INTRODUCTION
As a Petroleum Laboratory NCO, you must be prepared to supervise quality surveillance for loading and
discharge of vehicles, vessels, and pipelines. In order to do an effective job, a thorough understanding of
procedures must be acquired. The safety of those working under your command relies on your ability to
follow guidelines.
PART A - INSPECT TANKERS AND BARGES PRIOR TO LOADING
This inspection is in addition to the contractor's inspection, who ultimately has the responsibility to inspect all
shipping conveyances prior to loading to determine that they are suitable for intended use. A barge is any
vessel with less than 30,000 barrel capacity. Any vessel with 30,000 barrel capacity or more will be treated
as a tanker.
Tankers.
Verify that tanks are prepared for loading.
Physically enter and inspect each tank to verify suitability to load. A fresh air pack should be on hand for
use.
PRECAUTION: ENSURE THAT EACH TANK HAS BEEN PROPERLY GAS-FREED, TESTED, AND
CERTIFIED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
Review vessel loading plans to determine their suitability. Verify that all bulkheads are secure and the
vessel has double valve separation or line blanks.
Request sample of rust, when considered necessary and under safe conditions, be taken from selected
cargo tanks and tested with the product to be loaded or a similar solvent to determine the effect upon the
corrosiveness and gum characteristics.
Tankers scheduled for multiple port loading will have all cargo tanks inspected at the first loading point, if
practicable, to determine their suitability for the scheduled products.
Barges.
Inspection procedures for handling tankers will be applied to barges with the exception as stated in AR
715-27.
Physical entry is not required.
PART B - INSPECT LOADING PROCEDURES FOR TANKERS
Pre-loading Inspection procedures for tanker.
Verify that sampling, testing, isolation requirements, and approval of shore tank is completed prior to
loading the vessel.
Check loading lines to determine if they are properly isolated and contain no product detrimental to the
cargo.
Verify that loading lines are full. Obtain opening and closing shore tank gauges (or meter readings where
necessary).
Determine the position of the swing line in the shore tank (where applicable) and setting to prevent
loading any free water or sludge from the tank bottom.
Verify that sea suction and overboard discharge valves are closed and sealed. In the case of split cargo,
those values essential to cargo isolation should be sealed with serially numbered seals and their
numbers recorded on shipping documents.
Check cargo first-in and line samples analysis to verify quality of product moving to the vessel.
Verify that sampling and testing of vessel's cargo tanks during and after loading are done.
Loading inspection procedure.
Verify that the fill, approximately 2,000 to 5,000 barrels, is pumped into one cargo tank in the vessel.
Request the ship's officer to switch from this tank to the other tank(s) and continue loading.
If at any time during loading there is an indication of contamination, the loading shall be stopped until the
cause and extent of the contamination has been determined.
8-2
QM 5182
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