Explosion ship

Typical events that are considered are fire, explosion, ship collision, and the failure of pressurized storage vessels for which historical data established the failure frequencies. Assessment of consequences was based partly on conservative treatment of past experience. For example ilic assessment of the number of casualties from the release of a toxic material was based on past histoiy conditioned by knowledge of the toxicology and the prevailing weather conditions. An altemati. e used fault trees to estimate probabilities and identify the consequences. Credit is taken in this process for preventative measures in design, operation, and maintenance procedures. Historical data provide reliability expected from plant components and humans. 

Pure compound highly sensitive to shock, heat, and contaminants decomposes explosively shipping of >52% solutions. DOT prohibited DOT Label Organic Peroxide, UN 2169 (27-52% solution), UN 2170 (<27% solution)... 

Heico Chemicals is the only producer of acetamide in the United States. Small amounts are imported from Europe and Asia. It is shipped in 32-L (35-gal) dmms weighing about 80 kg. Acetamide appears to have a wide spectmm of appHcations. It suppresses acid buildup in printing inks, lacquers, explosives, and perfumes. It is a mild moisturi2er and is used as a softener for leather, textiles, paper, and certain plastics. It finds some appHcations in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and antioxidants for plastics. 

Pentaerythritol may be nitrated by a batch process at 15.25°C using concentrated nitric acid in a stainless steel vessel equipped with an agitator and cooling coils to keep the reaction temperature at 15—25°C. The PETN is precipitated in a jacketed diluter by adding sufficient water to the solution to reduce the acid concentration to about 30%. The crystals are vacuum filtered and washed with water followed by washes with water containing a small amount of sodium carbonate and then cold water. The water-wet PETN is dissolved in acetone containing a small amount of sodium carbonate at 50°C and reprecipitated with water the yield is about 95%. Impurities include pentaerythritol trinitrate, dipentaerythritol hexanitrate, and tripentaerythritol acetonitrate. Pentaerythritol tetranitrate is shipped wet in water—alcohol in packing similar to that used for primary explosives. 

Explosion-welded constmction has equivalent or better properties than the more compHcated riveted systems. Peripheral benefits include weight savings and perfect electrical grounding. In addition to lower initial installation costs, the welded system requires tittle or no maintenance and, therefore minimizes life-cycle costs. Applications of stmctural transition joints include aluminum superstmctures that are welded to decks of naval vessels and commercial ships as illustrated in Figure 11. 

Pitch. Pitch used to be stored in solid form at the tar distillery in open bays, from which it was removed by small explosive charges. Loading of the lump pitch by mechanical shovel created a dust ha2ard both at the tar installation and at the customer s, where the lumps had to be ground before use. In the 1990s, pitch is stored in tanks heated by superheated steam or circulating hot-oil coils and transported in fiquid form in insulated rad, road tankers, or ships. When transport as a hot fiquid is not feasible, not acceptable by the customer, or for small amounts, the pitch is converted into a dust-free particulate form, ie, short rods termed pencils, pastilles, or flakes. 

Tables 16 and 17 Hst tke analytical test methods for different properties of interest. The Manufacturing Chemists Association, Inc. (MCA) has pubUshed the Chemical Safety Data Sheet SD 63, which describes in detail procedures for safe handling of use of toluene (46). The Interstate Commerce Commission classifies toluene as a flammable Hquid. Accordingly, it must be packaged in authorized containers, and shipping must comply with ICC regulations. Properties related to safe handling are autoignition temperature, 536°C explosive limits, 1.27—7.0 vol % in air and flash point 4.4°C, closed cup.

Barium also presents a hydrogen explosion ha2ard if allowed to come iato contact with water or atmospheric moisture, and must always be kept dry and preferably sealed ia the shipping containers. 

Calcium metal and most calcium compounds are nontoxic. In massive pieces the metal does not spontaneously bum in air. Calcium can be touched with dry bare hands without harm. Care must be taken, however, to avoid contact with water owing to the exothermic Hberation of hydrogen and the resulting explosion hazard. Calcium must always be kept dry and preferably sealed in the shipping containers. 

Dichloroethylene is usually shipped ia 208-L (55 gal) and 112-L (30 gal) steel dmms. Because of the corrosive products of decomposition, inhibitors are required for storage. The stabilized grades of the isomers can be used or stored ia contact with most common constmction materials, such as steel or black iron. Contact with copper or its alloys and with hot alkaline solutions should be avoided to preclude possible formation of explosive monochloroacetylene. The isomers do have explosive limits ia air (Table 1). However, the Hquid, even hot, bums with a very cool flame which self-extiaguishes unless the temperature is well above the flash poiat. A red label is required for shipping 1,2-dichloroethylene. 

Ethyl alcohol is a flammable Hquid requiring a red label by the DOT and Coast Guard shipping classifications its flash point is 14°C (Tag, closed cup). Vapor concentrations between 3.3 and 19.0% by volume in air are explosive. Liquid ethyl alcohol can react vigorously with oxidi2ing materials. Ethyl alcohol has found wide appHcation in industry, and experience shows that it is not a serious industrial poison (273—275). If proper ventilation of the work environment is maintained, there is Httle likelihood that inhalation of the vapor will be ha2ardous. 

Controls for the safe transfer of ehemieals between ship and shore will vary in detail. The eseape of dust and vapour should be minimized when loading and unloading of bulk liquids or solids and persons should not be at risk. Preeautions to avoid eontaet with water are needed when transferring water-ineompatible materials (page 229). Preeautions for handling explosives inelude ... 

An appreciation of the explosive potential of ammonium nitrate. Shipping it from Texas City is forbidden. 

Sea-wall and its chance of being breached by subsidence, explosion or ship impact, timing consideration in flood... 

Ammonia, when released is a toxic gas with little flammability. It is imported by sea into the 14,(XX) tonnes capacity tank at Shell UK Oil where the refrigeration maintains the temperature below the boiling point of the gas (33° C). Three ways were identified whereby several hundred tonnes of liquid ammonia could be released into the river to vaporize and disperse. The worst accident would have an accompanying explosion or fire on an ammonia carrier berthed at the unloading jetty. Next in order of severity is a ship collision and spillage into the river near the unloading jetty. The consequences of a collision between ships occurring within the area but not near the jetty were also calculated. 

An explosion in the engine room of an LNG carrying ship berthed at the jetty could release vapor cloud, whose explosion would have serious consequences. No amelioration was suggested by the team. Release of cargo, from ship collision was discounted because of the eight knots speed limit. 

Water treatment over the past 100 years has grown into a complex science. It is of interest to note that in the 1880s a steamship left the port of Liverpool in the UK with instructions that the boiler water was to be treated with a mixture of cow dung and peat. A short time after leaving Liverpool, the ship s boiler exploded and the ship sank. It was not reported whether the explosion was due to the unusual method of water treatment. 

In 1966, a naphtha tanker, the Alva Cape, was involved in a collision near New York and was severely damaged. Some naphtha was spilled, and the rest was pumped out into another vessel. The owners wanted to move the ship to a shipyard where it could be gas-freed and the damage could be surveyed, but the New York Fire Department said that the ship s tanks should be inerted before it was moved. The salvage company, therefore, ordered some carbon dioxide cylinders and hoses. Two tanks were inerted without incident, but when carbon dioxide was discharged into a third tank, an explosion occurred, followed by a fire. Four men were killed, and further explosions occurred in other tanks when they were heated by the fire. 

Accidents can occur in many ways. Tliere may be a chemical spill, an explosion, or a runaway reaction in a nuclear plant. Tliere are often accidents in transport trucks overturning, trains derailing, or ships capsizing. Tliere are acts of God such as eartliquakes and storms. It is painfully clear that accidents are a fact of life. Tlie one common tlnead tlirougli all of tliese situations is tliat accidents are rarely expected and, unfortunately, they are frequently mismanaged. 

Fire is more likely tlian an explosion where tliere is a loss of contaimiient of a flammable material from a railroad car, barge, ship tank, or from a pipeline. However, both unconfmed vapor cloud explosions (UVCES) and boiling liquid-e.xpanding vapor e.xplosions (BEEVES) can occur as a result of transport accidents, (see Section 7.5)... 

Hazards to populated areas on land may arise from accidents to ships in port or in coastal waters close to land. Principal liazards associated willi sliips arc fire or explosion on the vessel itself or spillage of a flammable or toxic material. 

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