Carriage, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Goods along

74 RECOMMENDATIONS
• accidental causes, such as collisions and groundings, generally give rise to much larger
spills, with at least 84 percent of incidents involving quantities in excess of 700 tonnes
being attributed to such factors.
Table 3: Incidence of Spills by Cause (1970-2010)
Operations < 7 tonnes 7–700 tonnes > 700 tonnes Total
Loading/Discharging 3,157 385 37 3579
Bunkering 562 33 1 596
Other Operations 1,250 61 15 1,326
Accidents < 7 tonnes 7–700 tonnes > 700 tonnes Total
Collisions 180 337 132 649
Groundings 237 269 160 666
Hull Failures 198 57 55 310
Fire & Explosions 84 33 34 151
Equipment Failures 202 39 4 245
Other/Unknown 1,975 121 22 2,118
TOTAL 7,845 1,335 460 9,640
Source: ITOPF Oil Tanker Spill Statistics 2010
References
• ISGINTT, Chapter 4 and 24; and
• International Chamber of Shipping 1992: Safety in Oil Tankers.
ACTIONS
Technical and Management
A number of predetermined precautions must be observed by tanker and terminal/shore when cargo
handling, ballasting, bunkering, tank cleaning and gas freeing are carried out in port. These include:
• prohibiting naked lights on the tank deck and other places where there is a risk of flammable
gas being present;
• smoking restrictions;
• restrictions on using appliances that employ naked flames while a tanker is at the terminal;
• restrictions on using navigational equipment on the bridge;
• closing all external doors, ports and other openings of the accommodation and engine
room during cargo operations. Volatile cargo vapours should be kept out of these spaces;
and
• on tankers with air conditioning units, keeping the accommodation under positive pressure
to prevent entry of cargo vapours. Intakes for these units should be positioned in a safe
area so that vapours are not drawn into the accommodation. On tankers depending on
natural ventilation, care should be taken on the position of the inlets as no vapours may
enter the accommodation. Otherwise they should be covered or closed.
In general, all openings of cargo tanks that are not gas free, such as cargo tank lids and ullage ports,
should be kept closed.
Tanker and shore personnel should maintain a close watch for possible leakage of cargo at the
commencement of and during cargo transfer operations. All pipeline valves not in use should be
closed.