Understanding Sounding, Ullage, and Frequency of Sounding
If you have worked on ship, you must have come across the terms sounding and ullage, which often tend to confuse people. In this article, we will learn as to what the difference between sounding and ullage is, and what is the importance of each one of them?
Both Sounding and ullage can be easily understood with the help of following diagrams:
Sounding is the measured height of the fluid from the surface of the fluid to the bottom of the tank. Ullage is the void space in the tank measured from the top of the tank to the upper surface of the fluid. Ullage is measured when the content of a tank is highly viscous and if the tank is filled to the maximum.
Sounding pipe is constructed in the tank. These pipes protrude slightly above from the top of the tank so that sounding can be taken safely and easily without opening any manhole door. They even have protecting caps at the top which can be opened at the time of sounding.
The sounding pipe is open from the bottom which allows the liquid filling up the pipe and facilitating it to have the same level as of the tank.
After measuring sounding or ullage, it is compared in the sounding book to know the volumetric quantity of the tank. Thus, sounding of the pipe becomes sounding of the tank.
To avoid pressurizing of tanks, which can give a wrong reading in the sounding pipe and to avoid distortion of bulkheads of tank, a vent pipe is provided which releases the air and vapors inside the tank.
Frequency
Sounding frequency on a ship differs from company to company and according to the working policy and the nature of operations going on board. A brief note as per the general procedure followed on ship is given below:
1) All Fuel oil tanks lube oil tanks and diesel oil tanks must be sounded twice a day, once in morning and once in evening, and recorded in the event of leak or any other emergency related to oil content of tanks.
2) All waste water tanks including bilge and sludge tank must be sounded twice a day.
3) Ballast water tank and fresh water tanks should be sounded once a day.
4) As bunkering operation is one of the most critical operations, the frequency of operation drastically increases at the initial and final stages of the operation (every 15 minutes) to check the inflow of oil in correct tank at initial stage and to avoid overflow of oil during final stage of operation.
5) When waste water of ship is internally transferred, discharged overboard through 15 ppm equipment or given to the shore facility, sounding is to be taken twice or thrice every hour.
6) When ballasting or de-ballasting of the tank is going on, hourly sounding is to be taken or as decided by the chief officer.
7) Fresh water tank sounding to be taken daily. Feed water tanks in the engine room are to be sounded at every watch to keep a track of leakages.
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Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
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Good Afternoon,
How does de-ballasting using pumps differ from stripping? Is there different pumps used for stripping or are they the same pumps used in the de-ballasting procedure. Can you isolate the stripping processes to one tank at a time or do you have to strip all tanks collectively.
Many Thanks,
Cam
thank u for the explanation, i will like to learn more from u.
Thanks for these valuable information
I am master marine Hamed Salah going to Dubai for making a lecture of the Ullage ship shore calculation
can you give me more details about that subject?
Best regds
Hamed salah
Thanks and Happy for these valuable information
@Abdulaziz: Thank you for your support.
Thanks a lot for this
Is there any legal requirement (SOLAS/Administration) to carry out sounding of ballast daily???
No, this comes under SMS of the commpany