Tank-by-Tank Manifest Requirements
Unlike bulk carriers (which declare cargo by hold) or container ships (which declare by container), tankers must declare cargo by individual tank. A typical Panamax tanker has 12-17 cargo tanks, each requiring its own manifest entry with: product name and grade, quantity in metric tons and barrels, API gravity or specific gravity, temperature, and calculated volume at standard conditions.
The ACP uses tank-by-tank data for three purposes: toll calculation (different petroleum products have different toll rates), environmental risk assessment (persistent oils trigger enhanced scrutiny), and transit safety planning (product volatility and flashpoint data affect safety zone requirements). Inaccurate tank data affects all three systems.
Product-Specific Declaration Requirements
- Crude oil: API gravity, sulphur content, pour point, flashpoint, and whether the crude is classified as persistent oil. Crude from different fields has different properties — the declaration must reflect the specific crude grade loaded, not a generic classification.
- Refined products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel): Product grade, flashpoint, vapor pressure, and specific gravity. Refined products with flashpoints below 60 C require additional safety zone documentation during transit.
- Heavy fuel oil / bitumen: Viscosity, pour point, flashpoint, and heating coil status for each tank. These persistent products trigger the highest level of PCSOPEP scrutiny.
- Chemical products: Full MSDS for each product, IBC Code product category, compatibility group, and specific handling requirements. Multi-product chemical tankers must declare segregation compliance between tanks carrying incompatible chemicals.
Shore vs. ship figures: use the B/L. The load port's shore tank gauging figure and the ship's tank gauging figure almost always differ by 0.1-0.3% due to measurement methodology differences. The cargo declaration must match the B/L quantity (which typically uses the shore figure). Document the ship's figure in the ullage report separately. Using the ship's figure in the declaration when the B/L has the shore figure triggers a quantity mismatch rejection.
Ullage Reporting
The ACP requires current ullage reports for every cargo tank. The report must show: current ullage reading, product temperature, calculated cargo volume at standard conditions, and the tank's structural capacity. Ullage data must be current to within 24 hours of the VUMPA filing date — load port figures from 5-7 days earlier are not acceptable without a transit-day update. The ACP uses ullage data to cross-verify declared quantities and to assess the risk of cargo movement or overflow during lock water level changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a tanker declare in its cargo declaration?
Product name and grade per tank, quantity in MT and barrels, API gravity/density, flashpoint, vapor pressure, and persistent/non-persistent classification. Chemical tankers add MSDS, IBC Code category, and compatibility declarations. Ullage reports must be current to the filing date.
Do tankers need to provide ullage reports?
Yes. Current ullage reports for every cargo tank showing product quantity, temperature, and calculated volume. Data must be current to within 24 hours of filing — load port figures alone are not acceptable without an update.
What is the persistent vs. non-persistent oil distinction?
Persistent oils (crude, HFO, bitumen) do not readily evaporate or break down. Non-persistent oils (gasoline, diesel) evaporate relatively quickly. Persistent oil cargoes trigger enhanced PCSOPEP scrutiny and may affect transit scheduling.
What if the declaration doesn't match the B/L?
Any discrepancy triggers rejection. Shore and ship figures typically differ by 0.1-0.3%. Use the B/L quantity (shore figure) in the declaration. Document the ship's figure separately in the ullage report.
Validate Your Tanker Cargo Declaration
CanalClear cross-checks tank-by-tank manifests against B/L data and ACP product-specific requirements before submission.
Start Filing →