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Liquid cargo of the month – Qua Iboe crude oil

Published: 10 August 2023

The BIMCO Liquid Cargo database is intended for use by for shore-side staff and to some extent for newcomers on board tankers and should only be used as a reference tool providing brief information regarding the about 310 of the commonly transported liquid cargoes including Qua Iboe crude oil.

Qua Iboe crude oil is produced from numerous offshore fields in the Bight of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria.

A light crude containing very low levels of sulphur (Low sulphur content: 0.10 - 0. 14 wt %), metals and asphaltic material. When refined will provide similar low sulphur specification products. This well-balanced intermediate crude that produces high quality, low sulphur products after simple refining. The naphtha produced can be refined to produced high octane gasoline blend stock.

Qua Iboe crude oil is an extremely flammable liquid and vapour and may be subject to wax laydown in cold conditions. Heating to 25 °C may be required.

Tank cleaning

Exceedingly difficult to clean from crude oil to liquid cargoes requiring high degree of cleanliness.

Follow Crude Oil Wash - requirements from MARPOL Annex I regulation 33. Details of COW are given in IMO Res. A.497(XII) amended by IMO Res. A.897(21) and stipulated in vessel's COW-Manual.

Follow tank cleaning safety instructions for petroleum from ISGOTT chapter 11.3 (for inert tanks or for non-inert tanks respectively).

Ambient temperature water wash, followed by, hot/warm temperature water wash, depending on next cargo: Recirculate suitable tank cleaning additive. Follow manufacturer's recommendations regarding temperature and concentration:

Warm temperature water wash

Ambient/warm freshwater rinse

Important: Always transfer tank cleaning water from Annex I cargo to slop tank for settling. Do not pump directly overboard. Do not mix tank cleaning water from Annex I cargo with tank cleaning water from Annex II cargo.

Use Oil Record Book Part II for loading-, unloading- and tank cleaning records.

The BIMCO Liquid Cargo Database contains information on some 310 cargoes, all updated to the IBC Code 2021 amended requirements, but to ensure that the BIMCO Liquid Cargo Database information is kept updated, we highly welcome any feedback in the form of comments, response, information or data regarding a specific cargo.

Peter Lundahl Rasmussen

CONTACT BIMCO

Peter Lundahl Rasmussen

Head of Maritime Information

Copenhagen, Denmark