Master the Basics of Tanker Operations 2026 – Sail Smoothly to Success!

Preventing reverse flow on the discharge side is essential. A cargo pump discharge can experience backflow when the pump stops or pressure in the line changes, which could siphon cargo back toward the pump and cause damage or loss of prime. A check valve automatically allows flow in the forward direction and immediately closes if flow attempts to go backward, providing passive, automatic backflow protection without needing operator action. This makes it the most effective choice for protecting the pump and piping.

The other valves are mainly used for isolating or throttling flow. Ball valves can shut off flow manually but don’t automatically prevent backflow if someone forgets to close them; gate and globe valves serve similar shutoff or throttling roles and aren’t designed to prevent backflow on their own.