If chemical and product tanker operators can’t trust their cleaning products, they can’t guarantee compliance, according to Jan Frederik Bjorge, product marketing manager: cleaning solutions for Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS).
The global provider of products and services to the shipping industry has issued a statement to owners and operators to look beyond the label of tank cleaning products to ensure compliance with regulation 13.5.2 of MARPOL Annex II.
Knowledge of a product’s chemical composition and trust in the supplier is absolutely crucial, says Bjorge, “The cost of non-compliance can be tremendously high, so it pays to know exactly what a product is made of, how it reacts with cargo residues and that every time you use it, it is exactly what you expect it to be.”
Bjorge added that global regulations required standardised products. “Industry standards, in terms of regulation, are constantly climbing, as is the cleanliness that customers demand,” he said.
By partnering with firms with the right combination of expertise, supply and a high quality chemical portfolio, ship owners can avoid compliance headaches, commented Bjorge.
