Loading overall
Petroleum at a temperature above its flash point should not be loaded or transferred overall. Non-volatile may be loaded only if the tanks are gas free and provided no contamination with volatile petroleum can occur.
Line clearance with air
Compressed air or inert gas should not be used to clear pipelines back to tank after loading of a distillate oil which may produce a flammable vapour unless adequate precautions are taken to stop the air or inert gas entering the tank and causing the water in the bottom to become turbulent.
Discharging cargo
To minimise the accumulation of static electricity in shore tanks at the beginning of discharging of distillate oils, which may produce a flammable vapour, pumping speeds should be kept low until shore personnel advise that pumping rates can be increased.
