carrying dangerous goods – IMDG Code Compliance Centre

BLEVE

BLEVE is boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion. BLEVE is caused during fire of a tank, drum or any storage of liquids or gas when the container gives up due to pressure above its boiling point.

BLEVE is a great danger for fire fighters and those near. The first time this term was used after the Kansas City incident.

In Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods (EmS Guide) Below Schedules warns about BLEVE

F – C : NON-FLAMMABLE GASES

Gases in closed tanks exposed to heat may explode suddenly in or after a fire situation by a Boiling Liquid-Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE). Heated or ruptured cylinders may rocket.

F – D : FLAMMABLE GASES

Gases in closed tanks exposed to heat may explode suddenly in or after a fire situation by a Boiling Liquid-Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE). Crew members should be aware of the explosion hazard and take appropriate action.

F – E : NON-WATER REACTIVE FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

Cargoes in tanks exposed to heat may explode suddenly in or after a fire situation by a Boiling Liquid-Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE). Keep tanks cool with copious quantities of water.

CAPTAIN MORGAN & MEDICAL FIRST AID

Antidote for Methanol is Ethanol.

Consumption of Methanol will lead to permanent blindness, not so permanent as next stage of methanol effect is death.

In appendix 15 of Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods (MFAG) included in the supplement of IMDG Code reference to methanol poisoning leads to table no. 19.

Table no. 19 advises that if a mouthful or more methanol is swallowed, regardless of symptoms give 25 ml of ethyl alcohol 99.25% in 250 to 300 ml water or soft drink . Remember It does not advise to pick a bottle of Bacardi or Captain Morgan’s rum from the bonded store 😉

In all cases ship staff must radio for medical advise.

In IMDG Code Methanol is listed as UN 1230, Class 3 with subsidiary risk 6.1 ( flammable toxic liquid) & Ethanol as UN 1170, Class 3 ( flammable liquid )

For more information about Medical First Aid on board ships carrying dangerous goods refer to MFAG.

Safe drinking & Happy Sailing!!

COPIOUS QUANTITIES OF WATER

Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods (EmS Guide) states in its various schedules to use “copious quantities of water” for firefighting and handling spillage of dangerous goods.

For Example see fire schedule F-E below

“Copious quantities of water” means total quantities of water provided for optimal fire-fighting using four jets of water, as required by SOLAS regulation II-2/4.

Application of IMDG Code

IMDG Code is applicable to all ships to which SOLAS 1974, as amended, applies and which are carrying Dangerous Goods.

Regulation 1 of Part A, Chapter VII, of SOLAS 1974, as amended, defines dangerous goods as the substances, materials and articles covered by the IMDG Code.

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