What should be paid attention to about vessel oil supply and acceptance operations？

Ship traffic in coastal ports is increasing, which is followed by an increase in the risk of oil spills from ships and the occurrence of oil spills in ships. Vessel oil supply and acceptance accidents account for a certain proportion of oil spills. Should the ship pay attention to the oil supply operation?

Characteristics and causes of oil spill accidents in ship supply and receiving operations

1. it occurs in the middle of the night and in the early hours of the morning, which is directly related to the night fatigue and lack of concentration of the crew and workers.


2. the crew and operators are not responsible and negligent. Vessel oil supply and acceptance is related to the cleanliness of the marine environment. The crew must be on duty at the job site to maintain continuous monitoring to prevent accidents. If the crew is negligent or arbitrarily departed, it will leave a gap in the accident.


3. The crew and operators did not follow the work procedures and violated the operating procedures. During the transportation process, the oil pressure requirements are strict. If the oil pressure is too small or too large, the oil material will change the set trajectory, causing oil spill.


4. The language communication ability of staff and operators can not meet the work needs. The oil supply operation involves the communication between the two parties, and the two parties need to correctly understand each other's intentions and work together to complete the work. In the case of the increasing number of foreign ships, the language exchange between the oil receiving personnel and the foreign crew is a major obstacle to normal communication.


5. There are defects in the ship equipment. Many operational oil spill accidents are closely related to the ship's own defects. The oil tank high alarm is invalid, the alarm sound system is not working properly, the flange bolts are rusted, the breathing valve can't work, and other factors cause the oil spill to lose obstacles. .


6. The shipping company is not well managed. The crew is not on duty, and the violation of operating procedures is directly related to the lack of training and education of the shipping company. At the same time, some anti-pollution equipment defects, the crew has reported to the company in time, but the company is not willing to delay the operation time or have the luck. Factors that missed the opportunity to correct the defect, resulting in the occurrence of the accident. In addition, some shipping companies have not established a safety management system, and entrusting the safety management responsibilities of their own ships to other companies is also likely to lead to the phenomenon of poor ship management.

Advice on strengthening safety management of vessel oil supply and acceptance

• The fuel supply unit shall ensure that the quality of the fuel supplied meets the relevant standards and deliver the fuel to the fuel testing unit that has obtained the national qualification. The fuel quality test report shall be kept on the working ship for future reference.


• Personnel engaged in work activities shall have relevant professional knowledge and skills for safety and pollution prevention. Units that have obtained the qualification of vessel oil supply and acceptance according to law shall file with the maritime administration.


• Ship oil supply and acceptance should be avoided as far as possible in the middle of the night and early morning, bad weather and other high-risk periods.


• Vessel oil supply and acceptance Both parties shall adopt management measures for oil and gas supply that meet safety and pollution control requirements.

Before operation

1. The ship fuel supply unit shall truthfully fill out the fuel supply and receiving documents and provide fuel supply documents and fuel samples to the ship. The fuel supply and receipt shall include the name of the oil tanker, the ship identification number or the International Maritime Organization number, the time and place of operation, the name, address and contact information of the fuel supplier, as well as the type, quantity, density and sulphur content of the fuel. The ship and fuel supply unit shall keep the fuel supply permit for 3 years and keep the fuel sample for 1 year.


2. Ensure that the hose is in good condition and that it will not cause tensile force or pressure beyond the design range; all flanges must be bolted and locked.


3. Check the pipelines and valves, prepare for the work, block the drainage holes of the deck, and close the relevant sea valve. All the drain holes are kept tight during the operation, and if there is accumulated water, they should be discharged regularly. The ship's manifold should be equipped with a fixed oil sump, such as the use of a mobile oil sump. All oil pans should be kept empty, but usually empty should be completed after the specific operation.


4. Check the equipment related to the oil operation and keep it in good condition.


5. Set the oil collection container for the place where the spill may occur.


6. Both the supplier and the receiving party shall agree on the contact signal by the recipient, and both parties shall implement it.


7. Before the vessel oil supply and acceptance, both parties should prepare oil spill emergency equipment and equipment in advance to ensure that oil spill emergency equipment and equipment are readily available.

During the operation

• During the oil supply operation of the ship, the provisions of the “Procedures for the Administration of Fuels for Ships and Ships” shall be complied with, and the work requirements for the “Safety Checklist for Supply and Receiving Operations” shall be carefully filled out and implemented.


• Oil supply operations should be carried out by selecting the appropriate time, location, weather and sea conditions to ensure safe operation. In addition to emergency rescue needs, oil supply for construction operations should be carried out with good visibility during the day.


• Both the supply and the receiving oil should be on duty, pay attention to the changes of wind and sea conditions, and take timely measures when the weather and sea conditions may affect the safety of the operation, and stop the operation if necessary.


• For ships engaged in ship oil supply operations, the AIS equipment shall be kept in normal working condition throughout the day.


• Temporary opening of the flow hole plug should be continuously monitored. Temporary opening of the sewer (such as the discharge of clean rain) should be monitored frequently and closely, and can be shut down immediately in the event of oil spills or other incidents that may cause pollution.

After operation

• When stopping the operation, the relevant valve must be effectively closed.


• When retracting the oil hose, the hose must be effectively closed with a blind plate in advance, or other effective measures should be taken to prevent the hose from flowing into the sea.