Fixed Tank Cleaning Machine
A fixed tank cleaning machine is permanently piped and mounted inside the cargo tank, rotating on two axes to sweep high-pressure water or chemical jets across the internal surface without anyone entering the tank to move it.
What to check on a Fixed Tank Cleaning Machine.
2 models from Scanjet Marine in Fixed Tank Cleaning Machine. Below: the full model list.
What sets fixed machines apart from portable ones
A portable tank cleaning machine has to be lowered through a tank hatch on a hose and repositioned by the crew to cover the whole tank, which means someone is working at height over an open hatch and the tank has to be gas-freed or entered under permit to reposition the unit. A fixed machine is bolted permanently inside the tank, piped from deck level, and covers its full sweep pattern without anyone entering — the machine moves, not the person. That single difference is why fixed machines dominate on chemical and larger product tankers, where tank entry is minimised as a matter of policy, not just convenience.
Legend
- drive unit (motor and gearbox)
- deck
- index rotation
- rotating head (slew, vertical axis)
- nozzle arm (elevation sweep)
- tank shell (cutaway)
- sludge sump / drain
- rotating jet covers tank walls and floor
Main components
Machine head and nozzle
A rotating head with one or two nozzles sweeps in a programmed pattern, driven by the reaction force of the jet itself on most designs, turbine or impact-driven rotation, rather than a separate motor, which keeps the in-tank part of the machine simple and free of electrics in a potentially explosive atmosphere.
Drive and gearbox
The rotation gearing sets the sweep pattern — full 360-degree coverage in both the horizontal and vertical planes needs a two-axis drive, while some fixed installations use a fixed elevation with only horizontal rotation for simpler tank geometries.
Read the full guide
Supply piping and deck connection
Permanent piping runs from the machine through the tank boundary to a deck-mounted supply connection, where the crew hooks up the washing medium, water, heated water, or a chemical wash solution, from a portable pump or the ship's own tank cleaning system.
Mounting and access
The machine mounts on a flanged spool piece let into the tank top or shell, sized so the machine itself can be pulled for maintenance without a full tank entry in most designs — an important distinction when comparing models.
Selection and sizing
- Tank geometry and internal obstructions, heating coils, swash bulkheads, that create shadow zones no single machine position reaches
- Throw distance and jet pressure required to reach every internal surface from the mounting position chosen
- Cargo compatibility of wetted-part materials — stainless grade needs to match the corrosivity of the cargoes the tank carries
- Number of machines per tank — larger or more complex tanks need more than one unit to avoid shadow zones
Regulations and class
Tank cleaning machines used in cargo tanks that may hold a flammable atmosphere fall under the electrical and mechanical equipment requirements of IMO's IBC Code for chemical tankers and equivalent MARPOL Annex I/II provisions for oil and NLS cargoes — non-electrical, jet-driven machines avoid the ignition source concerns that would apply to a motor-driven alternative, which is one reason the design has stayed dominant. Class surveys check the machine mounting and piping integrity as part of the cargo system survey; there is no separate class certificate for the cleaning machine itself, but its installation is reviewed against the approved cargo system drawings.
Typical faults
| Fault | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Nozzle wear from continued use past service life | Reduced jet pressure and throw, incomplete tank coverage that shows up as a failed cleanliness check |
| Gearbox seizure from lack of lubrication | Machine stops rotating, wash medium hits one spot repeatedly instead of sweeping the tank |
| Piping or flange leak into the tank | Wash medium loss and possible cross-contamination between cargo grades |
| Wrong wetted-part material for the cargo | Accelerated corrosion of the machine, particle contamination of the next cargo |
What to look for in a supplier
- Coverage pattern data or shadow-zone analysis for the specific tank geometry, not a generic sweep diagram
- Wetted-part material options matched to the full range of cargoes the tank is expected to carry
- Spare nozzle and gearbox parts availability, since machine downtime during a cleaning window has schedule consequences
- Confirmation the machine can be withdrawn for service without a full tank entry, where that matters to the operator's tank entry policy
A cleanliness failure after a wash is as often a shadow-zone problem as a machine fault — check the coverage pattern against the actual tank layout before assuming the machine itself needs work.
Models in this type.
The best-documented model of each manufacturer first, then the next — 2 of 2 models in Fixed Tank Cleaning Machine. Every row links to full specifications, documents and service notes.
Manufacturers.
All 6 manufacturers with models of Fixed Tank Cleaning Machine. Names with a manufacturer page open it; the others open a search across the full library.
All manufacturers in the libraryAlso in Tank Cleaning Equipment.
The other equipment types in this category.
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Questions that come up with this equipment.
Is Fixed Tank Cleaning Machine data free?
Yes. Every model page, every guide and every datasheet for this type is readable without an account. An account adds saved searches and requests, nothing is taken away.
My model is missing — what now?
Send us the nameplate. We identify it by hand, add it to the library, and if you need a part or a service, the request is already on our desk.
Can you source a Fixed Tank Cleaning Machine part?
Yes. Tell us the manufacturer, the model and what you need — a person reads every request and replies by e-mail.