Manufactured to the highest ISO standards and rigorously tested before sale, ISO Tank Containers play a vital role in the shipping of liquids, powders and gases from manufacturing sites to distant markets across the globe. ISO Tank Containers are made from high-grade stainless steel possessing high corrosion resistance. Compared with drums and Flexi-bags, ISO Tanks withstand extreme weather and external impacts. Loading and discharge become safer, quicker and more cost-effective than drums and Flexi-bags. Compared with a 20-feet dry container filled with drums, ISO Tanks transport up to 70% more cargo.
ISO Tank Containers must compulsorily undergo routine inspections, cleaning and maintenance for long service life and ensure that the cargo remains fresh and uncontaminated from the leftovers of previously discharged material.
Let’s look into the various safety measures to comply during inspection and maintenance of ISO Tank Containers.
Inspection Ladders are used to gain access to the internal and external areas of the tank. Access to the tank cavity is through a 50 cm diameter manway. The top end of the ladder must be secured to the tank manway to prevent slippage and the bottom end must be fitted with rubber soles. The ladder’s condition must be checked before use. Tanks under inspection must be placed beside a gantry while the person inspecting the tank may use the tank walkway to get access. If there are no guard rails, a fall arrest harness is compulsory.
Staff must use Fall Arrest Body Harness Systems secured to an upper rail. Sites must have rescue plans in place to cope with situations where an operator slips and gets suspended in a safety harness. Self-lowering fall arrest systems can lessen the risk of suspension trauma and lend assistance to the rescue personnel.
Repair and maintenance require access to the internal and external areas of the tank. A safe working environment is achieved with ladders, gantries, platforms and fall-arrest systems. It is advisable to restrict activities to the ground level wherever possible so that the risk of working from the top can be prevented. Repair shops are equipped with a Rotating Device that revolves and positions the tank in a way that gives direct access to all areas of the tank from the ground level. Discharge and Pressure Relief Valves must be removed, dismantled, washed and checked.
The International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) came into force in 1977. It mandates containers, including tank containers to undergo periodic examinations to ensure that the tanks fulfill the safety requirements of the program.
Pre-trip inspection has to meet the stipulated requirements. The valves, manway, and compartment must be closed and secure. The man-lid seal must be clean and serviceable. Leak-tightness must be checked and confirmed with a pneumatic leak test.
Tank Container Carriers specializing in bulk liquid shipping in ISO Tanks Containers are receiving the benefits of employing proven software solutions to manage daily functions. They’re obtaining broad benefits with up-to-date software tools having key features such as Vendor Contracts, Tariff and Rating, Product Request and Approvals, Schedule and Slot Management, Tank Certificate Management, Export and Import Documentation, Job Order Management, Inventory Management, Operations, Alerts Management, Account Payables and Account Receivables. Improved turnaround is achieved with auto-suggestion of tank containers details based on the nature of the last cargo transported.
Tank Container Depots confront challenges in their pursuit to attain high productivity and operational efficiency. Proven software solutions in Tank Container Depot Operations help integrate Gate Moves, M&R, Tank Inventory Tracking, Leak Test Reports, Cleaning Certificates and Activity-wise Customer Billing with features to produce business-critical management reports.
iInterchange Systems / www.iinterchange.com presents IT solutions on SaaS www.iboxsuite.com and “On-Premises”. Their expertise and attention to customer needs make them the right partners to collaborate for the software needs of Tank Container Carriers with iTankOps.
Tank Container Depot Operators can take advantage of iTankDepo which addresses their day-to-day critical tasks with enhanced operational efficiency. iInterchange presents iTankOps and iTankDepo by “On-Premises” model and on the “Cloud” through subscription.