1/19/2015 MarineSoundingEquipment:Howdoessoundingwork?

CivilEngineering
CivilEngineering
BuildingConstruction&Design
ConcreteTechnology
GeotechnicalEngineering
Hydraulics
StructuralEngineering
ElectricalEngineering
ElectricalEngineering
Appliances&Electronics
CommercialApplications
DIYDigital/Analog
PowerDistribution/Generation
MarineEngineering
MarineEngineering
Machinery&ShipSystems
MarineHistory
NavalArchitecture
Seafaring
MechanicalEngineering
MechanicalEngineering
CADReviews&Tips
Energy/PowerPlants
FluidMechanics/Hydraulics
HVAC/HVACR
MachineDesign
ManufacturingTechnology
Robotics
Thermodynamics

Immersion Systems
Tanks for Water, Solution, and Electrolyte Immersion. ASTM D870

Leaveacomment
SoundingtheTanksofaShip

Lufkin Oil Gauge

Tapes
English & Metric Tapes, Plumb
Bobs API / NIST Traceable
Calibration

writtenby:srirambalueditedby:KennethSleightupdated:2/12/2010

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/marineenginesmachinery/35372soundingthetanksofaship/ 1/6
1/19/2015 MarineSoundingEquipment:Howdoessoundingwork?
Wonderinghowdoshipscrewcheckthequantityofbunkerfueloil/oilcargo/ballastwaterinship'stanks?Themethod
ofmeasuringthequantityiscalled"sounding"oftanks.Let'ssoundwhat's"sounding"ofship'stanks!

SoundingofTanks
Theprocessofquantifyingthequantityofliquidpresentinsideatankiscalled"sounding".Weallareawareofstoring
waterinhead/gravitytankinourhouse.Frequentlyweensurethelevelofwaterismaintainedbycheckingthelevelin
thetank.Wefillupthewatertotherequiredlevelandstopfilling.Wecanalsosaythatwesoundthetanklevel.Inthe
sameway,ashipsfueloil(bunker)tankorcargooiltankhastobecheckedforitsincrease/decreaseofitslevelduring
theoperationoftheship/operationscarriedoutontheship.Wewilllearnhowdoessoundingworkincontextofship

tanksinthisarticleandtheuseofmarinesoundingequipment

Whyto"sound"thetanks?
Tobeclearerletustakethecaseofbunkertanks.Asweareaware,bunkertanksareusedtocarrytheentirevolume
offuelrequiredforthesafeseapassage.Whenashipsailsfromaporttoother,thefuelisgettingconsumedeveryday
andsubsequenttransferwhichhastobedonefromvariousfueloilbunkertankstoshipssettling&servicetanksfor
theuseofpropulsion.So,itisalwaysnecessarytotakesoundingofthebunkertankstoknowtheexactquantityof
thefuelavailableonboard.Alsoduringbunkeringoperation,thequantityoffueloilpumpedonboardistobe
monitoredcontinuouslysothatthebunkertankdoesnotoverflow.Ifitoverflows,itmaycauseamarinepollution,and
aspermarpol,spillageofoilintoseaisprohibited.

Soundingofcargotanks:

Shipssuchasoiltankers, PACT Marine Ballast

productcarriersandOBOs
astheycarryoil/liquidas Water
cargointheircargotanks,
soundingofthosetanks Safe, Chemical-Free Treatment for
shouldbecontinuously Your Ballast Water Management
monitoredduring
loading/discharging
needs
operations.Astankersareloadedataveryhighrate,the
levelinthetanksraisefasterandhastomonitoredsothat
thesafequantityofliquidcargoisaccommodatedinside
thecargotankandchangingoverofnextcargotankcan
bedonewithoutcargooiloverflowasitmaycause
marinepollution.

sounding&ullage...

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/marineenginesmachinery/35372soundingthetanksofaship/ 2/6
1/19/2015 MarineSoundingEquipment:Howdoessoundingwork?

Withreferencetotheabovepictorial
illustration,"Sounding"isthemeasureofdistancefromthebottomoftankuptocargolevelinthetank."ullage"isthe
distancefromthetopofthelevelofcargotothemaximumlevelortopofthecargotank.Assoundingincreases,the
ullagedecreases.asullageincreases,thesoundingdecreases.Itisusualpracticeonshipstotakeullagewhen
cargo/fueloilishighlyviscous.Ifthecargo/bunkeredoilisviscous,andif"sounding"istaken,thenthebobmayget
stickyandmaycontributefalsereadings.

Sowhatisasoundingpipe?

Ashipstankmusthaveapipeextendingfrombottomofthetanktoalevelwhichissafeto
soundthecontentsofthetank.Asoundingpipeisasimplesteelpipe,whichisopenat
thebottomsothattheliquidinthetankgetsfilleduptothesamelevelasinthetank.Asthe
levelinthetankrises,theliquidlevelinthesoundingpipealsoincreases,thusupon
takingsounding,thequantityofliquidcanbeknown.

cargosoundingtable

Withinthesoundingpipe,asteelflexiblemeasuringtape,withabobattachedattheendis
loweredtillitstrikesthebottomofthetank.Whenitstrikesthebottomofthetank,thelevel
ofliquidinthetank,makesanimpressiononthesoundingtapesothatifwecoilupthe
tape,theimpressionofcontentofthetankisseenandthereadingsarenoted.Thenoted
readingindicatestheheightoftheliquidinthetank.Soundingtableisavailableonboard
whichiscalibratedinconsiderationwiththeshapeofthetank,andtrimoftheship.The
volumeofliquidinthetankiscalculatedfromthesoundingtable.

Soundingofshipsballasttanks:

Shipsballasttankscontainsseawater.Itisdifficulttotracetheimpressionofwateronthesteeltapewhensounding
theballastwatertanks.Awaterfindingpastecanbeusedtoidentifytheimpressionofthelevelofwaterpresentin
thetank.

Methodtotakesoundingoftheballastwatertank:

1. Applythewaterfindingpasteontothesoundingtapeintheareaofestimateddepth.
2. Dropthesoundingtapeinsidethesoundingpipe.
3. Ensurethebobstrikesthestrikerplateatthebottomofthetank.
4. Coilupthetapelookingupfortheimpression.
5. Thelevelisseenaschangeincolorofthepaste.Presenceofwaterwillturnthepastecolortopinkfromlight
orange.

Othergaugingmethods:
Automatic/Remotesounding/gaugingequipments:

Certaincargoscarriedonboardaretoxicandhazardous.Soundingoftanksisdangerous.Automation&
Instrumentationareusedtomeasurethelevelofliquidinthetanks.

Thosemaybe

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/marineenginesmachinery/35372soundingthetanksofaship/ 3/6
1/19/2015 MarineSoundingEquipment:Howdoessoundingwork?
1. mechanicallyoperatedfloatgauges
2. electricallypoweredservooperatedgauges
3. electricalcapacitancegauges
4. bubblergauges
5. differentialpressuregauges
6. pneumatic/hydraulicgauges
7. sonicgauges
8. radioactivemethods

Theabovedifferenttypesofsoundingtechniquescanbeseeninfurtherarticles.

U.S.C.G
AUnitedStatesCoastGuardagentcheckingthesounding/samplingthewaterballasttank.source:www.uscg.mil

Integrating Spheres
Components/Systems for
calibration, light measurement,
remote sensing

AboutBHEngineering TermsofUse
ContactUs PrivacyPolicy
AdvertiseWithUs CopyrightPolicy
RSS

2012BrightHubInc.AllRightsReserved

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/marineenginesmachinery/35372soundingthetanksofaship/ 4/6
1/19/2015 MarineSoundingEquipment:Howdoessoundingwork?

Lighting
Measurement
Reliable & Inexpensive Light
Meter Design for Multi-Point
Measurement

SUBSCRIBE&FOLLOW:

WHATOTHERSAREREADING
RoleOfCompressedAirInStartinga
MarineDiselEngine
WorkingPrincipleofRotaryPumps
ElectricalGroundingOnShips
SoundingtheTanksofaShip
HowDoesAnAirEjectorWork?
MarineElectricalPowerDistribution
HowSteeringGearsWorkOnShips?
CrankshaftDeflection:MarineDiesel
EngineComponents
ProcedureofSWPumpSeaChest
Cleaning
FunctionsofShipsMainEngineThrust
Block,PropShaft,andSternTube
RELATEDTOPICS:
Machinery&ShipSystems
MarineHistory
NavalArchitecture
Seafaring

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/marineenginesmachinery/35372soundingthetanksofaship/ 5/6
1/19/2015 MarineSoundingEquipment:Howdoessoundingwork?

Tweets Follow

BH_Engineering 14 Nov
@BH_Engineering
The World's 10 Largest Power Stations
#Infographic ow.ly/Edyqy #power
#electricity
Expand

BH_Engineering 30 Oct
@BH_Engineering
Bridges and the People They Connect
cool #infographic! ow.ly/DznOV
#engineering

BH_Engineering 22 Oct
@BH_Engineering
Top 10 Most Impressive Civil
Engineering Projects ow.ly/D6NRC
#engineering
Expand

BH_Engineering 16 Jun
@BH_Engineering
How do Air Conditioners Work?
#infographic ow.ly/y509T
Expand

BH_Engineering 8 Jan 14
@BH_Engineering
Electrical Motor Failure: 6 Common
Causes ow.ly/s68XM #engineering

Tweet to @BH_Engineering

MachineryEquipment
SafetyEquipment
PumpHead
SIGNUPFOREMAILS
Clickheretosignupforournewsletter

PumpHead
AutomationEquipment
WaterTankPump

QuickLinks
CivilEngineering
ElectricalEngineering
MarineEngineering
MechanicalEngineering

2014brighthubengineering.comAllrightsreserved.

PrivacyPolicy

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/marineenginesmachinery/35372soundingthetanksofaship/ 6/6