<h1>Sludge Disposal </h1>
According to IMO (2008), Sludge is basically oil leftover residue which is generated from segregated trash oil from oil water separators, also it can be from the oil which is used for lubrication, or also from any oil filtering device. Sludge is often produced in a fuel or lubricant oil cleaner, which centrifuges the fuel to filter contaminants. This is intended to avoid harm to engine equipment, minimize maintenance, and optimize fuel burning. There is a significant amount of water that is released with sludge.
The sludge tank is a tank used to collect oily wastes from oily water purifying or segregating devices, as well as fuel and lubricating oil purification. It must be simple to clean means it should not be filled and also it should be simple to examine. The sludge including water is deposited into the sludge tank. Sludge can also be found in the scavage drain tank. Sludge tanks gets filled fast and there must be some ways where this sludge could be disposed. Sludge is a filthy, sticky fuel that contains various amounts of water. Therefore, when dumping this sludge there must be some proper ways so that it does not harm the environment.
Sludge can be dumped outside, which then would be an outside disposal with a sludge transfer pump, it could be carried to the main deck, from where it might be moved to a sludge barge or a shore reception facility. The second way would be an internal disposal with waste oil tank and incinerator burning. As sludge is very sticky fuel, the transferring should be done in a proper way, with checking the valves and also checking where the sludge needs to be transmitted.
Sludge should be heated for reducing the viscosity and hence allowing it to be pumped easily.
According to MARPOL Annex VI, sludge should not be burned at a port or harbour. Sludge should be transmitted from one tank at that moment only, because all this needs to be written in oil record book, where it needs to be mentioned the time of starting and time of ending, this is very important as it comes under the MARPOL Annex I regulations.
References: 1. Microsoft Word - 642.doc (mardep.gov.hk)
2. CE_Delft_7i85_Management_Ship-Generated_Waste_Ships_Finaldraft (wordpress.com)
3. <a href="shipandbunker.com">Why You Might Be Losing Millions on Sludge Disposal, and How You Can Prevent It - Ship & Bunker</a>
4. <a href="shipsbusiness.com">Sludge discharge from ships - planning, preparation, safety checks & discharging ashore</a>
5. <a href="url">https://youtu.be/aQcXVmEPRDo</a>
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