Inert gas systems tankers

[j.sabourn]

As the post on fire fighting brought back memories of other courses perhaps some of the tankermen could make clear to us the feasability and success of the Inert Gas systems on various ships they may have sailed on. My experience on Tankers was limited to 2 Clean products carriers, before Inert systems were introduced. However I did a weeks course at Southampton which was really done to promote the systems then in their infancy. for those not aware the theory was that flu or engine gases were used to either reduce the oxygen content in the tank to that of above or below the ignition point this in theory making the tank safe. There was a lot of for want of a better word dregs from this which still had to be disposed of, so still had to pump this ashore in theory at the time. My future in tankers never materialised as the so called super tanker the company had lay up one of the Norwegian fiords for a couple of years before being sold. Cheers John Sabourn

[Capt Bill Davies]

John,

One of the greatest contributions to Tankers safety. The simple concept of utilising the Flue Gas and channelling it through a scrubbing tower (cooler and demister) and thence a deck seal was perhaps the greatest of all tankship innovations.

Brgds

Bill

[Captain Kong]

We had them on all the ESSSO VLCCs, the scrubber plant was in a big house built onto the starboard side, the exhaust fumes went through it and was "cleaned" , the Crude Oil tanks were then pressurised. eliminating the risk of explosions.
Quite a few `Large ` tankers had exploded with devestating results prior to these being fitted so they were an excellent aid to tanker safety.
.
Nothing to do with tankers , but I did think , maybe lorries could be fitted with something similar, the Inert gas from their exhausts passing through the back or the containers so illegals could not stow away in there.
just a thought.
Cheers
Brian.

[happy daze john in oz]

Talking of gasses which we are, today i had new tyres fitted to my Land Rover at the cost of $2125, having done 110,000 klm in the last lot. But they were not pumped up with air, rathet nitrogen. Apparently the tyre will run cooler, less likely to leak, and will improve the life of the tyre.

[j.sabourn]

You must be a rich man John. Thats about what my car is worth. Cheers John Sabourn.