Capt.S.S.Chaudhari

Q. Where do you find the provision about portable tanks and bulk containers?
Ans. Chapter 4.2 is ‘Use of portable tanks and multiple-element gas containers (MEGCs)’. The provisions of this chapter also apply to road tank vehicles to the extent indicated in chapter 6.8.

The provisions for the use and construction of portable tanks in chapter 4.2 and chapter 6.7 are based on the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. Existing IMO type portable tanks and road tank vehicles may continue to be used provided that they are found to meet the applicable periodic inspections and test provisions.

Q. With the help of an example, explain what information regarding tank instructions and provisions you will derive from the code.
Ans. In the following table of Part 3, column 13 leads to 4.2.5 & 4.3. Tank instructions T3 must be referred.

Following table for portable tank instructions gives a list of other instructions which may also be permitted.

Following table provides technical specifications for pressure, shell thickness, etc.

The details of 6.7.2.4 are found in chapter 6.7.
6.7.2.4 Minimum shell thickness
The various factors governing minimum thickness is found in 6.7.2.4. The brief excerpt being as follows:
6.7.2.4.1 The minimum shell thickness shall be the greater thickness based on specified factors.
The cylindrical portions, ends (heads) and manhole covers of shells not more than 1.80 m in diameter shall be not less than 5 mm thick…..
When additional protection against shell damage is provided……..
The cylindrical portions, ends (heads) and manhole covers of all shells shall be not less than 3 mm……
In no case shall the wall thickness be less than……
When mild steel is used…….
Portable tank special provisions
Portable tank special provisions are assigned to certain substances to indicate provisions which are in addition to or in lieu of those provided by the portable tank instructions or the provisions in chapter 6.7. Portable tank special provisions are identified by an alpha-numeric designation beginning with the letters “TP” (tank provision) and are assigned to specific substances in column 14 of the Dangerous Goods List in chapter 3.2. The following is a list of the portable tank special provisions:

TP33 The portable tank instruction assigned for this substance applies for granular and powdered solids and for solids which are filled and discharged at temperatures above their melting point and which are cooled and transported as a solid mass. For solids which are transported above their melting point, see 4.2.1.19

Q. What are the different types of tanks?
Ans. The following is the descriptions of existing IMO type tanks:

• IMO type 1 tank means a portable tank for the transport of substances of classes 3 to 9 fitted with pressure relief devices, having a maximum allowable working pressure of 1.75 bar and above.
• IMO type 2 tank means a portable tank fitted with pressure-relief devices, having a maximum allowable working pressure equal to or above 1.0 bar but below 1.75 bar, intended for the transport of certain dangerous liquids of low hazard and certain solids.
• IMO type 4 tank means a road tank vehicle for the transport of dangerous goods of classes 3 to 9 and includes a semi-trailer with a permanently attached tank or a tank attached to a chassis, with at least four twist locks which comply with ISO standards.
• IMO type 5 tank means a portable tank fitted with pressure-relief devices which is used for non-refrigerated liquefied gases of class 2.
• IMO type 6 tank means a road tank vehicle for the transport of non-refrigerated liquefied gases of class 2 and includes a semi-trailer with a permanently attached tank or a tank attached to a chassis which is fitted with items of service equipment and structural equipment necessary for the transport of gases.
• IMO type 7 tank means a thermally insulated portable tank fitted with items of service and structural equipment necessary for the transport of refrigerated liquefied gases. The portable tank shall be capable of being transported, loaded and discharged without the need of removal of its structural equipment, and shall be capable of being lifted when full. It shall not be permanently secured on board the ship.
• IMO type 8 tank means a road tank vehicle for the transport of refrigerated liquefied gases of class 2 and includes a semi-trailer with a permanently attached thermally insulated tank fitted with items of service equipment and structural equipment necessary for the transport of refrigerated liquefied gases.

Note: IMO type 4, 6 and 8 road tank vehicles may be constructed after 1 January 2003 in accordance with the provisions of chapter 6.8.

Q. What are bulk containers?
Ans. Bulk containers are containment systems (including any liner or coating) intended for the transport of solid substances which are in direct contact with the containment system. Packagings, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), large packagings and portable tanks are not included.

Bulk containers:

• are of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use;
• are specially designed to facilitate the transport of goods by one or more means of transport without intermediate reloading;
• are fitted with devices permitting ready handling; and
• have a capacity of not less than 1 cubic metre. Examples of bulk containers are freight containers, offshore bulk containers, skips, bulk bins, swap bodies, trough-shaped containers, roller containers, load compartments of vehicles or flexible bulk containers.

Q. Where do you find the provisions on Bulk Containers?
Ans. 4.3.1 provides general requirements applicable to the use of containers for the transport of solid substances in bulk. Substances shall be transported in bulk containers conforming to the applicable bulk container instruction identified by the letters BK in column 13 of the Dangerous Goods List, with the following meaning:

• BK1: the transport in sheeted bulk containers is permitted;
• BK2: the transport in closed bulk containers is permitted;
• BK3: the transport in flexible bulk containers is permitted.

The bulk container used shall conform to the provisions of chapter 6.9

Q.  What is a freight container?
Ans. Freight container means an article of transport equipment that is of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough to be suitable for repeated use; specially designed to facilitate the transport of goods, by one or more modes of transport, without intermediate reloading; designed to be secured and/or readily handled, having fittings for these purposes, and approved in accordance with the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972, as amended. In addition: Small freight container means a freight container that has an internal volume of not more than 3 m³. Large freight container means a freight container that has an internal volume of more than 3 m³

Q. What is a CTU?
Ans. A cargo transport unit means a road transport tank or freight vehicle, a railway transport tank or freight wagon, a multimodal freight container or portable tank, or an MEGC.

Q. What is the Safety Approval Plate as referred to in the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972, as amended?
Ans. Regulations 1 and 2 of annex I to the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972, as amended, deal with safety approval plates and maintenance and examination of containers.

A Safety Approval Plate conforming to the specifications set out in the appendix to this annex shall be permanently affixed to every approved container at a readily visible place, adjacent to any other approval plate issued for official purposes, where it would not be easily damaged.

The plate shall contain the following information in at least the English or French language:

• Country of approval and approval reference
• Date (month and year) of manufacture
• Manufacturer’s identification number of the container or, in the case of existing containers for which that number is unknown, the number allotted by the Administration
• Maximum operating gross mass (kg and lb)
• Allowable stacking load for 1.8g (kg and lb)
  (The amount of weight that can be stacked on corner posts of a container when subjected to 1.8 times the force of gravity.)
• Transverse racking test force (Newtons).

A blank space should be reserved on the plate for insertion of end-wall and/or side-wall strength values and for the first and subsequent maintenance examination dates when used.

Q. What are Intermediate bulk containers?
Ans. Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) means rigid or flexible portable packagings, other than specified in chapter 6.1, that:
1 have a capacity of:

• not more than 3.0 m³ for solids and liquids of packing groups II and III;
• not more than 1.5 m³ for solids of packing group I when packed in flexible, rigid plastics, composite, fibreboard or wooden IBCs;
• not more than 3.0 m³ for solids of packing group I when packed in metal IBCs;
• not more than 3.0 m³ for radioactive material of class 7;

2 are designed for mechanical handling; and
3 are resistant to the stresses produced in handling and transport, as determined by tests.

Q. What are MEGCs?
Ans. Multiple-element gas containers (MEGCs) are multimodal assemblies of cylinders, tubes or bundles of cylinders which are interconnected by a manifold and which are assembled within a framework. The MEGC includes service equipment and structural equipment necessary for the transport of gases.

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