Carriage, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Goods along

ACTIONS
Technical and Management
PORTS AND TERMINALS 53
Every fuel transfer site should have emergency means to shut down and stop the flow of cargo transfer
operations from the terminal to the tank vessel or barge.
A point in the cargo-transfer system, at which the emergency means stop the flow of petroleum
products on the terminal, shall be located near the dock/jetty manifold connection to minimise the
loss of cargo transferred in the event of rupture or failure of the fuel transfer hose, loading arm,
manifold valve or in case of tank overfilling. Both the terminal personnel (during discharging from the
vessel) and crewmembers (during loading of the ship) in charge of cargo transfer operations should
be able to order or activate the emergency shutdown system. The means of emergency shutdown
initiated by terminal or vessel personnel shall be either:
• an electrical, pneumatic or mechanical linkage to the terminal; and
• a voice communications system continuously operated by a person on the terminal who, at
all times during the cargo transfer operations, can hear the communications and can, at any
time, activate the emergency shutdown.
If the ESD is activated and automatic valves are fitted, the cargo transfer rate should be adjusted to
avoid pressure surges evolving from the automatic closure of any such valves. This is to avoid exceeding
the safe working pressure of either the vessel or shore pipeline system.
Procedures developed for initiating an emergency shutdown should be communicated and recorded
between ship/barge personnel and terminal personnel in charge of cargo-transfer operations.
Emergency shutdown systems and procedures should be tested before commencement of cargotransfer
operations to ensure they are fully understood by both the tanker and terminal personnel.
Institutional and Capacity Building
Relevant line agencies should make an emergency shutdown system compulsory for all oil terminals
located on waterways and verify the presence of the system.
2.4.2.4 Oil Spill Equipment
RECOMMENDATION
Member Countries should make an inventory of all ports and terminals where there is potential
for Tier 2 (medium) oil spills and ensure there is adequate response equipment available. Port
and terminal operators should ensure that sufficient oil spill equipment is provided, ready for
immediate use and well maintained.
Challenge
Some terminals do not have sufficient oil spill equipment available and/or the equipment is either
not properly maintained or readily accessible. The National Working Groups determined that there is
a big difference in available equipment between terminals in the same region.
Effective oil spill preparedness and response can only be possible if enough oil spill equipment is
readily available and all personnel involved are sufficiently trained in the correct use of the equipment.
Under an internationally adopted system, oil spill incidents are categorised into three tiers. Each tier
is defined by the scale of response that is required and whether it would come from local, regional or
national/international resources (see recommendation on oil spill response):