Bleve Impact Analysis for Explosion Scenario of a Gas Tanker

Abstract

Flammable, explosive, poisonous, cargoes are classified as dangerous goods in maritime transportation. Dangerous goods are mostly carried on tankers. There are international rules and implementations regarding the safe and secure transportation of these cargoes for maritime transportation. Despite all measures and practices, security vulnerabilities and threats for maritime transportation continue. Recently, attacks on tankers especially in the Persian Gulf show that there is a security weakness against ships. Dangerous cargoes which transported via tankers increase the risk of security threat due to their characteristics. As a matter of fact, possible sabotage to be made on a tanker carrying flammable, explosive hazardous cargoes may have disastrous results depending on navigation area, cargo and shape of the sabotage. It is much more important to provide safe and secure transportation in the regions such as the Turkish Straits where the number of transit tankers is high and the surrounding settlements are dense. In this study, Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) impact analysis was performed for the explosion scenario of a sailing gas tanker. The Regional Location of the Hazardous Atmosphere (ALOHA) software was used for impact analysis. Aim of the study is to emphasize importance of security for maritime transportation. According to the scenario set up, the circular area with a diameter of 2 kilometers as a result of bleve formation is fatal; It is determined that a circular area of 4.3 kilometers in diameter will form a dangerous area. The aim of the study is to emphasize the importance of safety in maritime dangerous goods transportation and to raise awareness about the subject for our country.