Posted: September 30th, 2022
The safe operation of oil tankers in the maritime industry
The safe operation of oil tankers in the maritime industry
Because oil is a highly combustible substance, transporting it in tankers is a process that is fraught with significant danger. There is a danger of hazards associated with the sea transportation of oil utilizing tankers, such as fires and explosions, which can result in injuries, marine pollution due to oil leakage, loss of life, and property damage. Because of this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) establishes additional norms and requirements for tankers that are transporting oil over the sea.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), by way of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), mandates certain stipulations for oil tankers. Modern oil tankers are the result of a dedication to marine safety being combined with the ingenuity and technology that is currently available to generate designs that are more advanced and safer than they have ever been.
Because oil and oil products have a high potential for ignition, the safety regulations that apply to oil tankers are significantly more specific and strict than those that apply to dry cargo tankers.
For instance, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) mandates the use of double hulls on all oil tankers as an additional safety measure. The double hull system assures that in the event of a collision, the outer hull will take the impact of the collision, so preventing an explosion or oil spillage into the water. This is accomplished by transferring the force of the collision to the outer hull.
In addition to the standard rule that every ship must have a lifeboat, the state of Imo imposes an additional requirement that any oil tanker hauling commodities with a flashpoint below 70 degrees Celsius must have a lifeboat that is protected from fire and is entirely enclosed.