Quarterly December 2008 - Odfjell

Bow Bracaria – rebuilt for
hydrogen peroxide shipments
Odfjell Maintenance Management
Improvement Project
By Vebjørn Lid
By Knut Erik Fredriksen
Odfjell Ahrenkiel
Europe GmbH has
entered into a CoA
with Evonik Degussa
for shipments of
hydrogen peroxide
max 70% solution
from Antwerp to
Finland.
Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive
and strong oxidizing substance which
calls for a set of special safety related
shipping requirements. Up until now
only two vessels have been classified
for H2O2 shipments, which means
Odfjell Ahrenkiel has entered a very
specialized niche within the parcel
tanker market.
Bow Bracaria has just been redesigned
for the carriage of H2O2. She left the
yard in Viana do Castelo, Portugal
November 14th, and with all technical
approvals from the Class Society she is
now fitted to carry hydrogen peroxide.
Bow Bracaria called Antwerp Dec 8th
2008 for first shipment under this CoA.
Later a second ship is planned rebuilt
for the same purpose.
Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most
powerful oxidizers, and it is stronger
than chlorine dioxide and propylene
oxide. A common concentration for
shipments is 70%. When 1 volume
of hydrogen peroxide is decomposed;
it produces 70 volumes of oxygen!
Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is
readily instable in contact with any
incompatible substances like for
instance fibres, certain metals, organic
solvents etc. The decomposition is an
exothermic reaction, the temperature
increases and the decomposition yields
off oxygen and water.
Hydrogen peroxide is also one of the
most versatile and environmentally
sound chemicals available today. It is
a simple chemical compound; water
with an extra atom of oxygen attached,
H2O2.
The safety and efficiency of its
properties have led to the development
of many various applications, from
rocket and torpedo fuel, to bleach of
human hair and teeth whitening!
About 50% of the world’s production
of hydrogen peroxide is used for pulpand
paper bleach. Other bleaching
applications are becoming more
important as hydrogen peroxide is seen
as an environmentally alternative to
chlorine-based bleaches.
Hydrogen peroxide works also
as a propellant in concentrations
above 70%. It is used in numerous
defence and aerospace research
programs (NASA). One application
is as propellant fuel for torpedoes in
combination with alcohol.
Possible leakage of concentrated
hydrogen peroxide in one of the
Russian submarine Kursk’s torpedoes
is said to be the initial course of the
tragic submarine accident in August
12th 2000
As mentioned, hydrogen peroxide
has many various applications, and
several safety measures must be taken
into account to ensure the enormous
potential of the cargo and its vapour.
Safety is the absolute number one
priority, and when following the safety
instructions even an explosive cargo
such as hydrogen peroxide is like
transporting water.
With Odfjell’s slogan “for anything
liquid”, the carriage of hydrogen
peroxide will be barrier-breaking.
In 2006 and 2007
Odfjell Ship
Management
carried out three
projects related
to maintenance
management. The
main objective
of these projects
has been to establish the foundation
for revising and improving Odfjell’s
maintenance processes.
The three projects are:
1. Criticality analysis
2. Maintenance pre-structuring project
3. Maintenance strategy
In the autumn 2008 Odfjell decided to
start the next project. The objective of
this project is to establish maintenance
processes enabling Odfjell to fulfil the
goals in the maintenance strategy. The
figure describes the different processes
needed to achieve continuous
maintenance improvement.
The outcome of this project will be the
foundations for the implementation
project, which will be optimization of
the maintenance plan onboard a pilot
Fig. Maintenance improvement process circle
vessel. Involvement from the Ship
Management Team during the project
will be vital to achieve a good result.
After a trial period with necessary
adjustments a final decision will be
made for fleet wide implementation.
To achieve the goals in the
maintenance strategy a centralised
administration of the maintenance
system is required. Standardised job
descriptions and reporting formats
are necessary for cross fleet sharing
of information and reports for
benchmarking purposes.
Standardisation of spare-parts will not
be a part of this project. This will be
subject for evaluation at a later stage
and carried out as a separate project.
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