Chapter 6

Special Loading Work

Special loading work
Special loading work includes the work mentioned below.

1. LOAD ON TOP (LOT) (P.6-2)

Slop is not generated during normal voyages of SBT ships generally, but sea water washing is
sometimes performed because of repairs and inspections in tanks during the outward ballast voyages.
In such cases, slop is generated and LOAD ON TOP is performed in these tanks at the loading port.
LOAD ON TOP refers to follow-up loading in specific tanks (generally slop tanks) performed
intentionally with the approval of the charterer. Care is necessary because if cargo oil is mixed in tanks
other than the specified tanks, the action will be construed as contamination, leading to a major
problem.

2. Commingled loading (P.6-3)

Commingled loading, the second loading method, is basically the same as the LOAD ON TOP method.

3. Replacement of oil in shore lines (oil replacement work) (P.6-4)

Replacement of oil in shore lines is generally referred to as oil replacement work. This work is mainly
observed during loading at the SPM. Oil replacement is performed when two or more grades of cargo
oil are to be loaded at the same berth. The oil in the shore line up to the ship's manifold is received in
the ship's tank so that the line can be replaced by a different grade of oil.
For instance, if the shore line (submarine line) contains Arabian Light, and the loading sequence of the
ship is: 1st - Arabian Extra Light, 2nd - Arabian Light and so on, and if the loading sequence cannot be
changed because of reasons such as difficulty in controlling the ship's attitude or hull strength does not
permit it, then oil replacement work is carried out.

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1.

LOAD ON TOP (LOT)

Click here to view video 129.mp4

129.mp4
1.1

General

Upon completion of the loading work, tank cleaning is performed and the oily water after washing is
gathered in the slop tank. After discharging water from the slop tank, slop residues remain in the tank.
Cargo is loaded on top of the slop residues. This process of loading cargo on top of the slop residues is
called LOT. Product tankers sometimes have special residue tanks in which slop residues are
temporarily segregated and stored.
Before arrival at the loading port, the quantity of slop residues on board the ship should be reported to
the ship operator and permission should be obtained from the charterer and the shipowner for adopting
the LOT method.

1.2

Precautions

The precautions for LOT mentioned below should be taken and valve operations should be performed
with extreme care.
1) Proposed loading plan
Prepare a loading plan considering LOT work and perform loading work considering the head
pressure of each tank and fluctuations in line pressure. Especially, the timings for opening/closing the
valves of tanks to be loaded on top should be planned with elaborate care.
2) Measures to prevent the shift of slop water
To ensure that the slop water does not shift to some other tank through the tank line, a difference in
ullage (of about 3 m) should be maintained between the tank containing the slop and the other tank.
Also, when opening the valve of the said slop tank, the ullage of the other tank should be monitored
and measures should be taken to prevent backflow to the other tank due to the head pressure of the
slop tank.
When the difference in ullage between the slop tank and the other tank becomes smaller during the
loading work, or if a decrease in the ullage of the slop tank (rise in the tank level) is no longer
observed, close the slop tank valve, reduce the level in the slop tank so that it becomes lower than the
level in the other tank and strive to prevent shift of slop water.
3) Completion of loading
When the target ullage is approached, throttle the flow to other tanks and load the slop tank
preferentially. During this stage, take precautions against the increase in ullage (drop in tank level). If
necessary, station more personnel to observe the tank level in the CCR.
4) Suspending the loading work
If the loading work is suspended, always close the valve in the slop tank first. This action is to ensure
that the slop water in the tank does not shift to some other tank.
5) Planned ullage
When preparing the loading plan, ensure that the ullage of the tank containing slop water is larger than
the ullage in other tanks, if possible. That is, the level of the loaded tank should be lower than the
level of other tanks.

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2.

Commingled loading

Click here to view video 077.mp4

2.1. General
Commingled loading, the second loading method, is basically the same as the LOAD ON TOP method.
This loading is to be performed after carefully noting the points mentioned in "1.2 Precautions" for
LOT.
The first grade of oil should be loaded by the conventional method. The loading of the second grade of
oil should be performed always bearing in mind the existence of the first grade of cargo oil in the tank.

2.2

Method of calculating the loadable quantity

For details of the loadable quantity when commingled loading is performed, please refer to "2.1.2
Calculation of loadable quantity" on P1-11 of the "Loading Section."

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3.

Replacement of oil in shore lines (oil replacement work)

Click here to view video 071.mp4

The detailed procedure for replacement of oil in shore lines is given below.
("Refer to "2.2.2 Batch Loading" on P1-16 of the "Loading Section.")
1) Assumed conditions
a) Oil in the shore line up to the ship's manifold contains Arabian Light.
b) The first loading cargo is Arabian Extra Light.
c) The planned loading sequence is: 1st - Arabian Extra Light; 2nd - Arabian Light.
d) The volume of the line in which oil is to be replaced (line displacement) is 50,000 Bbls.
2) Procedure for replacement of oil
a) Open the valve to the tank in which Arabian Light is to be loaded and receive 50,000 Bbls of the
same oil in it.
b) When the oil in the line has been replaced by Arabian Extra Light, the terminal stops the pump
and the loading is temporarily suspended.
c) Discuss with the Loading Master and close the valve to the tank loaded with Arabian Light.
d) Next, open the valve to the tank in which Arabian Extra Light is to be received and make
preparations for receiving the said oil.
e) The terminal confirms that the preparations for receiving the oil in the ship have been completed
and then starts loading the Arabian Extra Light. This completes the oil replacement work of the
shore line.

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