STCW chapter 5 section A-V1 paragraph 12

Crude Oil Washing (COW) Washing system for the cargo tanks by means of
high pressure washing machines, using the cargo oil itself, heated. Mandatory
in all the oil tankers with DW > 20,000 t.
Requirements for the Crude Oil Washing (COW) Before the departure for a
ballast voyage, after the complete discharge of the ship, a sufficient number of
tks. should be washed with oil to avoid the ballasting of cargo tks. that were
not washed with oil In ships with SBT, about 25% of the tanks in every
voyage, to control the sludge, although no tank needs to be washed for that
purpose more than once in every 4 months In oil tankers with insufficient
capacity of SBT, the number of tks. washed with oil should be increased above
that minimum in order to obtain a sufficient number of clean cargo tks. (as
defined by the rules) to allow the reception of water ballast sufficient to attain
the ballast draught required for the voyage.
Learning objectives:
1.

Introduction to crude oil washing

Purpose of crude oil washing
Property of crude oil
Dissolving effect in crude oil
Applicability of requirements
Advantages and disadvantages with cow
Disadvantages with water washing

MARPOL 73/78 recognizes that cow provided means of reducing the contact
between oil and water. Washing cargo tanks with crude oil reduces the amount
of water washing needed for those tanks required for ballast and eliminate it
for sludge control purposes.

3.1 Cloud Point of Crude Oil

In the petroleum industry, cloud point refers to the temperature below which wax in
diesel or biowax in biodiesels form a cloudy appearance. The presence of solidified
waxes thickens the oil and clogs fuel filters and injectors in engines. The wax also
accumulates on cold surfaces (e.g. pipeline or heat exchanger fouling) and forms
an emulsion with water. Therefore, cloud point indicates the tendency of the oil to
plug filters or small orifices at cold operating temperatures.

In crude or heavy oils, cloud point is synonymous with wax appearance

temperature (WAT) and wax precipitation temperature (WPT).
This means that virtually all crude oil contains relatively heavy components of waxy
and asphaltic substances. During a tankers loaded passage these components
settle out and horizontal members of tank structures acquire substantial coatings of
sludge deposits
3.2 Sludge Control
After the oil is discharged from tanks the majority of this sludge will build up over
several voyages and eventually impede the efficient drainage of the tanks. This will
effectively reduce the cargo carrying capacity of the ship.
The COW is meant to reduce the amount of sludge left inside the tanks thus
allowing for a more efficient draining of the tanks and impede the clogging of the
pipelines when operating in cold temperatures.
3.3 Self-dissolving properties of Crude Oil
Crude oil has the certain property whereby it can be used to dissolve its own
residues, dispense and suspend the sediments in the cargo thus restore the cargo
to the original condition when loaded. This property is the basis for COW -Crude
Oil Washing- which as the description implies involves the cleaning or washing of
cargo tanks with high pressure jets of crude oil. Part of the cargo is circulated
through fixed piping and washing machines during cargo discharge.
Crude oil or water washing: cleaning with water gives reasonable good results
only when water jets with sufficient impact force are directly hitting the
surfaces within a tank. Accordingly the cleaning effect is almost non-existent as
far as reflected jets and drainages are concerned. When using crude oil a
surprisingly good cleaning result is obtained even from drainages and reflected
jets of crude oil the so called splash-back effect-.

Superiority: The superiority of crude oil to water as a tank cleaning fluid is

exclusively dependent upon the dissolving property of crude oil. It is not
possible to dissolve sediments from crude oil cargoes with water
Segregated ballast tanks: By 1977 COW had been widely adopted by a large
number of major oil companies and independent tanker owners as a means of
sediment control. It was offered as an alternative to the fitting of segregated
ballast tanks, SBT.

Solas and Marpol: The International Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution
Prevention, convened in London during February 1978, resulted in Protocols
amending those of the 1974 Solas and Marpol 73/78
SBT or CBT: Briefly, existing crude oil carriers must be fitted with SBT systems if
they are 40,000 dwt. Or above but, as an alternative, crude oil washing (COW)
or a Clean Ballast Tank system (CBT) may be allowed. In the case of CBT, the
shipowner declares certain cargo tanks as dedicated clean ballast tanks and
these are not allowed to carry cargo. A CBT system is similar to an SBT system
except that pump and lines serving the CBT tanks may also be used for cargo
operations
Advantages with COW: 1. Considerable reduction in pollution potential since
less oil remains on board after discharging and less oil-contaminated water is
handled during the ballast voyage.
2. Reduction in time and cost of tank cleaning
3. De-sludging by hand obviated
4. Reduced tank-cleaning time at sea
5. Increased outturn of cargo
6. Reduced deadfreight as less oil/water/slops are retained
on board
7. Less salt water discharged to refineries.
8.. Tank corrosion due to water washing is reduced
Disadvantages with COW: 1. Increased workload during discharging
2. Prolonged time for discharging
3. Costs for extra personnel
4. Costs for COW equipment

5. Potential safety and pollution risk

6. More equipment- higher demand for maintenance
Disadvantages with water washing: 1. Longer time for washing each tank,
resulting in increased bunker costs
2. Handling larger amounts of water is costly and causes
increased pollution of the sea since the water is contaminated with oil, even
when LOT (Load On Top) procedures are used.
3. Increased corrosion due to extensive water washing
4. Reduced cargo capacity due to larger quantity of slops
5. Discharge of more salt water with slops to refineries.
6. Longer period of time needed to prepare tanks for dry
dock intermediate cold or hot work, tank inspection included.

2. Design criteria of cow systems and equipment

The pumps
The piping system
The stripping system
The tank washing machines
Ballast lines
Pumps: The pumps supplying crude oil to the tank cleaning machines shall be
either the cargo pumps or pumps specifically provided for the purpose.
The capacity of the pumps shall be sufficient to provide the necessary
pressure for the maximum number of tank cleaning machines required to be
operated simultaneously as specified in the Operation and Equipment Manual.
In addition to the above requirement, the pumps shall, if an eductor
system is fitted for a tank stripping, be capable of supplying the eductor
sufficient driving fluid such that the bottom of the tank being cleaned is kept
free of accumulations of oil and sediment towards the completion of the tank
washing process.
The pumping and piping arrangements shall be such that the COW
system can be effectively operated with any one pump out of use and the
carriage of more than one grade of cargo shall not prevent crude oil washing
tanks
The two main principles for oil supply to the cow system are:

a) bleed-off from main(s)

b) separate pump (a designated cargo pump or dedicated COW pump)

The minimum supply pressure required for crude oil washing shall be
specified in the Operation and Equipment Manual. Should this minimum supply
pressure not be obtainable, crude oil washing operations shall not be carried
out
Piping System: The crude oil washing pipes and all valves incorporated in the
supply piping system shall be of steel or other equivalent material and shall be
of adequate strength regarding the pressure to which they may be subjected,
and shall be properly jointed and supported.
Provision shall be made to prevent overpressure in the tank
washing supply piping.
Where hydrant valves are fitter for water washing purposes on
tank washing lines, all such valves shall be blanked off by blank flanges when
washing lines may contain crude oil.
All connections for pressure gauges or other instrumentation shall
be provided with isolating valves adjacent to the lines unless the fitting is of
the sealed type
No part of the COW system shall enter the machinery spaces.
Where the tank washing system is fitted with a steam heater for water washing
usage, the heater must be effectively isolated during crude oil washing by
double shut-off valves or by clearly identifiable blanks.
The piping system shall be of such diameter that the greatest
number of tank cleaning machines required, as specified in the Operation and
Equipment Manual, can be operated simultaneously at the designed pressure
and throughput.
The piping system shall be tested to one and on half times the
working pressure after it has been installed on the ship
The crude oil washing supply piping shall be anchored (firmly
attached) to the ships structure at appropriate locations, and means shall be
provided to permit freedom of the movement elsewhere to accommodate
thermal expansion and flexing of the ship.
Tank washing machines: The tank washing machines for crude oil washing
shall be permanently mounted.

Each machine shall be capable of being isolated by means of stop valves

in the supply line.
The number and location of the tank washing machines shall be too the
satisfaction of the Administration.
The number and location of the machines in each cargo tank shall be
such that all horizontal and vertical areas are washed by direct impingement or
effectively by deflection or splashing of the impinging jet.
a). For horizontal areas of a tank bottom and the upper surfaces of a tanks
stringers the total area shielded from direct impingement shall not exceed 10%
of the total horizontal area.
b). For vertical areas of a tank, the total area of the tanks side shielded from
direct impingement shall not exceed 15% of the total area of the tanks sides.
Where the drive units for the tank washing machines are not integral with the
tank cleaning machine, sufficient drive units shall be provided to ensure that no
drive unit needs to be moved more than twice from its original position during
discharging.
The design of deck mounted tank washing machines shall be such that means
are provided, external to the cargo tanks which, when crude oil washing is in
progress, would indicate the rotation and arc of the movement of the machine.
Where submerge machines are required, they should be non-programmable
and, in order to comply with the requirements it must be possible to verify their
rotation by one of the following methods:

A). By indicators external to the tank.

B). By checking the characteristic sound pattern of the machine. Where
two or more submerged machines are installed on the same supply line,
valves shall be provided and arranged so that the operation of each
machine can be verified independently of the other machines on the
same supply line.
C). By gas freeing the tank and checking the operation of the machine
with water during ballast voyages. In this case the check shall take place
after a maximum of six usages of the machine but the interval between
checks shall not exceed 12 months. Each verification must be recorded
in Supplement 2 to the Oil Record Book.

The method of verification shall be stated in the Operations and Equipment

Manual

Fixed tank washing machines, originally constructed for water washing are
used for COW. As a general rule any system designed for effective water
washing is even more effective with COW.
Single nozzle machines. These are usually programmable to cover pre-set
sectors and are intended for deck mounting, but submerged un-programmable
single nozzle machines are also available. Washing with programmable single
nozzle machines is performed in one, two or three stages (single stage / multi
stage).
Dual nozzle and un-programmable machines. This type may be deck mounted
or submerged. The dual nozzle machines are usually fully orbital and need no
programming.
A programmable single nozzle machine, the nozzle is rotating in the horizontal
plane, combined with a very slow vertical movement.
The Stripping System: The design and capacity of the tank stripping system
shall be such that the bottom of the tank being cleaned is kept free of
accumulation of oil and sediment towards completion of the tank washing
process.
The stripping system shall be capable of removing oil at a rate of 1.25 times
the total throughput of all the tank cleaning machined to be operated
simultaneously when washing the bottom of the cargo tanks.
The means for stripping oil from the cargo tanks shall be by positive
displacement pump, self-priming centrifugal pump or educator or other
methods to the satisfaction of the Administration.
An oil tanker must be provided with a separate stripping pump. This stripping
pump may be connected to the ordinary line system or be supplied with its own
line system.
Means shall be provided to drain all cargo pumps and lines at the completion of
cargo discharge, where necessary by connection to a stripping device. The line
and pump draining shall be capable of being discharged both to a cargo tank or
ashore.
For discharge ashore a special small diameter line shall be provided for that
purpose and connected outboard from the ships manifold valve.
Means such as level gauges, hand dipping and stripping system gauges shall
be provided for checking that the bottom of every cargo tank is dry after crude
oil washing.

Suitable arrangements for hand dipping must be provided at the aftermost

portion of a cargo tank and in three other suitable locations unless other
approved means are fitted for efficiently ascertaining that the bottom of every
cargo tank is dry.
Ballast lines: Where a separate ballast water system for ballasting cargo tanks
is not provided, the arrangement shall be such that the cargo pump, manifolds
and pipes used for ballasting can be safely and effectively drained of oil before
ballasting.
Qualification of personnel: The training requirements of ships personnel
engaged in crude oil washing shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration.
Where a person such as the master, the chief officer or the cargo control officer
assumes overall charge of a crude oil wash he shall:

A). Have at least one years experience on oil tankers where his duties
have included the discharge of cargo and associated crude washing.
Where his duties have not included crude oil washing operations, he
shall have completed a training program in crude oil washing in
accordance with the Specifications and satisfactory to the
Administration.
B). Have participated at least twice in crude oil wash programs one of
which shall be on the particular ship for which shall be on the particular
ship for which he is required to undertake the responsibility of cargo
discharge. Alternatively, this latter participation may be acceptable if
undertaken on a ship that is similar in all relevant respects.
Be fully knowledgeable of the contents of the Operations and Equipment
Manual.

Where other nominated persons are intended to have particular responsibilities

as defined in the Operations and Equipment Manual, they shall have at least 6
months experience on oil tankers where, in the course of their duties, they
should have been involved in the cargo discharge operation.
In addition, they should have been instructed in the crude oil washing
operation in the particular ship for which they are required to undertake this
responsibility and be fully knowledgeable of the contents of the Operations and
Equipment Manual.

3. Crude oil washing operation

The learning objective of this section is to ensure relevant personnel are
acquainted with:

Tanks to be crude oil washed

Crude oil washing at sea between ports
Use of inert gas
Vapour emission control
Precautions against electro static generation
Discharge of dirty ballast

Tanks to be crude oil washed: Before departure on ballast voyage, after the
complete discharge of cargo, the following tanks shall have been crude oil
washed:

A). All departure and arrival ballast tanks permitting compliance with
trim and draught requirements under c and d below.
B). In addition about of the remaining cargo tanks on rotational basis
for sludge control. However, for sludge control no tank need to be crude
oil washed more than once every four months.
C). The moulded draught amidships (dm) in meters shall not be less
than: dm= 2.0 + 0.02L (length)
D). The trim by stern shall not be greater than: 0.015 x L (length), with
full immersion of the propeller(s).

Account is taken of the ships trading pattern and the expected weather
conditions so that additional ballast water is not put into tanks which have not
been crude oil washed.
Crude oil washing shall not be conducted between the final discharge and
loading ports; that is to say, no crude oil washing shall be undertaken during
the ballast voyage.
Ballast water shall not be put into tanks that have not been crude oil washed.
Water that is put into a tank which has been crude oil washed but not water
rinsed shall be regarded as dirty ballast.
At the end of cargo discharged all cargo mains and stripping lines shall be
drained and stripped and the drainings and strippings discharged ashore via
the special small diameter line.
In addition all cargo tanks are to be stripped before the ship leaves its final port
of discharge.
All crude oil washing must be completed before the ship leaves its final port of
discharge.
Where any tank is crude oil washed while the ship is at sea between multiple
discharge ports the tank shall be left empty and available for the inspection at
the next discharge port before commencing the next ballast voyage. This

inspection may consist of multiple sounding/dipping of the bottom of the tank

when the tank is empty.
Departure ballast tanks shall be ballasted prior to departure from port so that
examination of the surface of the ballast water can be made.
Use and control of inert gas: the system shall be capable of delivering inert gas
to the cargo tanks at a rate of at least 125% of the maximum rate of discharge
capacity.
No tank shall be crude oil washed unless the inert gas system is in proper
operation.
Before each tank is crude oil washed, the oxygen level shall be determined at a
point 1 meter from the deck and at the middle region of the ullage space and
neither of these determinations shall exceed 8% by volume.
The oxygen level of the inert gas being delivered during the washing process
shall be continuously monitored. If during crude oil washing:

A). The oxygen level of the inert gas being delivered exceeds 5% by
volume.
B). The pressure of the atmosphere at the tanks is no longer positive.
The washing must be stopped until satisfactorily conditions are restored.

Precautions against electrostatic generation: To avoid excessive electrostatic

generation in the washing process due to the presence of water in the crude oil
washing fluid, the contents of any tank to be used as a source of crude oil
washing fluid must first be discharged by at least 1 meter before being so used.
Any tank used as a slop tank on the previous ballast voyage shall be
completely discharged and refilled with dry crude oil if that tank is to be used
as a source of washing fluid.
Vapour emission: On the ships to which these Specifications apply there shall
be means to avoid vapour emission during the filling of departure ballast
wherever local conditions require it. The method of preventing the emission of
hydrocarbon vapour into the atmosphere shall be:

A). By the use of segregated ballast tanks wherever these are sufficient
to provide the minimum departure draught.
B). By containment of vapour in empty cargo tanks by simultaneous
ballasting and cargo discharge.
Alternative methods to the satisfaction of the Administrations may be
accepted provided and equivalent degree of environmental protection is
provided.

4. Operations and equipment manual

The learning objective of this section is to ensure relevant personnel are
acquainted with:

The purpose of the Manual

The content of the Manual

Every tanker which operates with crude oil washing must be provided with and
Operations and Equipment Manual, approved by the Administration
The manual must detail the system and equipment and specify operational
procedures according to Regulation 13B of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78
The Manual is required to contain general information, common for all tankers.
However, most of the content will comprise specific details for each particular
ship. The Manual must therefore be tailor-made, and very well reflect the
companys practice and intentions with COW within the framework of the
Specifications.
The parts of the Manual dealing with normal operation of COW will contain
instructions, which must always be complied with, and also guidance and
recommendations for typical operations. Because no cargo discharge/COW
operations are similar in all respects, it is impossible to describe detailed
procedures, always to be followed for these operations.
Contents of the Manual:
1) Text of the revised Specifications
2) Drawings of the crude oil washing system
3) Description of the crude oil washing system and operational and
equipment parameters
4) Dangers of and precautions against oil leakage
5) Use and control of inert gas
6) Precautions against electrostatic hazards
7) Personnel requirements
8) Methods of communication
9) List of crude oils unsuitable for crude oil washing
10)
Crude oil washing checklists
11)
Approved methods and programs for crude oil washing
12)
Typical crude oil washing programs.
13)
The method of draining cargo tanks
14)
The method and procedures for draining cargo pumps and lines.
15)
Typical procedures for ballasting and the method of preventing
hydrocarbon emission
16)
Compliance procedures for Regulation 9 of Annex I of MARPOL
73/78
17)
Inspections and maintenance of equipment
18)
Procedures for changing from crude oil trade to product trade

5. Safety
The learning objective of this section is to ensure relevant personnel are
acquainted with:

Ship/Shore Safety Check List.

Procedures before crude oil washing
Procedures during crude oil washing
Procedures after crude oil washing
Recording.

It is very important to fill in the prevailing Ship/Shore Safety Checklist with

accuracy
This list is a document signed by both the ships and the shores
representatives.
Checklists: Pre Arrival Checks at Discharge Port
1) Has terminal been notified?
2) Is oxygen analyzing equipment tested and working satisfactorily?
3) Is tank washing pipeline system isolated from water heater and engine
room?
4) Are all hydrant valves on tank washing line blanked?
5) Are all valves to fixed tank washing machines shut?
6) Have tank cleaning lines been pressurized and leakages made good?
7) Have portable drive units for fixed tank washing machines been tested?
8) Have pressure gauges on top discharge line, manifold and tank cleaning
main been checked?
9) Has the stripping system monitoring equipment been checked?
10)
Has the communications system been checked and tested?
11)
Has the organization plan been drawn up and posted with duties
and responsibilities defined?
12)
Have the discharge/crude oil wash operation plans been drawn up
and posted?
13)
In case where the terminal has a standard radio checklist, has this
been completed and transmitted?
Before COW Checklist:
A. Before crude oil wash operation
1) Are all pre-arrival checks and conditions in order?
2) Has discharge/crude oil wash operation been discussed with both ship
and shore staff and is agreed plan readily available for easy reference?
3) Has communication link between deck/control station and control
station/Shore been set up and is it working properly?
4) Have crude oil wash abort condition and procedures been discussed and
agreed by both ship and shore staff?

5) Have fixed and portable oxygen analyzers been checked and are they
working properly?
6) Is inert gas system working properly and is the oxygen content of inert
has being delivered below 5% by volume?
7) Is oxygen content of tank(s) to be crude oil washed below 8% by
volume?
8) Have all cargo tanks positive inert has pressure?
9) Has a responsible person been assigned to check all deck lines for leaks
as soon as washing starts?
10)
Are the fixed machines set for the required washing method and
are portable drive units, if fitted, mounted and set?
11)
Have valves and lines both in pump room and on deck been
checked?
During COW Checklist:
B. During crude oil wash operation
12)
Is quality of inert gas being delivered frequently checked and
recorded?
13)
Are all deck lines and machines being frequently checked for
leaks?
14)
Is crude oil washing in progress in designated cargo tanks only?
15)
Is the pressure in the tank wash line as specified in this Manual?
16)
Are cycle times of tank washing machines as specified in this
Manual?
17)
Are the washing machines in operation, together with their drive
units if applicable, frequently checked and are they working properly?
18)
Is a responsible person stations continuously on deck?
19)
Will trim be satisfactory when bottom washing is in progress as
specified in this Manual?
20)
Will recommended tank draining method be followed?
21)
Have ullage gauge floats been raised and housed in tanks being
crude oil washed?
22)
Is level in holding tank for tank washings frequently checked to
prevent any possibility of an overflow?

After COW Checklist:

C. After crude oil wash operations
23)
Are all valves between discharge line and tank wash line closed?
24)
Has tank wash line been drained of crude oil?
25)
Are all valves to washing machines closed?
26)
Are cargo pumps, tanks and pipelines properly drained as
specified in this Manual?

Recording: It is extremely important to record the whole operation in the ships

Oil Record Book.
Register the operation with accuracy
Inert gas system failure: In the event of total failure of the inert gas system to
deliver the required quality and quantity of inert has and maintain a positive
pressure in the cargo tanks and slop tanks, action must be taken immediately
tot prevent any air being drawn into the tank.
All cargo operations should be stopped, the deck isolating valve should be
closed, and immediate action should be taken to repair the inert gas system.
6. Crude oil washing exercise
The learning objective of this section is to ensure relevant personnel are
acquainted with:

Preparing the crude oil washing operation

Opening the relevant valves in correct order
Stripping with vacuum stripping.
Stripping with ejector stripping
Shut-down procedures.

7. Maintenance
The learning objective of this section is to ensure relevant personnel are
acquainted with:

Maintenance attitude.

Follow the maintenance routines for the equipment on your ship and be
especially careful:

To ensure that the COW machines deck housing is maintained as

regards correct lubrication, waterproofing etc.
To ensure that the COW machines indicator shows the same angle as
the nozzle angle. (routine check when tank entering)
To ensure that all the COW lines are drained empty after use.
To ensure that all the COW lines are pressure tested prior to port
entering for discharge.
To be aware of salt forming after water washing.