The carriage of methanol in bulk is becoming common in the offshore oil and gas industry, and although there is technical documentation on methanol handling, guidance for offshore carriage by sea is limited. This best practice document provides a guide for the safe loading, carriage and discharge of methanol by offshore support vessels.

The supply of bulk methanol to offshore locations is the responsibility of several stakeholders, including the supplier, transporter and user of the product.

Methanol (Methyl Alcohol, CH3OH) is a wood alcohol used in oil and gas production to prevent hydrate formation, which often occurs in gas condensate fields. Injection of methanol into the well downhole zone of gas hydrate fields not only causes decomposition of gas hydrates in that downhole zone of the well but also improves downhole zone filtration characteristics.

Methanol is a hazardous chemical with significant toxic, flammable, and reactive properties that can adversely affect human health and the environment when not properly handled.

Methanol is highly flammable, burns with no visible flame in daylight conditions and is readily miscible in water. Special care should be exercised when loading and discharging this product, and instructions within a vessel’s procedures or marine operation manuals should be followed.

Safety is the biggest consideration when carrying methanol in bulk.

To achieve safe carriage, all bulk methanol cargo should be maintained in an inert condition
while onboard offshore support vessels. This should be in line with the IMO OSV Chemical Code which requires an oxygen content of 8% or less and clear areas around pressure/vacuum relief valves (P/V valves) and manifolds.

The assigned product tanks should be protected by cofferdams which should be inerted by
means of water or nitrogen.

Click on below image to download the complete Guidance document:

OCIMF methanol guide

Source: OCIMF


Safety is critical to the tanker industry. The International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals, or ISGOTT as it is now widely known, has become the standard reference work on the safe operation of oil tankers and the terminals they serve. To remain so, the Guide must keep abreast of changes in vessel design and operating practice and reflect the latest technology and legislation.

ISGOTT was first published in 1978 by combining the Tanker Safety Guide (Petroleum) published by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Oil Tanker and Terminal Safety Guide published on behalf of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF). This Sixth Edition updates and replaces the 2006 Fifth Edition and has been reviewed by OCIMF and ICS together with the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH). Support has also been provided by other industry associations, including INTERTANKO, the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) and the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF), as well as specialists in topics such as human factors.

This new edition covers a range of topical issues including gas detection, the toxicity and the toxic effects of petroleum products (including benzene and hydrogen sulphide), the generation of static electricity and stray currents, fire protection and the growing use of mobile electronic technology.

In addition, the opportunity was taken to include new topics or to significantly reappraise topics previously covered that have undergone a shift in emphasis since the Fifth Edition. These include:

  • Enclosed space entry
  • Human factors
    Safety Management Systems (SMSs), including complementary tools and processes such as permits to work, risk assessment, Lock-out/Tag-out (LO/TO), Stop Work Authority (SWA) and their linkage to the underlying principles of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code
  • Marine terminal administration and the critical importance of the tanker/terminal interface
  • Alternative and emerging technologies
  • Bunkering operations, including the use of alternative fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
  • Cargo inspections
  • Alignment with OCIMF’s recently revised Mooring Equipment Guidelines
  • Maritime security and linkage to both the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and industry’s maritime security Best Management Practices (BMP).

The Ship/Shore Safety and Bunkering Operations Checklists have also been completely revised to reflect changes in the understanding of the impact of human factors in their effective use.

Source: maritimecyprus


OCIMF published the third edition of its Tanker Management and Self-Assessment guide (TMSA3) in April 2017. As of 1 January 2018, this will replace the TMSA2 and tanker owners will be required to follow the new self-assessment procedure. 

So are there any major changes? 

Well actually, yes. The latest TMSA version introduces an entirely new element – Maritime Security (element 13). The new element aims “to establish and maintain policies and procedures in order to respond to and mitigate identified security threats covering all company activities including cyber security.”

In complying with the aim, security plans should be put in place, which also address cyber security risks, and should cover shored-based locations, vessels and personnel. 

Are there any tools available to help tanker members comply with the Maritime Security element?

Yes, resources are available and the best thing is they are free!

IET Standards in conjunction with the Department for Transport have created a comprehensive code of practice for cyber security onboard ships. This code follows on from previous work the Department for Transport has done on port cyber security.

Additionally, an industry working group (which included OCIMF) have created Guidelines on Cyber Security onboard Ships. 

What other changes are there?

Elements 6, 6A and 10 have all had revisions, with element 10 now incorporating the OCIMF Energy Efficiency and Fuel Management paper that had previously been a supplement to TMSA2. Additionally TMSA3 also has 19 more KPIs than TMSA2 showing the focus on continuous improvement.

SOURCE : UK P&I CLUB

ARTICLE AUTHOR

Amanda Hastings


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