- Sulphur has certain properties; corrosion and the emission of certain gases. A copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should be requested from the shipper prior to loading the cargo.
- Bulk sulphur (whether formed solid, crushed lump or coarse grained) can be highly corrosive when in contact with water, and so the hold paint coating needs to be in a good condition.
- It is usual to limewash the holds to protect the steel structures. There are proprietary products, such as hold block, designed for preparing holds for carrying sulphur.
- The holds should not be washed with seawater, but should be thoroughly cleaned and washed with freshwater.
- The hold tank top should be rust-free.
- The holds are usually required to be cleaned to a grain standard, with no previous cargo residues, and no rust scale or flaking paint.
- Holds should be cleaned thoroughly & all inflammable materials like rags, pieces of wood, etc to be removed.
- No loose metal object to be left in the hold.
- Bilges to be tested & covered with limber boards. Any chinks should be caulked, to prevent dust from founding its way into the bilges.
- Co2 system to be tried out.
- “No Smoking” signs put up & strictly enforced.
- “No Naked Lights” permitted on the deck or in the holds.
- Fire hoses to be rigged, fire main charged & other fire fighting apparatus kept in a constant state of readiness.
- Flashlights. Walkie-talkies etc. to be intrinsically
Note:
- The safety precautions associated with the carriage of sulphur as set out in the IMBSC Code, including personal protective equipment and the extinguishing of lighting inside holds.
- A strict ‘no smoking policy’ should be in force on deck during carriage.
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