What is brine trap?

Answer 1

The brine traps serve a dual purpose they prevent the cold air from reaching the bilges and thus freezing out the water in the pipes and also they prevent the bad odour from the bilges reaching the cold chambers.

If the vessel is fitted with brine-pipes the side baffle boards (which keep the cargo clear of the pipes) should be removed and the pipes wiped clean. If fitted with the cold air circulation system, air ducts should be cleaned, this is particularly important if a dusty cargo has been carried previously.

Brine is water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt in which salt is evaporated; it is used as a cooling agent. Brine trapped in compartment drain line must be heated especially when loading frozen products in the holds in order for the excess water to run freely into the bilges. If brine drain is frozen, the tendency of the water is to return into the compartment that causes malfunction or reduction of cooling effect.