Why Can't Petrol Explode On Ships?

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Even though tankers carry thousands of tons of flammable fuel around the world, you don't hear of them exploding. Have you ever asked yourself why?
If a car catches fire, it often results in a fireball. Why doesn't the same happen with ships?
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Tanker - MaxWebb / Shutterstock.com
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[@baileywright1656]

Learned something new this morning. I never thought of using the engine exhaust to get the CO2. I had just assumed they were using nitrogen.

[@tolga1cool]

@joecugo wtf dude

[@anthonyc4138]

@joecugo lol

[@anthonyc4138]

@@tolga1cool what?

[@baileywright1656]

@Jake Chen It isn't the fact that engines produce CO2 but the fact it can be re-purposed instead of being released to the environment :) Makes sense but sometimes the 'simple' option isn't the first one we think of, as in my case.

[@julianreverse]

@@berndknauer5211 What exatly has the free oxygen to to with your nitrogen production? :-D

[@ohhi1134]

Human ingenuity never ceases to amaze me

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

That why we conqure the world

[@EternityWowStaff]

Too bad we are still killing each other instead of working together to maybe...let's say explore the space as a human race.

[@siechamontillado]

Tell me Hoo-man, what is this thing you call 'love?'

[@YagiChanDan]

Never underestimate the persistence of stupidity.

[@kinderboeken55]

@@siechamontillado underrated comment

[@Avionicx]

I find it incredible that I don't have an interest in maritime study or whatever, and I can still enjoy these videos. You got me into learning about ships and how they worked, and sparked an interest in them. Keep up the awesome work!

[@CasualNavigation]

Thank Avionic7779x. It's great to hear you are enjoying the videos

[@cr4zyj4ck]

Haha, you didn't have an interest in ships, but now you do!

[@Skwerll]

The KZbin algorithm works in mysterious ways

[@bautistamercader4737]

@@Skwerll neural networks, three of them actually

[@bautistamercader4737]

@@Skwerll I lookloke the grindy person which wants every body to use the right terminology.

[@paulinbrooklyn]

Five minutes ago, I hadn’t ever considered the issue other than the analogous one of fuel tankers on the highways and roads where I believe at least in the US, safety has been improved over time through requirements of triple walled tanks and I’m sure inspection, valve and service life requirements. But, getting back to ships, your video perfectly laid out the problem and the solution (including both the scientific and economic aspects thereof). Well done!

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Paul.

[@ChrisGamingGR]

I am an actual seafarer in tankers and this video helped me to better understand how the system works even simplified.. Wish it had other elements like PV V/V or PV Breaker.. This channel is gold! Also the sewage treatment helped me understand better..

[@ritvikvaishnav3472]

It vexes me to see such a talented and wonderful creator like yourself have so little subscribers. I hope you make it big.

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Ritvik. I just do it for enjoyment anyway, but it's always nice to hear the content is enjoyed.

[@alexismandelias]

It's not the quality, it's the topic. Not many people enjoy this kind of content, so you get low view count. Not many people watch because of food quality. Some (inducing me) do however watch not because of an interest in the subject but, conversely, the good quality makes me interested

[@paddor]

Didn’t check the # of his subscribers, but yeah, I love his content. Super talented! So well explained and animated. Cheers

[@emperorkarlfranzprinceofal1465]

somehow your channel is such a comfy place despite the fact that the sea terrifies me like hell

[@vaporisedair4919]

Nitrogen is actually used in liquefied gas carriers containing things such as LNG, or LPG. The nitrogen is generated by on board generators (separating from the outside air) but it’s only used for maintenance and during cargo operations, normally the tanks are slightly pressurised so no air can come in anyway. CO2 and water will freeze under the operating conditions of these carriers.

[@jyotirmoykyasapura3132]

He was talking specifically about the fuel tanks, not the cargo like lng

[@Fjottle]

I'm currently studying to become a deck officer so these videos are golden.

[@xaiano794]

2:05 - Spain are responsible for all fuel fires apparently.

[@jimtaylor294]

I knew it!!

[@8vantor8]

those bastards, WE GOT TA DO SOMETHING ABOUT EM

[@peterson7082]

Because no one ever expects them, they get away with it.

[@Imoaninyourroomeverynight]

So that's what happened to the USS Maine

[@Mr-Ad-196]

@@peterson7082 no one expect the Spanish inquisition hueheueheheh.

[@jayswarrow1196]

I once had that experience on a picnic, when friend performed a "magic trick" for me: he filled the generator tank to the top with the canister, light a match, took a swing with his hat over the tank (to draw vapors away) and threw the match right into the filler. I was blown away with the physics on that matter.

[@dtibor5903]

Actually pure oxygen is more dangerous than most fuels. Pure oxygen can set on fire things that are normally are not flammable.

[@LiborTinka]

@@dtibor5903 in that case the thing set in fire becomes the fuel

[@afoxwithahat7846]

@@LiborTinka for example, your skin. Usually you'd get burned instead of burning, but if you touch liquid Oxygen you're screwed.

[@gerry5712]

@@afoxwithahat7846 The burn you'd get from touching liquid oxygen would be a very severe form of frostbite due to the extreme cold. Now if your clothing got saturated with liquid oxygen and encountered a spark that could cause a flash fire.

[@sirBrouwer]

I work in the petroleum industry and here the have a other alternative. make sure the tank is completely full with the product it self. then there cant get any oxygen in to it what you are talking about is here only used if a tank has to be made empty. then they do add nitrogen.

[@CasualNavigation]

Similar on ships. When the tank is full it is fine. Loading and discharging are the highest risk times

[@sirBrouwer]

@@CasualNavigation that i am aware of. here the biggest risk is the friction you get during the discharging.

[@eastcorkcheeses6448]

But the tank has to be emptied some stage , an oil tank that's permanently full ,and never emptied is worse than having no oil ,because you have to maintain the tank ,and theres a risk of leaking or fire ...

[@sirBrouwer]

@@eastcorkcheeses6448 they do empty the tanks for maintenance. that's with in a planning. but all the other time it is best to keep it full and on pressure. on land it's easy you can raise or lower the top of the tank that way it is always full with in the space used.

[@bas6983]

Sorry to interfere. You can’t (are not allowed) to fill a shipstank upto 100%. 98% is the max. A floating roof system is very impractical. During the transfer the liquid is agitated and due to this biggest risk of static discharge is during the transfer and thats why you need to be fully inerted constantly at an oil tanker. During maintenance periods the tanks will be cleaned and gasfreed so safe acces is possible.

[@mateuszmattias]

In the late 70s and early 80s two sister ships the Berge Istra and the Berge Vanga both dissapeared within a few years. As far as I remember they carried iron ore AND crude oil on different occasions (a practice not in use anymore) and somehow residue from the oil caused gas to build up whereas at some point the iron content in the ore may have caused sparks. None of the ships have ever been found (they dissapeared on the high oceans at places thousands of feet deep, in an era long before GPS navigation), but it was assumed they exploded and sank with no survivors.

[@tkvds]

Very interesting video, I hope it EXPLODES with views and likes!

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Tom. I enjoy making them regardless, but it's nice knowing people enjoy watching too

[@vanceb1]

I'm retired from the USCG and was a Marine Inspector for about 20 years. I was inspecting a sport fishing boat in San Pedro once and noticed some planking on the bow was a different color than the wood it was adjacent to. I asked the owner about it. He laughed and said it was from the Sansinena II explosion. When the ship blew up a valve flew through the air about a mile and landed smack on the bow of this guy's boat. It went right through the boat which then immediately sank. That must have been a heck of an explosion.

[@black_jackledemon6298]

As a welder and machinist we use these principles often when repairing tanks for various fuels, fluids or repurposing tanks (usually propane tanks) on a regular bases. Diesel and Hydraulic tanks are the least dangerous as they are closer on the scale to oil so flammable but not necessarily explosive. A flexible metal hose from the exhaust of a welding rig [truck] works more than well enough to be safe on those. And frankly convenient as you can see it come out the top most if the time as an indication it's full. Other fuels considered explosive we drain all of it which makes it more dangerous but pump in generous amounts of Argon because as a gas it's "heavy" so fills like something on the order of invisible water.. No oxygen sources....no fire....no explosion. Still a dangerous way to make a living but somebody has to do it. 🤷‍♂️ Excellent video explaintion for the general public so I hit the 👍 for you.

[@julianbrelsford]

Actual "explosives" may contain enough oxygen to combust without needing contact with an external source of oxygen - dynamite, gunpowder, etc

[@greatcanadianmoose3965]

Very good, the title is very descriptive, as soon as I saw the title, I knew how it worked. But your narration and visuals are absolutely stunning! Keep it up!

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Great Canadian Moose. Glad you enjoyed it

[@gasser5001]

Nothing like the thrill of learning something new on a Sunday morning.

[@Tuulos]

Cars actually don't explode all that violently, the damage done by the explosion is surprisingly minor. The fire does most of the damage.

[@nadlisse9055]

Casual Navigation animation his ship explosions. Ship: **Literally Dissapears**

[@midgetarmy1921]

Huh, random recommendation, and I was pleased.

[@arrowghost]

As I watched Mythbusters the TV series, there's the thing called the Fire Triangle, and when sometimes they don't ignite, the Mythbusters need to adjust the gas ratio called Stoichiometry, like you said, between too lean & too rich.

[@drakeivy8]

Youre telling me i have to wait 2 WEEKS for another video?!?

[@MervynPartin]

It might be worth pointing out that the inert gas, being a product of combustion is still mostly Nitrogen which is pretty much unchanged apart from small quantities of oxides produced. The combustion process of the Hydrocarbon fuel turns most of the oxygen into Carbon Dioxide and water vapour. During the scrubbing process, some of the Carbon Dioxide dissolves in the scrubbing tower so the percentage of Nitrogen in the inert gas becomes even higher- around 83-84%.with about 16%. There is always some residual oxygen- around 3%. I have not come across any installations using the main engine as a source of inert gas, these generally being shut down in port, but the gas being derived either from the flue gas of a boiler or a separate oil-fired inert gas generator.

[@johnsnow9224]

Thanks for the explanation, i was confused after watching this video whether Nitrogen is the most part of inert gas or Co2..i had a doubt so if we are not using a scrubber tower how much percentage of Nitrogen will be there in the exhaust of boiler? Thanks

[@hawky4397]

The wendover productions of the seven seas

[@peter_smyth]

What about a spin-off channel; half as deep?

[@johnsawyer2516]

All maritime technology explained in ways everyone can understand. Excellent channel.

[@guillaumeromain6694]

You'll never fail to amaze me by the quality of your videos. Content and delivery. Very pleasant to watch. Thank you! You definitely deserve a ten fold increase in subscribers

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Guillaume. Glad you are enjoying the content.

[@adamwarren775]

3:49 Nuclear reactors release minimal to no CO2. The clouds they produce is from water used for cooling/turbines that has been treated.

[@mtsranger]

I think those are coal power plants.

[@afoxwithahat7846]

Those are cooling towers, they can be used in any system/powerplant that produces heat.

[@afh7689]

Clear and concise explanation and in a video that's not too long. Good job! 👍

[@odehrizkallah395]

good to have you back from your break, missed these vids

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Odeh. Glad you are enjoying them

[@mariebcfhs9491]

I love your videos, as a fellow mariner (used to) I can say that your knowledge is amazing, thank you for sharing with us!

[@Naganix]

I've learned so much about ships from you channel, apreciate you man!

[@hernaninobleza3721]

Ex seafarer here. Most oil tankers I know use exhaust gas from the boiler instead of the exhaust from the diesel engine. The diesel engine can not produce enough inert gas at a rate needed during cargo discharging operation. Also, it would be difficult to bring down the residual O2 content of the exhaust from a diesel engine to a level that is considered safe (

[@mitsvanmitsvanio6106]

At last a channel having content for my job, I am a Fourth Mate. Very good representation of IG, one thing though your Tanker misses the BRAVO flag.

[@ferhatdoganolmez1423]

This channel is an one of the best sources that we seafarer uses most and also they make the topics easy to understand and fun.I am really grateful for this.

[@coleedson5439]

Wooo new CN video Keep up the great work man

[@SMX815]

Another great video & love your research 😊👍

[@TheGrimsock]

I know nothing about ships, and was not particularly interested in them until coming across this channel. Facinating stuff! Liked and subbed

[@siechamontillado]

Great video, though you forget what caused the explosion in the 1970's Los Angeles explosion, in the first place, was the infamous 'Disco Inferno.' Thank goodness disco is dead, saving many lives in the process.

[@CloroxBleach-ms7eo]

I have never sailed in my live yet I watch your channel religiously lol

[@brendanpospischil3871]

These videos are informative and great for relaxing before sleep.

[@99Ukkeli]

I can look at all of these videos with a new perspective now as I'm working in the harbour of a Finnish oil refinery and I'm dealing with these ships every day at work✌🏼

[@denisivanov4610]

As an engineer on board of ships, everything said is correct, but we are not using exhaust from Main Engine, or Auxiliary engines (generators), there are 2 options. One of them being Fired Steam boilers (using of their exhaust gases) and IGG (inert gas generator)

[@SimpleYev]

Great stuff! Thank you! =)

[@cjhoyle]

Very very interesting! Thanks for sharing :)

[@serviotulio22]

excellent work, congratulations

[@vickyvonstein2331]

Thank you Henry.

[@rodrigues709]

Great explaining, Help us to learn more about oil tankers, because I like pretty much!

[@MichChief]

The Inert Gas Systems on tankships were originally designed and installed to prevent explosions during a process called Crude Oil Washing. Crude Oil is typically heated for loading aboard a tankship. After a lengthy voyage, the crude oil cools and this leaves a thick film on "walls" and "bottoms" of the cargo tank after discharging at the terminal. Owners and charterers realized this was lost profit (consider the vast surface area of these cargo tanks). Machinery was developed and a practice began to heat some of the cargo and "wash down" the tank surfaces with heated crude to remove the film of oil. The machinery was similar to a giant lawn sprinkler that sprayed in a spherical pattern. In the early days, crew dropped the "sprinklers" on long hoses, but eventually fixed systems were installed. So, how does this relate to Inert Gas Systems? Hot, sprayed oil in an almost empty oil tank with a rich oxygen atmosphere combined with a static electrical charge from the movement of the oil started causing explosions. Several vessels suffered casualties before the mystery was solved when the electrical charge was observed in shore side cargo tank mock - up (or so the story goes). Owners and operators not wanting to lose the profit from the washing operations looked the engineers to solve and the Inert Gas System was created. A video on the process of Crude Oil Washing could be informative and entertaining. Also, most diesel powered tankers will shut down their Main Engine in port. Very often a small Inert Gas Generator is installed (think a small boiler) and it's flue gas is scrubbed and pumped to the cargo tanks.

[@redroris4906]

So helpful videos 👍

[@rijuviswanath1725]

Very informative

[@bieresnavigationettheories5846]

The ships conceptor are very clever! Just like your videos! Thank you for your work mate!

[@StripeTheFerret]

I love your channel. Keep it up

[@billmead5052]

Thanks for another interesting video!

[@ikon8275]

This is such a fascinating channel!

[@dirtypure2023]

Your animations are really good. Big fan.

[@far06c]

Great video!!

[@Thegreenpig22]

Was watching a documentary about ferries and I felt like I knew a lot of things they were talking about because of watching your channel! 😁

[@blumac9801]

Never thought I wanted this question answered

[@andrewandrew6376]

Amazing work!

[@jsveiga]

Since you asked, 1991, I was camping at Ilhabela, Brazil, when a tanker (Alina P) exploded right in front of us. All the sky turned orange, and the thunder seemed endless. Quite the fireworks for the end of the year. A spark from the anchor chain started it. Only one casualty.

[@castle5892]

Great video, keep going!

[@shubhamupman7260]

Great vid!!

[@JeffreyHeydenKaye]

Love the explosion animations

[@galo7367]

I really really look forward for a video for the inert gas system, please make one!!

[@JavierCR25]

Wow!!! This is why I love this channel

[@bobbobic8403]

Keep up great work 😎😎

[@whatthehellcarrot2801]

This is very useful

[@NomenNescio99]

The narrators accent makes the content of these videos at least twice as interesting to watch.

[@sofianossaltzidis3401]

naval engineer here. This video is generally accurate but a few notes: the CO2 usd to turn the atmoshere inside the tanks into non flammable actually comes from the boilers not the actual main engine.We engineers have to constantly kee an eye on the ratio of fuel-air to maintain a healthy level of oxygen well bellow 8% which is the safety limit(usually kept bellow 5%).The exhaust gas from the engine cant be used because that way the only way to produce inert gas would be at the times the ship is actually moving which is not the case. The steam produced by the boilers feeds into the cargo pumps abd their exhaust gas to neutralize the atmosphere inside the tanks. Great video however and great channel

[@rahulbodh4706]

Your videos has been a great help for upcoming marine students. It's just request to u if you can do something on ANCHORING ,SEABED, MOORINGS. THANKS CHEERS KE

[@morphuk1]

It's not something I've ever thought of. However, I found the video fascinating!

[@svxnger]

That was the weirdest way someone has ever introduced a mathematical graph to me

[@diggidong470]

The gas can happily bubble through 🤣🤣 your speaking voice illustrated that very well!

[@b.s.3645]

Literally a perfect video!

[@mirrorblue100]

Some military aircraft have used a similar system in their fuel tanks to lessen explosive risks in combat.

[@TCPUDPATM]

I like how the engine is a fancy V10.

Enjoyable presentation

[@jonathandevries2828]

thanks commented, liked and subscribed!

[@rafaellima6383]

0:39 lol anyone else notice the shockwave knock over the Hollywood sign and trees?

[@jjwwqq]

Very interesting.

[@vittoriovettraino2077]

Love you're videos, help me allot to understand nautical science. Can you possibly do a video on a tutorial of the Sextant? Or possibly the use of the nautical almanac, and example of use?

[@jamieh9733]

Ok I've been watching a lot of sci shows just about every mainstream one there is but this is just as good if not a better channel with a very low following I couldn't imagine the videos that this creator could make with a higher volume of subscribers

[@decdeclanlan]

this video is great! Only nitpick would be that you should maybe think about using some more contrasting colours on something like the flammability graph.

[@CasualNavigation]

Thanks Declan. I always welcome constructive criticism.

[@littlemeg137]

There was also the explosion of the oil tanker Betelgeuse at Whiddy Island in 1979. 50 people were killed.

[@Agseight]

Nice. Good man. Please make also Gmdss videos. Thanks

[@JAVTROOPER]

100% subscribing this channel

[@thothtahuti5509]

Thanks

[@Armadauzbekistan]

Meanwhile Iran: Excuse me?

[@ikman4006]

2:05 Viva España! 🇪🇸

[@ahhchoo8488]

Incredibly clever.

[@oasist5969]

Yeah, the inner gas is filling to the cargo oil tanks, such as the diesel engine exhaust gas or the N2 gas.

[@iamchrollo425]

could you do some videos about marine diesel engines in upcoming weeks... would be really helpfull

[@anoimo9013]

nice explanation. just a detail is that engine exhaust is mostly nitrogen

[@thehandlesticks66]

Brilliant

[@runedahl1477]

It is a little simplified in this presentation. If you were carrying crude oil you would use exhaust from the engine or the boilers however with refined products you would have a designated boiler that burns low sulfur gas oil or diesel. The exhaust from this boiler goes through a scrubber where sooth and impurities are washed out. Then the dew point of the exhaust is lowered either by a cooler or a filter filled with alumina before it is sent to the tank. When you mix inert and gas it is important to avoid “the sack” as we call it. The sack is the area on a diagram where the mixture is explosive. The area of the sack will depend on what kind of hydrocarbons you are carrying. If your cargo is a gas you have to go further. You will first inert the tank and then you will purge the inert with the gas you will be loading. You will need to get rid of as much as possible of the inert if you are going to reliquidfy the cargo. For chemical gasses like ethylene and butadiene you would use nitrogen as inert, while for propane and butane ordinary inert is ok. Since gasses are kept below the freezing point for water it is important to have a low dew point on the inert. For chemical gasses it is also to remove all oxygen to avoid contamination of the cargo.🤠

[@ben4wisdom]

The CO2 generator which is used to inert the tanks should be the Boilers and not the Main engine itself. 'cos: 1. Main engines emit way too much oxygen in their exhaust. 2.Many times when you need the inert gas (in port, while discharging cargo) your main engine isn't running. Correct me if I'm wrong. Thoroughly enjoyed your video thank you.

[@95Titanium]

2:00 No, we're left with the Spanish flag.

[@johnmacdonald1878]

Once upon a time long ago, We used to operate to rich or to lean. The San Demitro was quite famously hit by shells from a pocket battle ship causing fires. She was abandoned but some of the crew reborded put the fires out and sailed it to port. A full gas can will not explode it’s to rich. So ypu can torpedo or she’ll a loaded tanker and the tank won’t blow up. An empty tanker. If it’s to rich will not blow up ither. But when you unload it regular air with its regular oxygen content is sucked in. An empty tank full of a fuel air mixture can blow up quite spectacularly. So funny thing is an empty can of gas is much more dangerous than a full one. Ussualy even when the unloading a tanker there was enough hydrocarbon to keep it to rich. The really dangerous time was tank cleaning when you clean the tanks you get ride of the fuel. And it is possible for the tank to go from to rich into the danger zone. After several ships blew up during tank cleaning. IG systems were gradually introduced. Crude oil is one of the more volatile due to still having a lot of the light gassy stuff still as part of it. At first only crude oil tankers had IG systems, but a few refined product tankers blew up while tank cleaning, so it’s use became more widespread I worked on some of the last Non IG tankers. While loading, particularly topping of tanks, if there was not a lot of wind there was so much fumes I’d actually get high on it. Diesel or Gas oil is much less volatile. But still can be a problem as can ATK aviation turbine kerosene. Heavier oils aren’t much of a problem you can make roads out of them. The crap ships typically use is a slight step above road tar you heat it up enough it will burn. And is full of sulfer. So getting banned in lots of places. And is why IG systems are very prone to rust.

[@edwardfoster7414]

Great video, presumably if the tank was full and there was no space for oxygen to mix with vapours that would also stop an explosion.