2013 Technical Updating

DEVICES TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF

FLAME INTO CARGO TANKS IN TANKERS
DEVICES TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF FLAME INTO CARGO TANKS IN TANKERS

IMO approved MSC.1/Circ.1324 amending MSC/Circ.677 on revised standards for the

design, testing and location of devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo tanks in
tankers.

The purpose of these amendments is to ensure that the flame preventer devices fitted into
a tank are tested with a medium whose Maximum Experimental Safe Gap (MESG) value is
appropriate for the products the tank is allowed to carry.

The circular introduces the concept that the flame preventer devices for chemical tankers
certified for the carriage of specific products (listed in the attachment to the ICOF
Certificate) should be tested with the following media, depending on the “apparatus group”
assigned to each product as per column i” of IBC Code Chapter 17:
1. hydrocarbons (MESG = 0.90 mm) for products requesting II A “apparatus group”;
2. ethylene (MESG = 0.65 mm) for products requesting II B “apparatus group”;
3. hydrogen (MESG = 0.28 mm) for products requesting II C “apparatus group”.

For the above purposes, in November 2012, Instruction to Surveyors no. II-B-9 "Carriage
of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk" has been updated, adding a new file called:
 Flame Preventer Device on Chemical Tanker

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DEVICES TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF FLAME INTO CARGO TANKS IN TANKERS
Unless provided otherwise by the flag Administration, MSC/Circ.1324 is to be applied, to:
• new ships built on or after 1 January 2013; and,
• existing ships built before 1 January 2013 not later than the first dry dock carried
out on or after 1 January 2013.
A dedicated forthcoming requirements has been inserted in the ship’s survey status of
chemical tanker ships as follow:

“SUBJECT IBC Code Ch. 8.3.6 - Devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo
tanks
IMO MSC.1/Circ.1324 amending MSC/Circ.677 defines revised standards for the devices
in subject introducing new Maximum Explosive Safe Gap (MESG) values for intended
cargo list.
Unless provided otherwise by the Flag Administration, not later than the first dry dock
survey carried out on or after 1 January 2013 the MESG of devices to prevent the
passage of flame into cargo tanks installed on board is to be verified and if applicable the
cargo list of the ship's fitness certificate (ICOF CHE/COF CHE) is to be revised
accordingly.
In case the first dry dock survey is carried out before 1 January 2013 this forthcoming
requirement is to be postponed to the following dry dock survey.”

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 DEVICES TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF FLAME INTO CARGO TANKS IN TANKERS

As a consequence, for chemical tankers fitted with flame preventer devices tested with:
• hydrocarbons (MESG = 0.90 mm)
and therefore suitable only for chemical products requesting II A apparatus group, the
chemical products requesting II B or II C apparatus group, if any, are to be removed
from the ICOF attachment for such tanks and the certificate is to be re-issued;
• ethylene (MESG = 0.65 mm)
and therefore suitable only for chemical products requesting II A or II B apparatus
group, the chemical products requesting II C apparatus group, if any, are to be removed
from the ICOF attachment for such tanks and the certificate is to be re-issued;
• hydrogen (MESG = 0.28 mm) and therefore suitable for all chemical products, no
actions are required.
When the MESG assessment is carried out, the form ICOF_Rep_MESG is to be used for
reporting.
One copy of the form duly filled in and signed is to be left on board and one is to be
attached to Leonardo Ship job.
In case the cargo tanks venting system consists of two separate valves as per common
practice, one for the "Pressure" part and one for the "Vacuum" part, the venting system as
whole is to be considered as having a reference MESG equal to the highest one. In this
case, the two valves are to be reported separately in ICOF_Rep_MESG, in different lines,
each one with its own characteristics.