A very minimum of 90% reduction of person-entry to tanks over the course of 12 months.


(this is solely for muds and waste only)


We aim to reduce time in confined spaces by a minimum of 90% over the course of the year - removing at least 972 hours spent in confined spaces.


Challenges & Limitations


Cleaning effectiveness: As personnel have been removed from tanks, the most obvious challenge has come in the form of effectively breaking up the more stubborn products that may be left in tanks. Breaking up difficult product and ‘solids’ is relatively easy from ground level, but as there is now restricted entry, and all cleaning is conducted from the deck, this sometimes introduces difficulty in breaking up stubborn product. This has lead to the team increasing the ability of lances, pressure use and the standard of the nozzles adapted for the lances as well as how the equipment is controlled by the cleaning personnel.


Set up: The team has been challenged with the setup of the equipment that has been developed as there are many aspects to it. The lance itself is separated into multiple sections as there is an obvious need for it to be long enough to access all areas of tanks (which are often extremely large). The business has worked


with this and introduced CamLock connections which have in turn allowed it to assemble equipment far more efficiently and quickly.


Adjustability and progression: As it stands the equipment is designed to focus mainly on tank floors and lower to mid sections of the walls. The company's progression plan is to get to the stage where the equipment is adaptable enough to allow for targeting all areas of the tank including upper sections and roofs – all from the safety of the deck. This process is ongoing.


Recycling of cleaning water: The team is currently exploring options to recycle the water being used to clean tanks – this will further allow for reduction in waste creation and the associated disposal costs.


Lessons Learned


The company's research has enlightened the whole team with much valued knowledge of the vast


array of cleaning heads available and for what they are exactly best used for. The business has been able to identify and put in place different cleaning heads which allow for the various degrees of cleaning with different products from the hatch.


It has also been able to identify ways in which to achieve appropriate levels of pressure, through extended cleaning lances which both allow for effective levels of cleaning as well as safe operation for the cleaning team.


Conclusion & Outcome


When Swan & Co. began this process, we did so because we refused to continue to overlook the risk associated with excessive confined space entry during tank cleaning. The data which highlights the number of incidents that arise as a result of confined space entry were enough for us to put our experience and knowledge into action.


THE REPORT | MAR 2025 | ISSUE 111 | 117


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