The Hamworthy VOC Recovery Systems has been developed on the basis of Hamworthy Gas Systems´ extensive experience with crude oil cargo systems and gas cargo systems for LPG, Ethylene and LNG handling.

International agreements have established objectives to reduce emissions of VOC gas to atmosphere. The field proven Hamworthy VOC Recovery System is self supplied with energy and results in no VOC emissions.


Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions from the global
sea transportation of crude oil and associated products represent in total more than 5 million tons per year.

Emissions consist of a mixture of light-end hydrocarbon components from methane and ethane, to heavier fractions
such as heptane and pentane.

The gases are evaporated from the crude oil surface in the cargo tanks when loading and transporting the crude oil.

Loading of crude oil
Light crude (API 30 and up) can contain up to 5 % VOC. Actual
VOC emissions are found to be in the range of 0.08 to 0.15%
of the total cargo volume loaded, corresponding to 50 - 200
tons of VOC emissions per loading depending on the size of
the vessel.