Say, do either of you chaps have to hand an article or link that describes what LCC and VLCC transport of heavy sour crude does to hulls and discharge equipment? I think our good friends on this thread would benefit from a detailed account, esp. any info on the effect of extended exposure.
Sour crude, crude containing H2S- hydrogen sulfide, is nothing new. It is one of the many corrosion mechanisms faced in the oil/gas industry.
I am unfamiliar with tankers and their design, but I wouldn't be surprised if their storage tanks were lined with an epoxy coating. I would guess that when transporting crude, sour or sweet, corrosion inhibitors are used to mitigate the threat. (
Corrosion Inhibitors )
A big factor is the amount of water/moisture present in the oil, necessary to drive corrosion. I think that H2S would present more challenges when it comes to the refining stage.