Press


12-04-2022

Tank Cleaning

Our Aderco products have been used when bunkers are close to, or exceed fuel oil “off specs” limits, when compared to ISO 8217, with excellent results. By avoiding the extensive build-up of sludge, our fuel treatments 2055G and L1050 facilitate the cleaning of the tanks. Fuel tanks must be regularly cleaned because, as the popular maritime publication Marine Insight tells us:
 
“Ships use heavy fuel oil which has a very high viscosity. When stored in fuel tanks, this oil tends to stick inside the tanks forming layers of semi-solid substance. Moreover, many impurities of the oil settle down and stick to the surface of the tanks.”
 
There are three main methods to clean a fuel tank. The first one is manual cleaning during dry-docking. This is certainly the most thorough way to undertake the work, albeit expensive. All fuel tanks are deep cleaned, with the pipework involved in the fuel oil transfer, as well as the service system all flushed thoroughly through. It is undoubtedly the ideal and the best method, however, it is not always feasible because ships often undergo dry-docking every five years. 
 
The second method is also manual, but it takes place while the ship is in service. It is not a simple task because many safety measures must be carefully considered, particularly all the requirements needed for the crew to enter enclosed spaces and work with toxic substances. Before any work starts, it is mandatory that a risk assessment, permit to work and mitigation plans are in place and, obviously, the tanks must be emptied. 
 
The third method, also regularly performed while the ship is in service, is in the use of specialized products such as Aderco 2055G and L1050 which are dosed directly into the fuel tanks, gradually cleaning the entire fuel oil service system after several bunker cycles, including settling and service tanks.
 
In brief, don’t forget, by reducing the build-up of sludge, Aderco products help keep the fuel tanks clean!