IBC Code and Operations on Chemical Tankers
Product acceptance follows the Certificate of Fitness, Code and ship-specific limits; the Administration-approved P&A Manual governs Annex II procedures and Category X prewash occurs after unloading, before departure.
Operational Explanation
The P&A Manual is approved by the Administration or by a recognised organisation authorised on its behalf. It does not prevail over the IBC/BCH Code or Certificate of Fitness: it describes Annex II unloading, stripping, prewash, tank cleaning and residue-discharge procedures for that ship. Product acceptance and compatibility require all applicable sources.
Regulatory Reference
IBC Code for chemical tankers constructed from 1 July 1986; the BCH Code applies to certain earlier ships. MARPOL Annex II Regulation 14: P&A Manual approved by the Administration. Regulations 13.6 and 16: post-unloading Category X prewash and receiving-Party surveyor.
Scope of Application
Check applicable IBC/BCH Code, Certificate of Fitness, Chapter 17 carriage requirements, cargo data, tank/coating/material limits, ship-specific approved manuals and SMS. The P&A Manual governs Annex II procedures without replacing those requirements.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Verify the product against the Certificate of Fitness and applicable Code requirements.
- Check tank/coating/material compatibility, cargo data, cleanliness standard and approved manuals.
- Follow the P&A Manual for unloading, stripping, washing and residues.
- After unloading Category X, perform prewash before leaving the unloading port, discharging to the reception facility under the Manual and authorised surveyor.
- Use alternatives or exemptions only where formally prescribed and documented.
Practical Example
Pre-loading: the ship checks Certificate of Fitness, Chapter 17, tank/coating and the next product's cleanliness requirement. This is not a Category X prewash. If the discharged cargo was Category X, Annex II prewash occurs post-unloading before departure, endorsed by the authorised surveyor.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Treating the P&A Manual as a compatibility table superior to the Code or moving Category X prewash before loading the next product.
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| P&A always attributed to class | Approval authority misstated | Administration or RO authorised on its behalf |
| P&A made superior to Code | Incomplete product acceptance | Use CoF, Code, cargo data and ship limits |
| Category X prewash pre-loading | Annex II sequence reversed | Perform post-unloading before departure |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- The ship-specific P&A Manual always takes precedence over the generic IBC Code tables: consult it for every operation, even when the product seems familiar.
- Do not underestimate the cleaning sequence between incompatible products: it is the most critical stage in chemical tanker operations.
- Always check that the Certificate of Fitness has been updated after structural changes or changes to product classification.
Preparation checklist
- Applicable IBC or BCH identified
- Certificate of Fitness and Chapter 17 checked
- P&A Manual approved by Administration/authorised RO
- Compatibility checked against all ship-specific sources
- Category X prewash placed post-unloading
- Surveyor and any exemption/alternative documented
FAQ
Related Topics
Last substantive revision of this page: 31 August 2026 · page fingerprint 5cb0d1e650e6