With the increasing
focusing on environmental impact and all forms of emissions, the practice known
as degassing is coming under scrutiny. The Netherlands is moving to ban the
practice focusing on ships in transit.
The concerns focus on the
potential for the release of harmful gasses with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) during the process known in the industry as degassing. Environmentalists
contend that the process creates health risks for crew, workers in the port,
and surrounding communities. They believe it is hazardous to the environment
and creates safety risks in the port.
After unloading a liquid
cargo, and before they can take on new shipments, ships need to vent their
tanks to remove any remaining gas vapor from their tanks. These vapors can be
very dangerous and potentially explosive for the ship. In addition, the tanks
need to be free of these residues from their previous shipments to ensure they
are within specifications before loading.
A range of companies have
launched technologies available to use when a ship is in port to extract or
burn off these vapors. Often according to the Dutch authorities, ships and
especially barges and smaller vessels working on coastal in inland services degas
while in transit. This is the practice that they are especially looking at
eliminating while creating an environmentally responsible alternative for this
necessary process.
Speaking at a
demonstration of a mobile degassing system held in the Port of Rotterdam, the
Netherlands’ Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management announced that it
will make available nearly $300,000 to support trials of mobile degassing
systems.
“It is important to me
that we quickly arrange good alternatives to releasing vapors while en route,”
said Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen. “The existing procedure creates health risks
for crews and local residents and is hazardous to the environment. We need to
quickly determine the best alternative to this practice, and these tests will
help.”
The trial of the
degassing technology was conducted on an inland tanker, the Visioen, at the
Port of Rotterdam. Ten tanks on the vessel were empty of petroleum and degassed
over a seven-hour period bringing them to 10 percent of the lower explosion
limit. No measurable vapor was detected in the atmosphere during the test.
The Port of Rotterdam
Authority points out that the degassing of substances, including benzene and petrol,
is already prohibited in the port. An increasing number of provinces in the
Netherlands have also already prohibited the process with a total ban expected
shortly. Testing of technologies will continue in the port for a safe and
effective technology to solve the need to degas vessels while in transit.