When it comes to chemical tanks, there are certain transport rules that apply. Regardless of the commodities you plan on shipping, these rules and regulations will need to be met in order to safely transport your chemicals. The below is a brief overview to get you started when choosing to ship with chemical tanks (always consult your proper channels for international trade advice).
Filling Tanks
When preparing a tank for transport, the chemical tanks must be filled over 80% capacity, but not to 100% of their capacity. The reasons are due to chemical surges and swells -- anything under 80% capacity increases the risk of this happening because of the shaking and agitation during vessel and air transport. There must also be sufficient 'room' (often referred to as 'ullage space' in the tank to accommodate thermal expansion and evaporation of the chemical cargo. The amount of space that will need to be left in the tank is unique to each type of chemical.
Proper Discharging
For many hazardous materials, there are requirements that chemical tanks must have no openings below the surface level of the liquid. This is to prevent leakage and seepage, and is especially important for corrosive materials and pollutants -- but really applies to a variety of chemical applications. In order to properly discharge these tanks, siphoning pipes will be used in conjunction with pressure release or pumps.
Weight Limits
Though this seems obvious to many people, it is important to note that when shipping internationally, you will have to consider all of the countries' road and rail weight limitations for your cargo. For example, if you are shipping alcohol from Naples, Italy to Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, for final road delivery to Dothan, Alabama, you would have to keep in mind the weight limits for Naples, Atlanta, and between the states of Georgia and Alabama. Some states and provinces will have different maximum payloads for their roads and rail.
Cleaning and Disposal
When your tanks require cleaning, and residue disposal, there will be special rules to follow, including tariff rules, IMDG rules, and other standards that need to be met in order to ensure proper procedure and reduce risk to all involved parties.
No matter what you're shipping, ensure that you use chemical tanks that are built to the highest standards and regulations. All BSL containers are manufactured to DNV 2.7-1 for offshore containers, EN 12079 for design, construction, testing, and inspection marking for offshore containers, and, our chemical tanks are made to meet the strict standards of the IMDG Code.
For more information, and to request a quote or place an order, please contact us.
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