By Capt. Neeraj Bharti, Founder, Master Mariner · Published · 2 min read
Before you fix a clean cargo: the DPP to CPP changeover checklist for operators
Most changeover problems are decided before the ship ever starts washing. They are decided in the chartering office, when a clean cargo is fixed on a ship coming out of fuel oil without anyone checking whether she can realistically be ready in time, to the standard, with that coating. This checklist is for the operator before the fixture, not the crew after it.
The checklist
Cargo history
- What were the last three cargoes, including any intermediate cargoes?
- Do the charterer's rules accept that history for the nominated grade?
- Is an intermediate clean cargo needed first?
Next cargo and standard
- Which grade exactly, and which specification parameters are critical (colour, sulphur, flash point, haze)?
- What inspection standard applies: visually clean, water white or wall wash?
- Who inspects, and are the criteria in writing?
Ship and coating
- Coated or uncoated tanks? Coating type, age and condition?
- Is the coating resistant to the next cargo and to any cleaning chemicals planned?
- Are heating coils, pumps and lines in good condition, with no known leaks?
Time and place
- How many days are really available, and where: ballast passage, anchorage, alongside?
- Is heating available for hot washing on the way?
- Is fresh water available for the final rinse?
People
- Can the crew do it alone in the time, or is a riding squad or shore gang needed?
- Who will plan, supervise and sign off the work?
Slops and waste
- Where will slops go, and how will they be landed or carried?
- Is there capacity in the slop tanks for the planned washing?
Inspection and records
- Will the ship pre-inspect before the surveyor arrives?
- Is a record pack being kept: plan, logs, chemicals, slops, gas-free certificates, photographs?
If any answer is "not sure"
Those are the answers that turn into off-hire, a failed inspection or a contamination claim. Resolve them before fixing: confirm the previous cargo acceptability with the charterer, have the coating checked, and get a realistic plan and duration from whoever will do the work. The DPP to CPP changeover guide explains each step in detail, and Jet A-1 after dirty cargo covers the most demanding grade.
How Cleanship helps operators
Send us the vessel, cargo history, nominated grade, coating details and available window. We will tell you honestly whether the timeline works and what it will take, from our bases at Fujairah and in India. See our DPP and CPP tank cleaning service or contact us.
Sources & further reading
Frequently asked questions
What should an operator check before fixing a clean cargo on a dirty ship?
Cargo history acceptability, the next grade's critical specifications and inspection standard, coating type and condition, the time and place available, who will do the work, slop arrangements, and how the work will be inspected and recorded.
Why does cargo history matter for a clean fixture?
Charterers often judge the last three cargoes, not just the last, and some grades such as jet fuel may require intermediate clean cargoes after dirty trades.
Who decides the tank inspection standard?
It should be agreed with the charterer or receiver in writing before cleaning starts, so the crew and contractors work to the same target as the inspector.
When should a riding squad or shore gang be used?
When the crew cannot complete the changeover safely and properly in the time available, or when the job needs manual work, demucking or specialist equipment.
- DPP to CPP checklist
- changeover checklist tanker
- before fixing clean cargo
- tanker operator checklist
- dirty to clean tanker planning
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- Tank cleaningEnd-of-life tank coating: why it holds black oil and how to plan around itWhy cargo tank coatings near the end of their life absorb and hold dark cargo, how that affects a DPP to CPP changeover, and how to assess coating before fixing a sensitive clean cargo.
- Tank cleaningJet A-1 after dirty cargo: how charterers judge previous cargoesWhy jet fuel is the most demanding clean cargo after a DPP history, how charterers look at previous cargoes, and what tank preparation it takes to load Jet A-1 without contamination claims.
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