Julie A
1989
Denmark
Europe
Packaged
HNS Spilt
Hydrochloric acidLiquid
HCl
Amount Spilt (T)5
CAS Number7647-01-0
-
DE
Physical Behaviour (SEBC code)
-
Z
Pollution Category (MARPOL Annex 2)
-
8
Class according to IMDG code
-
-
Subsidiary Risk Class according to IMDG code
-
Classification as Marine Pollutant
-
iv
HNS Classification (2010 HNS Convention)
Fate and weathering facts observed/reported
30% hydrochloric acid which is very corrosive. When hydrochloric acid reacts with sheet-iron, flammable hydrogen gas is formed. The engines of the ship were therefore shut down. When the responders entered the ship they had to wade through knee-deep hydrochloric acid and with a visibility of only two metres. They found a 25 mm hole in the tank which they plugged with a wooden wedge. The tank-coating made of glass-fibre reinforced polyester was neither aimed for, nor resistant to, hydrochloric acid. The acid on the floor had also spread into the ballast tank and threatened to reach through the bottom of the ship. After some trouble finding the appropriate equipment to pump the acid into tanks on shore, the offloading of acid was started..