Specific Commodities for Special Tankers


Fixing the right ship for the right cargo involves many variables. But two specific conditions aboard any ship are paramount, especially in the parcel cargo and chemical trades. It is ultimately the shipowner’s responsibility to ensure that the vessel is ready to receive the nominated cargo, but it is your responsibility to identify the potential subjects which can legally and safely carry your intended specialty grade. The vessel’s spot charterer has only limited involvement in the preparation (tank cleaning) of the tanker for charter, but in conjunction with your Soundtanker broker, you will select the right vessel, based on the regulatory climate of the day.

There are any number of sources from which you can obtain timely advice on the advisability of loading a sensitive cargo onto a particular vessel. Governing all of this from a regulatory standpoint is the MARPOL 73/78 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978. MARPOL’s Annex II, as part of the combined instrument – the International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78). All of this finally entered into force on October 2, 1983 (for Annexes I and II).

Annex II
Annex II covers the control of pollution by noxious liquid substances. Originally entered into force in April of 1987, a revised Annex II has now entered into force as of January 1, 2007. The original Annex II provided guidance on the discharge criteria and measures for the control of pollution by noxious liquid substances carried in bulk. Some 250 substances were evaluated and included in the list appended to the Convention. The discharge of these residues is allowed only to reception facilities until certain concentrations and conditions (which vary with the category of substances) are complied with. •

Annex II (Revised) Matters
The revised annex calls for a number of significant changes to existing statutes. Improvements in ship technology – more efficient stripping techniques, for example – now allow for ships constructed on or after January 1, 2007 to achieve much smaller maximum permitted residues in tanks and associated piping, with volumes dependent on the product category.

The new hazard evaluation process and categorization system now requires previously unrestricted vegetable oils to be carried in chemical tankers. The revised Annex also includes provisions for the Administration to exempt ships certified to carry individually identified vegetable oils, subject to certain provisions relating to the location of the cargo tanks carrying the oil. In effect, the numbers of vessels available to carry vegetable oils have changed significantly, and the charter of certain vessels deemed acceptable in the past may no longer be appropriate for your charter. Your Soundtanker broker will know for sure.

A Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) resolution on Guidelines for the transport of vegetable oils in deep tanks or in independent tanks specially designed for the carriage of such vegetable oils on board dry cargo ships allows general dry cargo ships that are currently certified to carry vegetable oil in bulk to continue to carry these vegetable oils on specific trades. The guidelines also took effect on January 1, 2007. Soundtanker Chartering specializes in this market. Call your Soundtanker broker to learn more.

Vessel Specific Information
One of the best sources of information for specific classes of vessels and their capabilities is The Clarksons Registers. These texts are a primary source of fleet and ownership information for all shipping market practitioners and observers alike. The Clarksons Chemical Tanker Register 2007 (15th Edition) contains listings for 2,935 vessels, 768 on order, 984 owners and a wealth of other information. Clarksons can be found online at www.crsl.com.