Pollution Risk from Overboard Pipes Routed Through Fuel Oil Tanks
There have been two more pollution incidents arising from a similar arrangement. In both cases, an Oil Discharge Monitoring Equipment (ODME) overboard discharge pipe was routed through a bunker fuel tank before terminating at the ship’s side. Although all three incidents involved tankers, the recurrence of this failure mode across unrelated vessels highlights a broader ...
The Hellenic Shipping News reports on two additional pollution incidents caused by oil discharge monitoring equipment (ODME) overboard discharge pipes routed through bunker fuel tanks. Despite the isolation measures taken, such as closing the overboard valve and removing a removable spool piece, fuel oil escaped into the sea in both cases.
The failure of the ODME piping within the bunker tank, due to corrosion, wastage, or a cracked welded seam, created a direct pollution pathway. The incidents emphasize the risks associated with this arrangement and suggest that ship managers should review their overboard piping systems, particularly those passing through bunker or cargo oil tanks, to prevent potential pollution incidents.
Brief written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.