B ULK D ISTRIBUTOR
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January/February 2019
Est. 1990
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I
ndustry guidelines for the carriage of
divinylbenzene (DVB) in containers have
been jointly published by CINS (the Cargo
Incident Notification System), the International
Group of P&I Clubs and the TT Club.
DVB is a chemical prone to polymerisation (a form
of self-reaction), and, when shipped in bulk, DVB
polymerisation can cause heat and flammable gas
to be generated. The stowage of containers
carrying DVB aboard vessels can therefore present a
risk of explosion and fire if they are not properly
presented for carriage.
In response to a series of polymerisation incidents
arising from the carriage of DVB by sea, in 2018 the
IMO approved changes to the way that
polymerising substances are carried by means of
amendments to the IMDG Code. These changes are
contained in amendment 39-18 of the IMDG Code,
which will be mandatory from 1 January 2020, but
may be applied on a voluntary basis from 1 January
2019.
The new guidelines “strongly recommend” that DVB is only carried in
drums in a refrigerated container or in a refrigerated tank container
New guidelines set
for DVB in containers
To ensure the safe carriage of DVB in containers
before 1 January 2020 when the amended IMDG
Code requirements come into force mandatorily,
the joint industry guidelines highlight the practices
set out in the IMDG Code amendments - and
recommend that these are followed now, on a
voluntary basis.
In September 2018, the Southern District Of New
York found that chemicals manufacturer Daltech
and Stolt-Nielsen were responsible for losses caused
by an explosion in a Stolt tank container carrying
DVB aboard the MSC Flaminia container vessel in
2012. (See Bulk Distributor, November/December
2018.)
The explosion and resulting fire claimed the lives
of three crew members.
Transport of DVB without any temperature control
generally relies on the DVB being at a low enough
temperature when shipped, and the total journey
time to the receiver being short enough for a
chemical inhibitor used to prevent polymerisation
remain effective throughout the entire journey at
the prevailing time of the year.
The chemical inhibitors most commonly used to
prevent DVB polymerisation require oxygen in order
to work, and also break down and become
ineffective if the DVB is exposed to temperatures
above about 27degC.
The time it takes to deplete the chemical inhibitor
and oxygen below a safe threshold level, allowing
auto-polymerisation to begin, depends on the
temperature of the DVB liquid, which dictates the
consumption rate of the chemical inhibitor and
oxygen.
In order to transport DVB without temperature
control, some DVB shippers chill the chemical
before loading it into a tank container and then
endeavour to arrange the land and sea transport so
that the total journey time is short enough for the
DVB to remain sufficiently cool to avoid
polymerisation.
However, if it is shipped during a period of higher
ambient temperatures, or if the transit time or
voyage are longer than envisaged, there is a risk of
polymerisation occurring.
So, ahead of the mandatory application of IMDG
Code amendment 39-18 on 1 January 2020, the
new guidelines “strongly recommend” that DVB is
only carried in drums in a refrigerated container or
in a refrigerated tank container.
The shipper or person offering the DVB for
transport should ensure that the carrier is presented
with full and complete disclosure of information
relating to all aspects of the cargo, including its
preparation for transport, material parameters and
assumptions that have been made, in order for the
carrier to make appropriate provision for all aspects
of the service to be delivered, including stowage on
board the ship.
Guidelines for the Carriage of Divinylbenzene in
Containers can be downloaded from the CINS
website - www.cinsnet.com
Continued on page 2 ї