Sodium Hypochlorite 12-15% Supplier Oman: Ship Hold Disinfection at Salalah Port
Bulk carriers calling at Salalah Port often need a hold disinfected and deodorised before the next grain or food cargo, and sodium hypochlorite 12-15% is the oxidising bleach most hold-cleaning crews use for that job. We act as a sodium hypochlorite 12-15% supplier Oman-wide, holding stock at our Barka warehouse and delivering to Salalah and the rest of Dhofar. Applied to a swept and washed hold at the right strength and contact time, it lifts organic staining, controls odour and kills mould and algae. The hold coating must be rated for it.
What sodium hypochlorite 12-15% is, and why labels differ
Sodium hypochlorite solution (CAS 7681-52-9) is a clear, pale greenish-yellow alkaline liquid with a bleach odour. It mixes with water in any proportion and is non-flammable. Makers add a small excess of caustic soda to stabilise it, so the typical pH sits at about 11 to 13.5.
The 12-15% name confuses many buyers because the figures describe one solution measured in three ways. A typical industrial grade contains about 12.5-13.5% NaOCl by weight, which gives about 11.9-12.9% available chlorine by weight. Because the liquid is heavier than water, the same solution works out at about 14-15% available chlorine by volume, or about 143-153 grams of available chlorine in each litre. This means a label that says 12% and another that says 15% can describe the same drum. When you compare quotes, ask which basis each figure uses.
Why ships at Salalah Port use hypochlorite for hold cleaning
Vessels at Salalah Port often switch between dusty mineral cargoes such as gypsum, limestone, clinker, cement and fertiliser and sensitive cargoes such as grain. A hold that will load grain must be grain clean. That means no visible residue from the previous cargo, no dust, no loose rust and no detectable odour. After fishmeal, sugar or another organic cargo, washing alone often leaves stains and a smell.
Hypochlorite oxidises that leftover organic staining, controls odours and kills bacteria, fungi and algae on compatible washable surfaces. Our product record lists bulk carrier, grain, sugar and fishmeal holds, marine storage areas, and mould and algae removal among its uses. It is a finishing treatment. For mineral oil, soot or coal staining, an alkaline degreaser such as AquaaTuff ship hold cleaner does the heavy cleaning first, and you rinse it off before the hypochlorite step. The full range is in our ship hold cleaner category.
Step-by-step hold disinfection at Salalah
- Sweep the hold and remove all cargo residue. Chemical applied over unswept residue forms a slurry that dries hard.
- Pre-soak the hold with fresh water for about 15-30 minutes.
- Wash with high pressure, typically at about 150-200 bar.
- Apply sodium hypochlorite only where staining, odour or growth remains. The next section covers strength and contact time.
- Finish with a fresh-water rinse. Do not use seawater for the final wash of a grain hold, because salt contamination is a reason holds get rejected.
Plan the fresh water early. Ask your ship agent at Salalah Port to arrange fresh water for the final rinse before the vessel berths. A hold rinsed with seawater can fail inspection even when it looks clean.
Undiluted or diluted: dosage, contact time and coverage
Two methods are typical for this product class.
Undiluted, for spot stains. The hold surface should be dry. Apply the concentrate with a chemical applicator to the stained areas only and leave it for about 20-30 minutes. Then wash down, preferably with fresh water, so that no salt remains.
Diluted, for larger areas. Dilute about 1:3 to 1:10 with fresh water, depending on the contamination, and apply by spray, mop or hard sponge. Keep the surface wet for a contact time of 10-20 minutes, then rinse. One litre typically covers about 8-10 m².
To remove dye or stains from a cargo tank by recirculation, crews typically run a 1-2% solution for several hours at ambient temperature, up to about 35-40 °C. They then rinse with water suited to the next cargo.
To work out how much to order, measure the stained area in each hold rather than the whole hold. Divide it by the coverage figure, then allow for the dilution you plan to use. A few holds with spot staining usually fit a 30 or 60 litre pack. A fleet programme or repeat calls at Salalah points to 210 litre drums or the 1000 kg IBC. Strength falls in storage, so order for the job you have.
Check the hold coating first
Sodium hypochlorite can permanently damage hold coatings. The two most common epoxy hold coatings are not resistant to it, so use it only where the coating is rated alkali-resistant and hypochlorite-resistant. Check the coating maker's resistance data for your vessel. Before you treat a whole hold, patch test a small area that is out of the way, using the strength and contact time you plan to use. Keep the solution away from aluminium, zinc, copper and nickel fittings, because it attacks these metals.
MARPOL Annex V and hold wash water at Salalah
Under MARPOL Annex V, hold wash water may not be discharged to sea if its cargo residues or cleaning additives are harmful to the marine environment. Sodium hypochlorite is classed as harmful to the marine environment. Plan to keep wash water that contains hypochlorite on board and land it at a port reception facility. Ask your ship agent at Salalah to book reception before cleaning starts, so the hold job does not hold up departure.
Typical specifications and our part numbers
The figures below come from our technical data sheet for the 12.5% wt grade. Published data sheets for this product class give similar values.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Part number | RXSOL-22-3025-200 (Sodium Hypo Chlorite 12-15%), RXSOL-22-3025-210 (Sodium Hypo Chlorite 12to15), RXSOL-22-3025-201 (1000 Kg IBC) |
| Chemical | Sodium hypochlorite solution, NaOCl, CAS 7681-52-9 |
| Sodium hypochlorite as NaOCl (%wt) | 12.5 - 13.2 (typical 13.0) |
| Available chlorine (%wt) | 11.9 - 12.6 (typical 12.4) |
| Available chlorine (%vol) | 14.3 - 15.3 (typical 15.0) |
| Available chlorine, grams in each litre | 143 - 153 (typical 150) |
| Excess caustic (%wt) | 0.25 - 0.80 (typical 0.30) |
| Specific gravity @ 60°F | 1.197 - 1.220 (typical 1.210) |
| pH | 12.0 - 13.0 (typical 12.50) |
| Application | Ship hold disinfection, organic stain and odour control, mould and algae removal, water treatment |
| Dosage | Hold cleaning: undiluted on spot stains, or diluted about 1:3 to 1:10 with fresh water (typical for this product class). Water: a weak solution (1.2 %) is used for purifying water; 0.02 to 0.2 % volumetric is sufficient for potable water treatment |
| Packing | 30, 60, 210, 1050 Ltr; 1000 Kg IBC |
| Transport | UN1791, Hypochlorite solution, Class 8, Packing Group III |
| MSDS | On request |
Storage in Dhofar heat: keeping strength until the job
Sodium hypochlorite loses strength over time, and faster at higher temperatures. In sealed original packaging, a typical shelf life is about 3 months if the product is stored cool (below about 21 °C), out of direct sunlight and in vented containers. Storing it at around 15 °C greatly reduces decomposition. Outdoor quays and yards in Salalah are often much hotter than that, so a drum or IBC left in the sun loses available chlorine faster.
Take delivery close to the cleaning date, keep the packs shaded and ventilated, and use them quickly. Decomposition gives off mainly oxygen. Vent any closed container that has heated up before you open it fully.
Safety and handling: UN1791 Class 8, PPE and acids
Sodium hypochlorite solution is transported as UN1791, Hypochlorite solution, Class 8 (corrosive), Packing Group III, and is also IMDG Class 8. Typical labels carry the signal word Danger with H314 (causes severe skin burns and eye damage), H290 (may be corrosive to metals), H400/H411 (toxic to aquatic life) and EUH031 (contact with acids liberates toxic gas).
Never mix it with acid-based hold cleaners or descaling cleaners, because acids release toxic chlorine gas. Keep it away from ammonia and ammonium compounds, which form chloramines, and from reducing agents, hydrogen peroxide and organic materials. Crews should wear a face shield, chemical-resistant gloves and an apron. If you use an acid cleaner earlier in the sequence, rinse the hold fully before you apply hypochlorite.
Other southern uses for the same grade
The same product serves plants across Dhofar. The 12% grade is widely used in waterworks, and 15% is more common for wastewater disinfection. Potable water dosing typically aims for a residual chlorine of about 0.2-0.5 ppm. It also works as an oxidising biocide in cooling towers and as a sanitiser in food and beverage processing.
Sodium hypochlorite 12-15% supplier Oman: where to buy in Salalah
Salalah Chemical (RXSOL group, Oman) supplies sodium hypochlorite 12-15% from our Barka warehouse, with deliveries to Salalah and Dhofar. You can order sodium hypochlorite 12-15% in 30, 60, 210 and 1050 litre packs, or the sodium hypochlorite 1000 kg IBC for larger hold or water treatment programmes. Call +968 77333599, message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/96877333599 or email muscatchem@gmail.com.
Our sister sites list the same product for vessels and plants in the north: sodium hypochlorite 12-15% for Sohar port deliveries and sodium hypochlorite 12-15% for Muscat and Barka buyers.
To request a quote, send us the vessel name, the Salalah Port call date, the number of holds and the pack size you need. Message us on WhatsApp at +968 77333599 or use our quote request form.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy sodium hypochlorite 12-15% in Salalah or Oman?
Salalah Chemical (RXSOL group, Oman) supplies it from our Barka warehouse and delivers to Salalah and Dhofar. Packs are 30, 60, 210 and 1050 litres, plus a 1000 kg IBC. Call or WhatsApp +968 77333599 with your quantity and delivery date to get a quote.
Will sodium hypochlorite damage cargo hold epoxy coatings?
It can. Sodium hypochlorite can permanently damage hold coatings, and the two most common epoxy hold coatings are not resistant to it. Use it only on coatings rated alkali-resistant and hypochlorite-resistant, and patch test a small area at your planned strength and contact time first.
Can hold wash water containing sodium hypochlorite be discharged at sea under MARPOL Annex V?
No. Under MARPOL Annex V, hold wash water may not go to sea if its cleaning additives are harmful to the marine environment, and sodium hypochlorite is classed as harmful. Keep the wash water on board and land it at a port reception facility, which your ship agent at Salalah can arrange.
What is the difference between 12% NaOCl and 12% available chlorine?
They are different ways of measuring strength. A typical grade with about 12.5-13.5% NaOCl by weight gives about 11.9-12.9% available chlorine by weight. Measured by volume, the same solution gives about 14-15% available chlorine, or about 143-153 grams in each litre. That is why the same product is sold as 12-15%.
Should sodium hypochlorite be diluted for hold cleaning, and how long should it stay on the surface?
Both methods are used. Undiluted, it goes on a dry surface, on stained areas only, for about 20-30 minutes before you wash down. Diluted about 1:3 to 1:10 with fresh water, it needs a contact time of 10-20 minutes with the surface kept wet, then a rinse. These are typical figures for the product class.