Baymarine were engaged to clean LNG fuel tanks for a large cruise vessel in-service to allow for inspection of the tank structure and welds. Due to the hazardous nature of LNG gas, all equipment was required to be intrinsically safe (EX-rated - explosion proof), including lighting, cameras, and power tools. As well as this, the vessel’s requirement was that all workers had specialist gas-tank enclosed space entry training.
After exercising the correct procedures, the tanks were opened for the first time in five years and were found to contain a quantity of catalytic fines in the tank bottoms, likely a carry over of the gas refining process. These fines were considered hazardous to human health as well as potentially detrimental to main and auxiliary machinery.
The Baymarine tank cleaning team carefully removed the fines, according to industry best-practice and approved safe cleaning methods, leaving the tanks in a clean condition ready for detailed structural and weld inspections.
After exercising the correct procedures, the tanks were opened for the first time in five years and were found to contain a quantity of catalytic fines in the tank bottoms, likely a carry over of the gas refining process. These fines were considered hazardous to human health as well as potentially detrimental to main and auxiliary machinery.
The Baymarine tank cleaning team carefully removed the fines, according to industry best-practice and approved safe cleaning methods, leaving the tanks in a clean condition ready for detailed structural and weld inspections.
