Cargoes

Noxious liquid substances are
chemical commodities carried
in liquid form such as
ethanol,
sulfuric acid and vegetable oils

What are chemical products?

Liquid chemical products are defined as Noxious Liquid Substances (NLS) by the MARPOL Convention which strictly regulates pollution prevention at sea. They comprise organic and inorganic chemicals like methanol or caustic soda and acids, and cargoes like biofuels, edible oils and specialties to produce plastics, paints, medicines, car-parts, batteries, etc. 

What cargoes do chemical tankers carry?

Chemical tankers are purpose-built to carry a wide range of chemical cargoes in liquid form. The products carried are mainly sophisticated bulk liquid chemicals, acids, edible oils, alcohols, biofuels and clean petroleum products. The complex nature of these compounds require zinc-coated or stainless steel tanks, sophisticated vessels and technical crews able to handle sometimes toxic, flammable or corrosive products.  

Organic Chemicals

28%

Organic chemicals

Organic chemicals are compounds containing carbon-hydrogen covalent bonds such as sugars, lipids, amino acids and proteins. Methane, buthane, ether, ethylene are examples of organic chemicals commonly used in the automobile, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Vegetable Oils

28%

Vegetable oils

Vegetable oils are edible oils extracted from plants such as soybean, sunflower, olives, canola, corn, palm and coconut among others. In addition to their use in cooking and baking, they are found in processed foods like salad dressings, mayonnaise, margarine and cookies.

Inorganic Chemicals

21%

Inorganic chemicals

Inorganic chemicals are all chemicals produced in the lab or industrially, including sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, caustic soda and ammonia. They are used as catalysts, pigments, coatings, surfactants, medicines, fuels and they are present in our everyday lives.

Base oils

7%

Base oils

Base and lube oils are a class of oil used to reduce friction, heat and wear between mechanical components that are in contact with each other. It is a fundamental in vehicles and machinery engine operation.

Molasses

6%

Molasses  

Molasses is a viscous byproduct made during the extraction of sugars from sugarcane and sugar beet. It is commonly used as sweetener and is considered to be a healthier substitute for refined sugar.

Renewables

3%

Renewables (UCO + Tallow)

Renewable fuels are true hydrocarbons. It is also refered to as “drop-in” biofuels, as they can be used anywhere conventional fuels are used without modifications to engines or pipelines. Used Cooking Oil (UCO) and tallow waste are some products used as renewables.

Biofuel

3%

Biofuel

Biofuel is a sustainable, clean-burning alternative to fossil diesel, and it is compatible with today’s diesel engines and energy distribution. The fuel is considered carbon-neutral as the vegetable crop absorbs the same amount of CO2 as it releases when combusted.

Others

3%

Others

Cover various cargoes transported in smaller scale including Clean petroleum products. 

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Management

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Ultranav

Ultratank is part of Ultranav, a large and diversified group of shipping companies. Ultranav was founded in Chile in 1960 by Captain Albert von Appen.

How we work

Ultratank is a leading chemical tanker operator focusing on the Americas. We are specialists in tailor-made transportation and cargo handling solutions.