A hydraulic oil leaks pose environmental and commercial risks, emphasizing the importance of proactive maintenance and risk mitigation.
A common issue is hydraulic oil leaking overboard, which, especially in port, can lead to expensive fines and cleanup costs. Hoses and lines near the ship’s side are particularly dangerous as oil leaks from these areas are hard to contain and likely spill into the sea. Environmental factors like saltwater, extreme temperatures, and UV light can degrade hydraulic materials, leading to corrosion and thinning of lines, while mechanical damage from poor hose installation or design can further reduce their lifespan.
Best practices
To reduce the risks of oil spills from hydraulic piping and hoses in exposed locations, Britannia recommends following measures:
- A thorough visual inspection of the flexible hydraulic piping and hoses should be carried out on a regular basis in accordance with the ships Planned Maintenance System (PMS).
- Any indication of rust patches on piping should be tackled immediately with de-rusting and application of protective paint coating. Rust patches should not be painted over without maintenance. Spare sections of hydraulic pipes, seals and fixings should be on board for immediate repairs in case of pipeline failure.
- Evidence of abrasion, kinking, or chemical contamination of hoses, or corrosion of hose connections should be investigated further and action taken as necessary.
- A policy for replacing hydraulic hoses onboard, depending on their location, should be included in a company’s safety management system. Hoses located in exterior locations cannot be expected to last as long as hoses protected from environmental conditions. To address this increased risk of failure, some companies are known to replace hydraulic hoses in high-risk locations every 2.5 years and every 5 years for all other hydraulic hoses exposed to weather. This task should be part of the ships PMS, and all replacements should utilise the original equipment manufacturer components and be correctly rated for the intended application. We recommend maintaining a complete set of spare hoses onboard. Additionally, the connectors of these hydraulic hoses should preferably be made of stainless steel. Maintaining a record of hydraulic tank quantities helps determine the amount of oil spilled, as even small spills can spray over a large area, appearing as significant pollution, and leading to heavy fines if the spilled quantity is unknown.
- Exposed outboard hydraulic piping and flexible hoses should ideally be avoided during the design stage. Utilising alternative designs, such as electric or pneumatic power sources, should be considered, as they pose lower pollution risks. We are aware of a project where a shipowner replaced existing hydraulic actuators in an exposed location with pneumatically operated ones. Alternatively, an all-electric system for cranes, hatch covers, ramps, and winches can be considered if the ship type allows.
Any form of marine pollution damages the environment. A ship can be penalised and may face commercial implications. Identifying potential pollution risks and addressing them through alternative designs, proactive maintenance and operational best practices is essential.