SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFER

BEST WORKING PRACTICES

DRAINING & PURGING PROCEDURE
FLEXIBLE HOSE AND MANIFOLD

LNG STS

The principal objective is to disconnect the Cargo Hoses in a manner that eliminates any risk of liquid
release and reduces the release of cargo vapor to the atmosphere to an absolute minimum.
For this operation to be conducted safely and in a timely manner, it is essential that there is a carefully
thought out procedure in place and that there is good communication between the Discharging ships staff
and the Receiving Ships staff, both of whom bear responsibility for safe conduct of the operation onboard
their respective vessels.

The Process has a number of logical steps:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Lining up the drain system from the manifolds to a Cargo tank.

Isolation of liquid and vapor valves on either side of the manifold connection.
Deicing/Draining and Liquid freeing of the liquid transfer hoses towards the RECEIVING SHIP.
Purging of flammable vapors from the hoses and connections towards the DISCHARGING SHIP
Verification that the target conditions (flammable gas concentration) have been achieved.
Disconnection of the Hoses from the manifold.

Prior to completion of Transfer:

- DISCHARGING SHIP & RECEIVING SHIP: Assure availability of 8 (L1-L2-L3-L4 connected) 6 (L2L3-L4 connected) or 4 (L2-L3 or L3-L4 connected) Fire Hoses for warming up the liquid
transfer hoses during draining and purging. Fire hoses should be evenly divided; half of the
hoses shall be fixed under the manifold drip tray, spraying on the lower bend of the liquid hoses,
and the other half shall be operated from the manifold platform.
- DISCHARGING SHIP & RECEIVING SHIP: Assure maximum Nitrogen Buffer Tank pressure and readiness
of Nitrogen Production Units to counter the high Nitrogen demand.

Prepared by:
Revision: 3
Ashwini Kumar
Page: 1 of 6
Issued on 16.05.13 EXSM Fleet

Designated Person:
Ashwini Kumar
Raphael Verhaeghe

Approved by:
Claude Maerten
Niels Vanlaer

SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFER

BEST WORKING PRACTICES
DRAINING & PURGING PROCEDURE
FLEXIBLE HOSE AND MANIFOLD

LNG STS

1. DRAIN SYSTEM
This best working practice is developed to address the challenges imposed by the use of cargo transfer
operation using flexible Hoses while Regassing Simultaneously.

The Challenges Imposed differ from a conventional Terminal to the extent

-

The Lowest Point of the transfer system is at the apex of the hose which is below the level of the
manifolds as opposed to a conventional loading arm where the lowest point is the manifold which
facilitates gravitational draining of the liquid.
Because of the on-going regas operations, the stripping header of the RECEIVING SHIP is not
available for draining/purging after the cargo transfer.

2. ISOLATION OF LIQUID AND VAPOUR VALVES EITHER SIDE OF THE MANIFOLD

CONNECTION

DISCHARGING SHIP:
The Liquid crossover double shut valves are to be closed and manifold ESD valves remain
open in order to drain the liquid remaining in the vertical riser towards the RECEIVING
SHIP.
RECEIVING SHIP:
The Liquid crossover double shut valves always remain open
(Stripping header cannot be used due to on-going Regas operations).
Manifold ESD valves remain open.
It is expected to take 15 minutes to complete step 2

Prepared by:
Revision: 3
Ashwini Kumar
Page: 2 of 6
Issued on 16.05.13 EXSM Fleet

Designated Person:
Ashwini Kumar
Raphael Verhaeghe

Approved by:
Claude Maerten
Niels Vanlaer

SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFER

BEST WORKING PRACTICES
DRAINING & PURGING PROCEDURE
FLEXIBLE HOSE AND MANIFOLD

LNG STS

3.DEICING/DRAINING AND LIQUID FREEING OF THE LIQUID

TRANSFER HOSES TOWARDS THE RECEIVING SHIP
DRAINS AND VENTS TO THE ATMOSPHERE SHOULD NOT BE OPENED AT THIS
STAGE IN THE PROCEDURE.
DISCHARGING SHIP & RECEIVING SHIP:
Sufficient crew available to start spraying on all Liquid transfer hoses.
The deluge system under the manifold can be stopped to allow for more pressure on the fire line.
The barriers can be removed and the water under the manifold drained. Other water consumers such as
anchor wash etc should also be closed.
The snowy accumulation on transfer hoses on both RECEIVING SHIP and DISCHARGING SHIP manifold
shall be removed by blowing it off with compressed air at the end of cargo transfer.
The vapor manifold remains open as per discretion of Receiving Ship depending on the Receiving Ships
cargo tank pressures and regas send out rate.
In practice vapor manifold is closed shortly after end of liquid transfer once Pressures Stabilize.
DISCHARGING SHIP:
Manifold ESD valves to be closed
Connection valves to the stripping header on the crossover to be opened. This is to avoid a liquid trap
between the manifold ESD valve and the crossover double shut valve.
RECEIVING SHIP:
Manifold ESD valves to be closed. Liquid trapped in the hoses will start to evaporate. This will increase the
pressure in the hoses. At 4.5 bar, the pressure will be released towards the RECEIVING SHIP through the
(manual) ESD bypass valves.
DISCHARGING SHIP & RECEIVING SHIP
On both manifolds fresh water (if available and if not sea water) hosing on the bottom of the spool-pieces
will help to evaporate a remaining pocket of liquid.
If sea water is used for hosing; spool pieces, saddles and transfer hoses to be rinsed with fresh water prior
disconnection.
This step continues until the first signs of defrosting are visible on the DISCHARGING SHIP & RECEIVING
SHIP.
Generally, the ice on top of the spool pieces starts to melt first.
After some time, no more liquid remains in the cargo hoses. This can be estimated by monitoring the icing
of the hoses. Temporary stop the water spray on the lower bend of the hose and no more icing should
occur.
If the pressure is no longer rising in the STS hoses with closed valves, the liquid freeing should be
considered complete.

Prepared by:
Revision: 3
Ashwini Kumar
Page: 3 of 6
Issued on 16.05.13 EXSM Fleet

Designated Person:
Ashwini Kumar
Raphael Verhaeghe

Approved by:
Claude Maerten
Niels Vanlaer

SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFER

BEST WORKING PRACTICES
DRAINING & PURGING PROCEDURE
FLEXIBLE HOSE AND MANIFOLD

LNG STS

4. Purging of flammable vapors from the hoses and connections towards the
DISCHARGING SHIP
RECEIVING SHIP:
5 (L1-L2-V-L3-L4 connected) 4 (L2-V-L3-L4 connected) or 3 (L2-V-L3 or V-L3-L4 connected) nitrogen
hoses (number of hoses from RECEIVING SHIP and DISCHARGING SHIP to be agreed during pretransfer meeting) are connected to the purging connections on the RECEIVING SHIP manifold.
Nitrogen pressurization of vapor and liquid manifold commences.
DISCHARGING SHIP:
Pressure of the hoses rises up to 4.5 5 bar and is released through the DISCHARGING SHIP (manual) ESD
bypass valves into the DISCHARGING SHIP stripping header.
The release of pressure from the hoses should be well coordinated.
Manifold bypass valves should be opened one by one to avoid a liquid flow from one hose into the other.
Regularly pressure in the stripping header of the DISCHARGING SHIP should be checked.
Some time should be allowed between each release of pressure from the hoses, so the pressure in the
stripping line can settle down again.
It is important that the Nitrogen hose on the manifold purge connection is pressurized before opening the
purge valve on the manifold, this to avoid a back flow of LNG into the hose.
Continue spraying on the lower bend of the liquid transfer hoses from under the manifold drip tray until
all transfer hoses are purged.
Continue purging the empty hoses with nitrogen up to the 4.5 - 5 bar range and release the
pressure by the (manual) ESD bypass valves into the DISCHARGING SHIP stripping header.
Crew on the DISCHARGING SHIP can now concentrate on defrosting bolts, spool pieces etc.
From this point regular readings should be taken on both DISCHARGING SHIP and
RECEIVING SHIP side.

Prepared by:
Revision: 3
Ashwini Kumar
Page: 4 of 6
Issued on 08.02.13 EXSM Fleet

Designated Person:
Ashwini Kumar
Raphael Verhaeghe

Approved by:
Claude Maerten
Niels Vanlaer

SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFER

BEST WORKING PRACTICES
DRAINING & PURGING PROCEDURE
FLEXIBLE HOSE AND MANIFOLD

LNG STS

4A. Reverse Purging of flammable vapors from the hoses and connections
towards the RECEIVING SHIP
If Discharging Ship does not have ESD manifold valve bypass, purging will be done from the Discharging
Ship to the Receiving Ship with the exception that the pressure is released into the tank using the liquid
header as the stripping header is in use for regas operations.
This is considered as a special operation of REVERSE PURGING.
Post STS the Receiving Ship has high Boil off and limited vapor space which requires substantial Gas
Burning.
In order to prevent any risk of N2 flame out of the boilers due to the purge gas the Receiving Ship to
confirm that boilers are shifted from gas burning to dual fuel burning prior starting reverse purging of the
vapor transfer hoses.
Once purging of the vapor transfer hoses is completed, Receiving Ship can resume gas burning.
Similar danger is not foreseen from purging of liquid transfer hoses as the N2 slug is not directly lined up
with the Fuel gas feed.

5. Verification that the target conditions (flammable gas concentration) have

been achieved.

This is a key aspect of ensuring the safety of the disconnection procedure.

The vent in way of the manifold is opened and the vapor is tested using a meter calibrated for measuring
methane in nitrogen.
The drain valves should remain closed at this time to avoid releasing potentially dangerous gas cloud.
Purging is complete when 2.5% VOL (50% LEL) is reached.

Prepared by:
Revision: 3
Ashwini Kumar
Page: 5 of 6
Issued on 08.02.13 EXSM Fleet

Designated Person:
Ashwini Kumar
Raphael Verhaeghe

Approved by:
Claude Maerten
Niels Vanlaer

SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFER

BEST WORKING PRACTICES
DRAINING & PURGING PROCEDURE
FLEXIBLE HOSE AND MANIFOLD

LNG STS

6. Disconnection of Manifolds
Nitrogen hoses should now be transferred to the DISCHARGING SHIP to create a continuous flow of
Nitrogen from the DISCHARGING SHIP towards the RECEIVING SHIP (the drain valve on the RECEIVING
SHIP should be fully open). This will create a Nitrogen buffer at the DISCHARGING SHIP side.
Before disconnecting the hoses,
-A final check should be made to ensure that the methane content remains below 2.5%VOL (50% LEL)
before disconnection.
-The drain valve to be opened in order to positively confirm that no more liquid is present.
If both tests indicate safe conditions, fully de-pressurize the manifold connection by closing the drain line
connections to the cargo tank (to prevent back flow), opening the drains to the drip tray and the vents for
disconnection
Once the verification process is complete and the manifold fully de-pressurized, the drain valve should be
left open in case of any small leakage past valve seats.
Disconnection should not commence until all hoses have been satisfactorily purged in case the wrong
hose is inadvertently selected and disconnected.
The manifold blanks should be installed immediately and the drain and vent valves then closed.

References :
----- STS JOINT AUDIT EXMAR/EXCELERATE ENERGY SEPTEMBER 2012
----- SIGGTO LNG TRANSFER ARMS AND MANIFOLD DRAINING.PURGING AND DISCONNECTION PROCEDURE

Prepared by:
Revision: 3
Ashwini Kumar
Page: 6 of 6
Issued on 16.05.13 EXSM Fleet

Designated Person:
Ashwini Kumar
Raphael Verhaeghe

Approved by:
Claude Maerten
Niels Vanlaer