Guidelines on tank entry for tankers using nitrogen
The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 99), in considering the approval of the revised ‘Recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships’ as completed by the Sub-committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC), also considered the circular on ‘Guidelines on tank entry for tankers using nitrogen as an inerting medium’ developed by the Sub-committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG).
The Committee considered two documents, MSC 89/11/2 by Argentina and MSC 89/11/3 by Norway, INTERTANKO, OCIMF, IFSMA, ITF, NI and BIMCO which essentially proposed that these guidelines should be combined into one single guideline.
It was proposed, in MSC 89/11/3, that the use of nitrogen in this context is not exclusive to tankers (it is also used on bulk carriers, gas carriers and offshore supply vessels) and therefore combining the guidelines into one guideline would ensure the widest possible availability and applicability, and would not be lost on seafarers who do not serve on tankers.
It was also proposed that the principal issue should be that of precautions before entering enclosed spaces, and not what is within the enclosed space, as the latter would give the impression that some enclosed spaces could be more dangerous than other enclosed spaces.
The Committee, taking into account that the majority of the delegations spoke in support of the decision of the BLG Sub-committee, approved for adoption the draft Assembly Resolution on the adoption of the revised ‘Recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships’ as well as approving the publication of an MSC Circular on the ‘Guidelines on tank entry for tankers using nitrogen as an inerting medium’, both to be issued as separate documents.
‘Revised recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships’, as approved for adoption, can be accessed here
Draft MSC Circular ‘Guidelines on tank entry for tankers using nitrogen as an inerting medium’, as approved for publication, can be accessed here
Source: Intertanko
