CHAPTER No 4 – APPENDIX II
Removal of taint– by smell
Any extreme case of problems arising from smelly holds.
For example a bulk carrier was fixed to load grain in a US Golf port immediately after carrying a cargo of Fishmeal.
She was finally passed as load ready when inspected for the tenth time, and after (13) thirteen days of cleaning by crew assisted, in the later stages by shore labor and equipment important lessons learnt were as follows.
Cleaning and deodorizing chemicals designed for use with hot water were ineffective when applied with cold water.
The smell of fishmeal was only finally removed when the inside of the hold ventilator trunks, in Samson posts, were cleaned as thoroughly as the holds, and when every trace of fishmeal was removed from decks, deck scuppers, hatch covers and mast houses and when equipment from the mast houses had been moved to the poop.
Hold cleaning and deodorizing of a bulk carrier after carrying fishmeal and before carrying grain.
(The total numbers of preloading surveys completed is noted in brackets as they occurred).
• The cargo holds were swept then washed with sea water.
• Holds flushed with fresh water mixed with Alkleen safety liquid, a non-caustic cleaner.
• On arrival at the loading port the holds were rejected, then again rejected after more cleaning because of fish odour (1 and 2)
• Removed loose rust and paint chips. Washed holds with high pressure fresh water and Airx 60, a cleaner / odour remover. Holds rejected because of strong fish odour. (3)
• Washed holds with high pressure fresh water and Airx 60, a cleaner / odour remover. Holds rejected because fish odour was present (4).
• Cleaned holds, mast houses, within platforms, decks and coamings. Holds rejected because fish odour still presented (5).
• All holds washed top to bottom with a 50% solution of Citro Solve Detergent, a citrus oil based detergent and deodorized which was sprayed onto all surfaces, left for 2-3 hours then missed with fresh water.
• Holds were again rejected fish odour still present (6).
• A shore gang of 4 men working with a fresh water electric powered spraying machine enhanced by compressed air was employed to clean all holds using Gyro AVO Super Corrosive un 1824, caustic, cleaner.
• All holds were again rejected because fish odour was still present (7).
• Local cleaning contractors and the services they offered were considered.
A trailer mounted washing unit with a diesel fired water heater capable of achieving temperatures of approximately 210F and pumps capable of achieving pressures of approximately 3000 psi was hired. The equipment came with nozzles and extensions that could reach a height approximately 27ft, and rolling scaffolding rowers of sufficient height to reach the under deck framing of the ship’s coaming and hatch covers.
Large amounts of fishmeal were removed from the boat deck drains, adjacent the accommodation ladder.
• Cleaning commenced with a shore gang using high pressure, high temperature water lasting with Zep Formula 4089, a chlorinated, highly alkaline cleaner followed by high temperature, high pressure water rinsing followed in turn by an application of Amine A, an ammonium based, concentrated disinfectant, deodorant and sanitizer. All waste water from this operation was pumped into a topside ballasting tank. The cleaning resulted in the removal of large amount of fish meal and debris from the king post / ,mast, ie, hold ventilation areas and significant further cleaning all surfaces in all holds. After each hold had dried it was given a final sweeping by the ship’s crew. The ship’s entire open deck surface, all mast houses and machinery flats were then sprayed with light coating of Anime A. All rubbish bins and all cleaning tool, were removed to the poop. Hold ventilator dampers and access doors were closed. The holds were found to be odour free but a slight residual smell was detected on the hatch covers so all holds were again rejected (8).
• The crew spent the day scrubbing the hatch covers. Solid and liquid residues from earlier washings were disposed of.
• No2 hold was passed but rest of the holds were failed for smell from the area of mast houses and coamings (9).
• The bottoms of the chain boxes located near the holds were scraped and cleaned and the mast house interiors were rewashed. All adjacent surfaces were sprayed with Amine A.
Finally the vessel was passed as suitable to load grain (10).
