10 Systems for separated sludge
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Marine Environment Protection Committee - MEPC.1/Circular.642 – 2008 Revised Guidelines for Systems for Handling Oily Wastes in Machinery Spaces of Ships Incorporating Guidance Notes for an Integrated Bilge Water Treatment System (IBTS)... - Annex - 2008 Revised Guidelines for Systems for Handling Oily Wastes in Machinery Spaces of Ships Incorporating Guidance Notes for an Integrated Bilge Water Treatment System (IBTS) - 10 Systems for separated sludge

10 Systems for separated sludge

  10.1 Tanks for separated sludge and their pipework

 Tanks for separated sludge, their pipework and pumps should be designed as follows:

  10.1.1 Size of tanks: see paragraph 8.

  10.1.2 Tank heating system

Tanks for separated sludge should be equipped with tank heating systems. The heating pipes should be arranged such that, seen from the heating inlet, to start with they are arranged in a way of the boundaries and then across the whole bottom area sufficiently high, in order to avoid being covered totally by sediments in the tank. The tank heating system should be designed such as to enable heating of the oil sludge up to 60°C. The suction line from the sludge tank to the pump should be provided with heat tracing.

  10.1.3 Oil residue (sludge) drain tank

The tank for separated sludge or other waste oils may be arranged as a separate oil residue (sludge) drain tank.

  10.1.4 Pipelines from the heavy fuel oil purifier to the tank

Whenever possible, the oil residue (sludge) tank should be located below the heavy fuel oil purifier. If this is not possible, the oil residue (sludge) holding tank should be situated close to the heavy fuel oil purifier in such a way that the discharge line to the tank can be installed at the maximum gradient. The pipelines should, wherever possible, be straight or fitted with large radius elbows.

  10.1.5 Suction line from the oil residue (sludge) tank

The pump suction should be arranged so that the path to the suction opening is as short as possible; or the oil residue (sludge) tank should be mounted or designed, so that the oil residue (sludge) moves down a slope towards the suction opening. The openings should be placed as wide as possible in the frames above the tank bottom in such a way that the oil sludge has free access to the suction line.

  10.1.6 Oil residue (sludge) collecting pump and pressure lines

The pump should be suitable for use with high viscosity oil residue (sludge), e.g., “self-priming displacement pump”, with suitable means for protection against dry running. It should have a sufficient total head, and delivery rate to facilitate the transfer of the daily sludge production onboard.

  10.1.7 Oil residue (sludge) discharge pump and pressure lines

The pump should be suitable for use with high viscosity oil sludge, e.g., self-priming displacement pump', with suitable means for protection against dry running. It should have a sufficient total head, and be capable of discharging the tank within 4 to 8 hours.

The pressure side of the pump should only be connected to the standard connection on deck and to oil residue (sludge) tank(s) and to other sludge disposal means as listed in item 3.2 in the Supplement to the IOPP Certificate.

  10.1.8 Oil residue (sludge) tank design to facilitate cleaning

Access holes should be arranged so that all areas of the tank can be cleaned. An access hole should be sited on top of the tank to facilitate the use of a portable pump.

  10.1.9 Steaming-out lines

The oil residue (sludge) tanks should be fitted with steaming-out lines for cleaning.


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