Absolute temperature

is the fundamental temperature scale used in theoretical physics and

chemistry and in certain engineering calculations. Absolute temperatures
are expressed either in degrees Kelvin or degrees Rankine corresponding
respectively to the Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature scales. To
convert a Celsius temperature, if above 0°C, to Kelvin add 273; if below
0°C subtract the Celsius temperature from 273. Similarly to convert a
Fahrenheit temperature to Rankine add or subtract 460 as appropriate.
Absolute zero
is the temperature at which the volume of a gas theoretically becomes
zero and all thermal motion ceases. Generally accepted as being
-273.16°C or -459.69°F.
Boiling point
is the temperature of a liquid at which its vapour pressure is equal to
or very slightly greater than the atmospheric pressure of the
environment. For water at sea level it is 100°C.
Bubble point
of a liquid mixture at a given pressure is defined as that temperature at which the liquid
will begin to boil on rising temperature.
Chemical tanker
MARPOL 73/78 definition:
means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry a cargo of
noxious liquid substances in bulk and includes an oil tanker as defined
in Annex I of Marpol 73/78 when carrying a cargo or part cargo of
noxious liquid substances in bulk.

SOLAS 74 definition:
Chemical tanker is a tanker constructed or adapted and used for the
carriage in bulk of any liquid product of a flammable nature listed
either:

chapter 17 of the International Code for the Construction and

Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk adopted by
the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.4(48), hereinafter
referred to as the International Bulk Chemical Code, as may be
amended by the Organisation (IMO); or

chapter VI of the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships

Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, adopted by the Assembly of
the Organisation by resolution A.212(VII), hereinafter referred to
as the Bulk Chemical Code, as has been or may be amended by the
Organisation,

whichever is applicable.
Combination carrier
means a ship designed to carry either oil or solid cargoes in bulk.
Cracking
is an oil refinery process by which The heavy fractions (containing a
large number of carbon atoms) can be split into lighter fractions
(containing a smaller number of carbon atoms).

or
 is the process of breaking down the large molecules of the higher
boiling fractions of crude oil into the lower boiling fractions with
smaller molecules. Cracking is employed to produce a larger quantity of
lighter fractions - particularly gasoline - since the demand for them
outstrips their supply from the crude by the fractional distillation
process alone.
Crude oil
means any liquid hydrocarbon mixture occurring naturally in the earth
whether or not treated to render it suitable for transportation and
includes:

 crude oil from which certain distillate fractions may have been
removed; and

 crude oil to which certain distillate fractions may have been added.

Note: For the purpose of SOLAS 1974 and MARPOL 73/78 the term also includes crude
oil treated to render it suitable for transportation, including:
Crude oil tanker
means an oil tanker engaged in the trade of carrying crude oil.
Dew point
of a vapour mixture at a given pressure is defined as the temperature at which the vapour
begins to condense as the temperature decreases. For a liquid mixture in equilibrium with
its vapour, the bubble point and the dew point are at different temperatures.
Discharge
Any release whatsoever from a ship
Distillation
is an oil refinery process by which the crude oil is split into a number
of fractions.
Fractionating towers
are towers or columns which separate crude oil into a number of
components by a process called fractional distillation. The heated crude
is introduced into the lower part of the tower and the vapour flows to
the top of the column or tower through a series of baffles where it
meets condensate formed as the vapour cools falling downward. At each
baffle, the temperature of the mixture is such that liquid collected
depends on its boiling point at the level in the tower. Thus along the
height of the tower, several fractions of crude distillates are
recovered depending on the height of the baffles above the heated crude
entry level.
Gas carrier
SOLAS 74 definition:
Gas carrier is a tanker constructed or adapted and used for the carriage
in bulk of any liquefied gas or other products of a flammable nature
listed in either:

chapter 19 of the International Code for the Construction and

Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk adopted by the
Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.5(48), hereinafter
referred to as the International Gas Carrier Code. As may be
amended by the Organisation (IMO); or

Chapter XIX of the Code for the Construction and Equipment of

Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk adopted by the Organization
 by resolution A.328(IX). Hereinafter referred to as "Gas Carrier
Code", as has been or may be amended by the Organization.

whichever is applicable.
GESAMP
Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution is an advisory body
consisting of specialized experts nominated by the Sponsoring Agencies (IMO, FAO,
UNESCO, WMO, WHO, IAEA, UN, UNEP). Its principal task is to provide scientific
advice on marine pollution to the Sponsoring Agencies and the Inter-Governmental
Oceanographic Commission. The members of GESAMP act as individual professionals
and not as representatives of the countries or organisations paying their salaries.
GESAMP normally meets once a year. Specific tasks such as "the evaluation of the
hazards of harmful substances carried by ships" are often carried out by a working group
which includes, if necessary, non-members of GESAMP, again acting as individual
professionals. The hazards of products carried by ships are evaluated by GESAMP in
accordance with an established rationale - in particular, whether a product is:

 bioaccumulated with harmful effects on marine life or man;

 harmful to living aquatic organisms on the basis of toxicity;

 harmful to human health swallowing (oral intake), skin or eye contact or inhalation;

 reduces the value of amenities by causing objectionable smells and irritation,

contaminated beaches or is a known human or animal carcinogen or produces other
long term adverse health effects.
Harmful substance
means any substance which, if introduced into the sea, is liable to
create hazards to human health, to harm living resources and marine
life, to damage amenities or to interfere with other legitimate uses of
the sea, and includes any substance subject to control by the present
Convention (MARPOL 73/78, Article 2).
Incident
Event involving the actual or probable discharge into the sea
Liquefied gas
in general terms, is the liquid form of a substance which at normal
ambient temperatures and at atmospheric pressure would be a gas.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
is a generic expression for propane, butane, and mixtures of the two and
is produced from two distinct sources.
Noxious liquid substance
means any substance referred to in Appendix II to Annex II of MARPOL
73/78 or provisionally assessed under the provisions of regulation 3(4)
as falling into category A, B, C or D.
Oil tanker
The following definition applies for MARPOL 73/78 and for SOLAS 74, chapter II-2
means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil in bulk in
its cargo spaces and includes combination carriers and any "chemical
tanker" as defined in Annex II of the present Convention when it is
carrying a cargo or part cargo of oil in bulk.

However, also note the definition in SOLAS 74, chapter 1:

 a tanker is a cargo ship constructed or adapted for the carriage in bulk
of liquid cargoes of a flammable nature

And note too the definition in SOLAS 74 Chapter II-1:

an oil tanker is the oil tanker defined in regulation 1 of Annex I of
the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973.
Product carrier
means an oil tanker engaged in the trade of carrying oil other than
crude oil.
Reid Vapour Pressure (RVP) test
is a simple and generally used method for measuring the volatility of
petroleum mixtures.
Ship
Vessel of any type whatsoever, including fixed and floating platforms.
The True Vapour Pressure (TVP) or bubble point vapour pressure
is the equilibrium vapour pressure of a mixture when the amount of gas
in the gas/liquid ratio is effectively zero. It is the highest vapour
pressure which is possible at any specified temperature. In the case of
a pure substance it is relatively easy to measure but in mixtures, each
component may have differing values. Hence it is difficult to establish
True Vapour Pressures for petroleum liquids because they are mixtures of
several components.
Volatility of petroleum
is the tendency of crude oil or oil products to produce vapour.
Volatility
of petroleum as the tendency of crude oil or oil products to produce
gas.
Hazard
is a situation with the potential to threaten human life, health, property or the
environment.
Enclosed space
1. Limited openings for entry and exit
2. Unfavourable natural ventilation
3. Is not designed for continous worker occupancy
Competent person
is a person with sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical experience capable of
making an informed assessment of the likelihood of a dangerous atmosphere being
present or subsequently arising in the space.
Responsible person
A person authorised to permit entry into an enclosed space and having sufficient
knowledge of the procedures to be followed.
Asphyxiation
is the condition arising when the blood is deprived of an adequate supply of oxygen, so
that loss of consciousness will follow.
Boil Off
 is the vapour produced above a cargo liquid surface due to evaporation caused by the heat
flow through the cargo tank insulation.
Evaporation
All liquids can change - or be changed - into vapour. The process of changing into vapour
is called evaporation.
Flammable
You will recognise the word 'flame' in flammable. Flammable means capable of being set
on fire. A mixture which can be set on fire is a flammable mixture. A word we shall use
instead of set on fire is 'ignite'.
Flammable Range
is the range between the minimum and maximum concentrations of vapour in air which
will form flammable mixtures.
Gas Free
means that a tank, compartment or container has been tested with an appropriate gas
detection equipment and found to be sufficiently free, at the time of the test, of toxic or
explosive or inert gases for a specific purpose.
Gas Freeing
The introduction of fresh air into a tank, compartment or container to remove toxic or
inert gas to a level required for a special purpose (e.g. tank entry, hot work).
Incendive Spark
is a spark of sufficient temperature and energy to ignite flammable gas.
Inert Gas
is a gas or vapour which will support neither combustion nor life.
Inerting
is the introduction of inert gas into a space to reduce and to keep the oxygen content to a
level at which combustion cannot be supported.
LNG
Liquefied Natural Gas; the principal constituent of LNG is Methane.
LPG
Liquefied Petroleum Gas - this is mainly propane and butane, shipped either separately or
in mixtures. They may be refinery by-product gases or may be produced in conjunction
with crude oil or natural gas.
Reliquefaction
Converting cargo boil-off vapour back into a liquid by increasing the pressure or reducing
the temperature and/or both (e.g. steam condensing).
Threshold Limit Value (T.L.V.)
is the maximum concentration of gases, vapours, mists or sprays to which it is believed
that nearly all persons on board may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without
adverse effect assuming an 8 hours per day 40 hours per week exposure.
Void Spaces
is an enclosed space in the cargo area, which is not a cargo tank, ballast tank, fuel oil
tank, cargo pump or compressor room, or any space normally used by personnel.
Density (specific gravity)
 dictates the buoyancy of an oil on water and it influences spreading and natural
dispersion. The density of crude oils and petroleum products is usually expressed in terms
of API gravity in accordance with the following formula API=141.5/(specific gravity)-
131.5.
As a general rule, oils with a low density (high API gravity) tend to have low viscosities
and contain a high proportion of volatile components.
Viscosity
The viscosity of an oil is its resistance to flow. High viscosity oils flow with difficulty
whilst those with low viscosity are highly mobile. Viscosities decrease with increasing
temperature and so seawater temperature and absorption of heat from the sun are
important considerations.
Pour point
The pour point of an oil is the temperature below which the oil becomes a semi-solid and
will not flow. This effect is the result of the formation of an internal micro-crystalline
structure. The pour point of crude oils generally varies from - 35°C to + 40°C.
Flashpoint
The flashpoint is the lowest temperature at which sufficient vapour exists above the
spilled oil to yield a flammable mixture. This is an important factor in relation to the
safety of clean-up operations. Many freshly spilled oils may be easily ignited until the
more volatile components have evaporated and dispersed in the atmosphere.
Dispersants
Dispersants are chemical agents which alter the physical behaviour of oil on the sea
surface. They consist of a mixture of surface active agents dissolved in a solvent which
assists penetration of the mixture into the oil.
Combustion
Combustion is a chemical reaction, initiated by a source of ignition, in which a flammable
vapour combines with oxygen in suitable proportions to produce carbon dioxide, water
vapour and heat.
Foam
Foam is an aggregation of small bubbles, of lower specific gravity than oil or water,
which flows across the surface of a burning liquid and forms a coherent smothering
blanket. It will also reduce the surface temperature of the liquid by the absorption of
some heat.
Dry chemical powder
The dry chemical powder is a fire-fighting agent and:

 it has a good smothering effect on flames

 it has an inhibiting effect

 it can be used in electrical plants

 it is not toxic

 it has a low cooling effect

 it should not be used on electronic instruments, control panels etc

Eductor
 The eductor is a pump of simple design consisting of three main parts, the nozzle, the

Segregated Ballast
Segregated ballast means the ballast water introduced into a tank which is completely
separated from the cargo oil and oil fuel system and which is permanently allocated to the
carriage of ballast or to the carriage of ballast or cargoes other than oil or noxious
substances as variously defined in the Annex of the present Convention. (Reg. 1(17)
MARPOL 73/78)
Segregated Ballast Tank (SBT)
The Segregated Ballast Tank (SBT) are the tanks for the carriage of ballast water only.
Clean Ballast Tank (CBT)
The Clean Ballast Tanks (CBT) are cargo tanks dedicated to carrying ballast.