tanks
Just a note to put everyone's mind at rest. I have been into 3 tanks this morning, all of what the comments on the blog say is true, it is scary, and dangerous and rather unpleasant but very interesting! They are like cathedrals inside, Huge expanses of pitch black steep ladders and platforms, we can take only small torches which are certified intrinsically safe so you really have to watch your step! We test the atmosphere before entering but it still feels stale inside and I was glad to come out into the fresh air!
The tanks were about 5 inches thick with sludge on the bottom so we wore rubber boots and sloshed around in it for 20 mins or so inspecting all the pipes and valves and looking for anything wrong. We found a couple of broken bolts in one of the tanks so we will be replacing those tomorrow and also inspecting two more tanks (larger ones this time).
Anyway that is all for now, I will get some rest this afternoon and then go on watch this evening.
Thanks again for all your comments.
posted by Rob @ 8:25 am
14 comments
14 Comments:
Hey there young fella - glad you managed it OK. (Tank Entry)
Always remember the mad men with machine guns and all the tips you've been given in this blog.
5 inches of sludge - tut tut - thats a bad COW for some reason. Probably stripping procedures not adequately monitored. There should be no sludge at all, or maybe just a few bits here and there. That's not a good result by any means.
For sure it does happen sometimes, but why? Machines turning correctly?
If you come across that sludge again, do not slosh around in it, I'm suprised they allowed you to do that - walk very slowly through it if you have to. Sludge generally contains entrapped gasses - don't stir them up unnecessarily. It doesn't take much to knock you out,
or at least loose your senses, Then you can do all sorts of stupid things, become dissorientated, "loose it" completely etc. etc.
Yer man 5 inches of sludge - something not right there - if you did actually COW.It sounds like you didn't - that's no good at all.
Oh yeh whilst I remember, next time the engineers can't start the cargo pumps - ask them - "Did you reset the overspeed trips" - after testing them. Nine times out of ten, that is the problem. They just never learn or forget. More hours for the deck department - just hanging around waiting for them down below, to get their act together. No wonder you fellas get tired.
Nice to hear from you again.
Shipmaster (Ret'd)
5 inches of sludge a bad result.
It's a bloody awfull result for what is presumably a modern well equipped tanker.
It is perhaps just as well it is only a tanker. Can you imagine what it would have been like if it were an obo or ore/oiler, and on completion of discharge at Whangerai you had been ordered to load dry bulk on the East coast of Australia. 5 inches of sludge - well heads would be rolling for sure.
Are you quite sure you are working for Chevron because it just does not sound like Chevron to me, at least not the Chevron I used to know.
Did a "Class" surveyor come on board to look at those tanks in Singapore, if so, how the hell could he possibly properly survey them with that amount of sludge on the bottom.
This blog is getting "heavy" to download on account of the numerous comments it has attracted. Possibly it will soon become too "heavy" for a poor old "megabyte limited" retired Captain like me.
That will be sad, cuz I have enjoyed this blog very much,more so as you are clearly a fine deck-officer in the making.
Keep smiling young fella.
Capt. (Ret'd)
It's certainly strange, I agree.
Doesn't sound like you are working for Chevron, - more like, some cheap labour hirer - at least from where I sit.
Are you keeping a good record of the hours that you are working, together with the results you are managing to acheive.In general mariners don't mind the long hours too much providing they are getting some job satisfaction - but 5 inches of sludge - that's not satisfaction at all.
pp
Good lord - isn't it amazing what you discover on the net, especially when you have excellent deck-officer material - like Rob.
If a class surveyor did board your vessel to survey those tanks, I hope he didn't just "tick them off" as OK - "How could he" with 5 inches of sludge all over the bottom, but I have a funny feeling that might have happened - particularly in Singapore.
bss
Once again, every last word is true.
Well at least you have seen inside those cargo tanks, and indeed you have seen how it should not be.
There should be no sludge, except for little bits scattered around here and there.
I think you know what to do the next time. Clean tanks - or stay out. It is extremely unlikely you will be gassed in clean tanks - but you still may fall tho, - if you forget the wisdom of your blog.
Best wishes.
jerryn.
Hey Hey little fella, you is courageous young guy.
Elders say spirits say - you like young aboriginal peoples - trudging around in crude oil sludge, sniffing petrol for the company man.
You NO DO THAT no more, you become very sick if you do.
You take more care of yourself - tell company man - GO AWAY.
Luv Dorothy
Can't see any untruths in this blog ROB.
Question is, who the hell signed a tank entry permit with 5 inches of crude oil sludge remaining on the bottom of the tank ?
Your training is lacking, perhaps non existant, or maybe they are just "programming" you into believing that is OK.
If a "Class" surveyor or Port State Control were on board then there a further serious questions to be asked.
Enough on this blog to initiate a major international investigation into the abuse of seafarers.
Of course, when you become an officer, you could always just order the crew to go down such tanks - but if you are a human being - you will oppose that & perhaps loose your job (Be "got rid of" by some subversive devious means)) if you do, but not necessarily so.
As someone once said before 50/50 is about as good as it gets.
Another small matter of minor yet nevertheless significant importance.
Intrinsically safe torches and other devises - if they are in reality necessary - then no human should be in there at all. Think about that one - but not too deeply, - after all it is one of those extra safety precautions - they are wise, and they also at least create the impression of increased safety - added confidence if you like.
If the atmosphere is within the flammable range,only a fool would be in there, but you should always assume that it could. Chances are you'd have lost consciousness by the time that happens unless you are in full BA gear - but even then, you still shouldn't be in there.
Better one fatality I suppose, than blowing up the whole bloody ship.
It used to happen a lot back in the 60's and very early 70"s. Shell appeared to be the experts in that ("M" Class vessels). Quite an impressive sight - deck lifted right off from for'd, and neatly folded back over the bridge - just like a sardine can - in fact.
That's when IG came into existance - well they just had to do something about it - it was becoming too much of a regular occurance - tank cleaning on big ships with tanks in excess of 10,000 cubic metres.
Too many tank cleaning machines, developing too much static - resulting in a bloody great bang.
So you see, history is important as well.
snifferdog
Some other things to inspect during tank diving:
Tank coatings - are they intact or showing signs of breaking down.
Steel Work - Is it showing signs of pitting - if so how deep. Is there evidence of wasteage/corrosion.
Sounding Pipes (if fitted) Is there a doubler plate immediately under the sounding pipe. Is it in good condition.
Pipelines - are they in good condition - are expansion couplings in good condition and remaining correctly located.
Extended Spindles (if any) are they in good condition particularly any couplings and support brackets.
Ladders & Platforms - Are they in good condition and remaining secured.
Heating Coils: Are they in good apparent order & securing devices in tact.
Level Indicators ; Are they and their associated parts in good order.
Hydraulic Lines - Good Order & Leakages.
Elephants Feet - are they in good order or erroding due to cavitational effects.
bss
General Summary:-
LOOK AFTER yourself and your tanker, and generally speaking, you'll find she'll look after you.
Neglect her and she'll let you down badly - sooner or later for sure.
Blackdog
Aye, but it's not only that.
When your company engages "Contractors" particularly of the "Riding Squad" variety, you should not hesitate to point out they also require to engage extra officers to supervise those contractors and keep a damned close eye on just what they are doing.
Existing personnel have already got more than enough on their plate - far too much in most cases.
"Commodore Bond"
I have just finished reading all the posts and comments for this blog. Great work and advise from everyone involved. I personally thank you all for the interesting information and stories, as Iam a cadet (finished sea-time and completing my school term before I go for my orals).
COW SURVEY - FAILED.
Thats just for a start.
boyscout
Early Days Yet, but it seems we may have a potential officer here who will be prepared to tick the No boxes as well as saying No.
But he'll make a lot of enemies if he does.
Hope he has adequate life, health and accident insurance.
eyespy
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