A chemical tanker is a type of tanker that has been specially developed to carry a wide range of chemicals. In addition to the MARPOL convention, chemical tankers must satisfy the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk. Those built before 1 July 1986 must satisfy the BCH Code; those built on or after that date must satisfy the IBC code. In addition, according to the IBC code there are three types of chemical tankers. Type 1 carries products considered to present the greatest overall hazard, while types 2 and 3 are for cargoes presenting progressively reduced dangers.
Chemical tankers usually have several cargo holds, permitting the carriage of different cargoes. Depending on the cargo, the tanks are lined with specialized protective materials such as phenolic epoxy or zinc paint, or made from stainless steel. In order to maintain the viscosity of the cargo, certain tanks are provided with heating devices such as heating serpentines, coils or spiral tubes.
Many aspects must be considered, including navigational zone and scope, vessel dimensions, power of the engines, type of chemical product and appropriateness of the tanks.
