Basic Tanker Operations Practice Test

Heating coils are used to raise the temperature of the cargo to lower its viscosity, but they cannot be run at any and every tank level. The heat transfer depends on having enough liquid around the coils to absorb the heat. If the tank is too low, overheating of the remaining cargo or the coils themselves can occur, increasing the risk of damage, scorching, or dangerous vapor generation. If the tank is nearly full, excessive heating can still cause unwanted high vapor pressure and other safety issues. Because of these factors, heating coils must be operated within the safe limits specified for the cargo and the vessel, not regardless of how much cargo is in the tank. In practice, you follow the cargo heating plan and monitor levels, temperatures, and pressures to ensure heating is appropriate for the current tank condition.