage
• Outside tolerances – high risk of SS damage

Instant Results at your Fingertips
Our calculation tool is based on compatibility with SS grade AISI 316L / EN 1.4404 / 17-12-2.5, the tool also works for SS grades AISI 316LN, AISI 317L as well as 2205 Duplex which have higher tolerance for fluoride and chloride levels in phosphoric acid. Easily input eight typical specifications for phosphoric acid, including expected loading/carriage temperature to receive instant results.

For the tool to provide reliable results and reduce the risk of SS damage, users must ensure that the stainless steel is in good condition prior to loading, which means tanks are properly passivated and have no indication of corrosion or discoloration. Suppliers of the acid must provide true and accurate specifications for the cargo loaded.

Captain Soren Ibsen, VP of Milbros Systems says, “This is a great tool for our customers and the industry at large; owners, operators, and/or managers considering carrying crude phosphoric acid are provided with useful information as to which parameters are close to, or exceeding, the maximum allowed limits which in turn increases the risk for tank lining damage.” He continues, “Preventing SS damage by using this tool is better than any insurance policy that covers damage repairs because users will be given the needed information to not fix or not load high-risk cargoes in advance.”

Q88 has been a maritime tech innovator for 20 years and providing the right solution like the Phosphoric Acid Compatibility Calculation Tool is another example of our commitment to providing chemical tankers with the tools they need to manage the hectic demands they face.

Contact us today for more information or to get started with a Milbros Premium Subscription!

The post Understanding Your Stainless Steel & Phosphoric Acid Compatibility appeared first on Q88.

Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is a feedstock used to produce biofuel, and for several years it has been shipped on chemical tankers without proper classification. It has however been carried under existing entries in the IBC Code, such as “palm oil,” “palm acid oil,” and ʺnon-edible industrial-grade palm oil” – which is not a proper classification for POME.

Unfortunately, POME has not been properly reviewed and classified by the IMO, which continually puts ships and Masters at risk for detentions, fines, and/or arrests for being in violation of MARPOL Annex II regulations. Not being classified by the IMO may also mean that washing tanks of POME could be causing harm to the marine environment.

At the recent IMO/PPR 8 meeting held virtually 22-26 March 2021, paper PPR 8/3/1 was considered by the Sub-Committee, and the following was approved:

“Palm oil mill effluent (POME) technical oil” will be included provisionally in List 1 of the MEPC.2/Circular – and subsequently will be included in chapter 17 of the IBC Code when the Code is next amended – with the following carriage requirements:

Because proper data for POME cargo has not been submitted to the IMO, the IMO has taken a precautionary approach to further protect the marine environment by assigning this cargo to Pollution Category X.

In the IMO/PPR 8 meeting, all interested parties were invited and urged to submit additional data and information on this product to GESAMP/EHS and ESPH. Future submissions are expected, and upon further review, the carriage requirements may change and perhaps be downgraded from Cat. X to Cat. Y.

Moving forward, in order for ships to carry “Palm oil mill effluent (POME) technical oil,” an addendum to the ship’s Certificate of Fitness (COF) will be needed, and a prewash will be required at the discharge port.

Based on the addition of this product to List 1 of the MEPC.2/Circ., this then allows FAME produced from POME technical oil to be carried under the generic FAME entry in Chapter 17 “Fatty acid methyl esters (m)” Cat. Y.

The IMO website is expected to be updated with this new List 1 entry once MEPC 76 has endorsed the PPR 8 report. MEPC 76 is expected to meet 10-17 June 2021. Shipowners should contact their classification society regarding the timing of obtaining an addendum to the COF for the carriage of this cargo under these new carriage requirements.

This new product name has also been added to the Milbros system for easy reference and access.

The post Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Recently Classified By IMO appeared first on Q88.

With all that has been going on this past year, the new changes to the IBC Code which go into effect on 01 January 2021, have been somewhat overlooked. The code changes will have very significant and dramatic effects on the chemical and vegetable oil transportation segment of the market moving forward.

Vice President of the Q88 Milbros business unit, Capt. Soren C. Ibsen, is a delegate to the IMO Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) sub-committee and Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards (ESPH) working group. With more than 40 years’ experience in the Chemical, Product and Crude Oil tanker trades he provides, invaluable input that helps shape new regulations.

“We know that change and imposing regulations on any type of industry can be hard,” says Ibsen. “But we also know it is necessary. My years of experience, along with my involvement with the industry, has helped shape maritime regulations that are both realistic – and beneficial.”

With new changes coming, it is important to have a product that is prepared and ready. We’ve updated our Milbros Onboard Platform in response to the upcoming IBC 2021 Code Amendments. Milbros Onboard 2.0 has updates and new features that provides users up-to-date information.

These updates include:

• IBC 2021 Resource Tab
  Users are able to receive up-to-date information and access essential data directly onboard your vessel. The 2021 changes are now located under a special tab called IBC Code 2021 which indicates the new carriage requirements for all cargos. For added ease, changes to current requirements will be highlighted.
• Favorites
  Select, search, and save your favorite cargos/coatings/cleaning chemicals with just one click. This feature makes sorting and searching faster and easier.
• Response Center Update
  The Response Center Tab is now available on the main page, for easy reference. All ships with a Milbros Onboard Subscription are registered for our Q88 Response Center and have immediate access to these critical services any time a Chemical/Hazardous Material incident/spill or Medical Emergency should arise.
• Various New and Enhanced Pop-Ups including conversions, PPE and Cargo Hazards

For more information on Milbros 2.0, and to book a demo, click here.

The post We’re Ready for IBC 2021. Are you? appeared first on Q88.

Milbros Onboard subscribers enjoy greater value with complementary access to Haz-Mat Response and medical assistance using Q88 Response Center.

Respond more effectively to dynamic emergency situations

No one could accuse the shipping industry of being over regulated. However, there are still some areas where voluntarily adopting a safety protocol might be a very worthwhile precaution. One such area is in the event of HazMat incidents.

Q88 Response Center provides a global support program to co-ordinate quick response and expert consultation for chemical spills/incidents and medical emergencies on board ship. Although HazMat incidents are a relatively rare event, just like with being prepared for fire, being properly equipped with the right tools to deal with a chemical spillage is highly advisable.

Q88 Response Center registration is provided as a complementary service to vessels subscribed to Milbros Onboard giving them 24/7 access to Milbros leading commodity database. This provides the crew and third-parties with the latest good information allowing them to take the most appropriate response measures. In conjunction with its partners Q88 Response Center provides expert help and advice to manage active and dynamic HazMat situations.

Cargo handling, spill response and medical assistance in one place

Response Center centralizes expert cargo handling, spill response and emergency medical assistance all on one platform. The service is provided in partnership with Spill Center and Future Care Inc.. Spill Center specializes in emergency response communications and incident management services. Future Care provides medical care management services to the maritime and related industries worldwide.

Q88 completes the circle by centralizing access and providing the commodities information which is essential to minimizing the health and safety, environmental and economic impacts of a HazMat incident.

The medical component of the service can be accessed for any situation where medical intervention may be needed, not just those that result from a HazMat event. The Future Care service provides Telemedicine services for onboard injuries or illnesses at sea along with professionally-managed shoreside medical care for patients where necessary.

Future Care has 20 years’ experience of managing the shipboard medical response in emergency situations. Through acquisition and collaboration, the organization now includes 1,400 physicians, 56 international clinics, an internal travel tracking team network of 80,000 accredited third-party providers and offers support for 99 languages amongst its resources.

The post Be better prepared for HazMat incidents and medical emergencies appeared first on Q88.

IBC Code 2021 amendments part of a wider response to maritime environmental concerns.

Changes part of a bigger picture of environmental protection

There is much media focus on shipping and the sea. Whether it is the lifeblood of international trade through global maritime cargo transportation, the leisure and tourism industry’s cruise liner segment, or plastic pollution of the oceans, maritime environmental matters are under the spotlight.

A climate emergency has been declared by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and increased activism, particularly by younger generations is grabbing headlines worldwide. Concerns about general atmospheric pollution from burning bunkers, the risk to passengers on cruise ships from exhaust pollutants, and the vast amounts of plastic entering the sea are clearly in keeping with the mood of the times.

13 – 17 May 2019, the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), 74th session was held. This was a gathering of some significance as it was intended to advance action and planning for several areas of maritime environmental concern.

Agenda items included finalizing changes to MARPOL in three areas:

• Use of electronic record books
• Cargo residues and tank washings of persistent floating noxious liquid substances
• EEDI regulations for ice-strengthened ships

Other direct environmental topics included the reduction of greenhouse gases from ships, the Sulphur 2020 limit and following up on the IMO Action Plan to address marine plastic litter from ships.

From the perspective of tanker shipping, perhaps the most important items to be considered were the IBC Code 2021 amendments, redefining the handling and safety requirements effective for cargoes loaded after 1 January 2021.

IBC Code regulations are something of an indirect environmental issue; incorrect handling and poor safety often leads to accidental discharge and pollution. Consequently, it is possible to see that IBC Code 2021 is part of the bigger picture of a wider response to environmental protection concerns.

The key amendments adopted which form the IBC Code 2021 changes:

• 86% of the 845 Product Names listed in Chapters 17 & 18 of the IBC Code will be changing handling and safety requirements effective for cargoes loaded after 1 January 2021.
• Many of the changes could be considered insignificant, but there may be some cargoes that have been listed on a ship’s COF that will no longer be allowed to be carried on the same ship after 1 January 2021.
• The number of Toxic cargoes in Chapter 17 of the IBC code will increase from 231 to 429 cargoes, including cargoes such as Methanol, Diethylene Glycol, MIBK, Nonyl alcohol, n-Propyl Alcohol, Octanol and many others.
• Effective January 1, 2021 a long list of persistent floater cargoes including vegetable oils and fats, paraffins and waxes will require Prewash after discharge in NW European ports.
• The area includes ports north of Gibraltar and east of the west coast of Ireland, and ports in the North, Norwegian and Baltic Seas.
• These products will be identified in Chapter 17 of the IBC Code with a new paragraph 16.2.7 in column “o”.

The post IBC Code 2021 final draft sets changes in stone appeared first on Q88.

Authoritative nature of the Milbros liquid cargo handling platform supported by outstanding experience and expertise

The post The latest tanker cargo handling information on good authority appeared first on Q88.