Page 37: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1997)

Advantages Of Electronic Portable Tank Gauging

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has mandated certain directives con- cerning the measurements of cargo onboard tank ships, including oil/water interface detec- tion for slop tanks, tank dryness dipping and the percentage of oxygen in the inerted ullage space of cargo tanks.

These mandates offer new challenges for the improved supply of portable electronic tank gauging instruments (ullage, oil/water inter- face, temperature measurements and oxygen sensing) with associated mechanical cargo sampling and sounding tapes and accessories.

Two of the most prestigious petroleum techni- cal associations — the American Petroleum

Institute and the Institute of Petroleum

Engineers — are continually updated their standards for restricted and closed (gas-tight) gauging, sampling and sounding, providing worldwide industry guidelines for the accep- tance of these portable measuring devices.

In addition to the gauging, sampling and sounding standards, the API and IP have updated their oxygen-sensing standards.

The advent of restricted and closed (gas-tight) gauging provides a number of significant advantages, including saved time and labor, improved accuracy and repeatability, and reduced atmospheric pollution.

Moreover, the electronic sensing capabilities of these types of portable gauging systems allow gaugers with less training and experi- ence to operate equipment, with more reliable results than in the past.

In order to change from open gauging to restricted or closed gauging, shipowners are required to install at least one vapor lock (vapor control valve) on each cargo and slop tank. This gives operators tank access for elec- tronic tank gauging instruments, along with sampling, sounding and oxygen sensing equip- ment.

This portable combination (UTI gauging tape and vapor lock) achieves two results for inde- pendent surveyors hired to verify the quantity of cargo loaded or ready for discharge.

The high quality portable gauging equipment available today delivers excellent resolution.

The preceding was excerpted from a paper from William Henry, president, MMC

International Corp. MMC International is a leading manufacturer of portable gauging equipment. MMC vapor control valves and gauging tapes are in service on thousands of tankers.

For more information on MMC's products

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IT'S SHOW TIME

The following are some upcoming industry conferences and exhibitions which may be of interest to those in the tanker market.

Shipping '97: March 17-19, Stamford, CT.

Contact: Carleen L. Kluss, International

Marketing Strategies, 28 Southfield Ave.,

Stamford, CT. 06902, tel: (203) 406-0106; fax: (203) 406-0110. 1997 Ship Production Symposium: April 20- 23, New Orleans, La.

Contact: Deborah Felts, P.O. Box 0092,

Pascagoula, MS 39567, tel: (601) 935-2781; fax: (601) 935-6838; e-mail: [email protected].

Offshore Technology Conference '97: May 5-8,

Astrodome U.S.A. Complex, Houston, Texas.

Contact: Offshore Technology Conference, P.O.

Box 833868, Richardson, Texas 75083-3868, tel: (214) 952-9494; fax: (214) 952-9435.

The Safe Operation of Tankers in Coastal

Waters and Approaching Terminals: May 8-9,

Duchess Mews, London, U.K. Contact: Jane

Hill, Conference manager, The Institute of

Petroleum, 61 New Cavendish St., London

W1M 8AR, U.K., tel: +44 171 467 7100; fax: +44 171 255 1472.

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