Tank containers survive

SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE

TANKS • TANK CONTAINER OPERATORS LIKE TO STRESS THE BENEFITS OF THEIR UNITS OVER OTHER TRANSPORT OPTIONS. A RECENT INCIDENT IN MEXICO GIVES SUPPORT TO THEIR POSITION

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION agreed in October to propose legislation to outlaw single-use plastics in an effort to combat the problem of plastics and microplastics pollution in the maritime environment. A proposed directive will target small items in the consumer market, with another aim of recycling 90 per cent of plastics bottles and other larger items by 2025.

While the plan is focused squarely on the consumer end of the plastics supply chain, there are those – not least among the International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) – who believe that restrictions on single-use plastics articles should extend to the industrial sphere as well. In particular, ITCO says, the use of flexibags in the bulk liquids logistics sector runs counter to the desire to remove non-reusable plastics from widespread use.

Flexibags are one-way delivery systems and, while some are collected and shredded so that they can be recycled, many appear to be going directly to landfill. And, while flexibags cannot be used to carry regulated dangerous goods, they are often used to move large volumes of product that may, in bulk quantities, be harmful to the environment should they be lost in the case of a failure of the bag. There are many instances of bags leaking product on the roads of Europe and in the hulls of containerships, which can lead to costly cleanup activities and delays.

IMPACT ON THE TANK By contrast, tank containers are built to withstand more than the normal rigours of transport, as illustrated by a recent incident in Mexico. On 11 October, the local agent was transporting a tank with foodgrade product from the port to a local consignee. According to the truck driver, he had to swerve to avoid an animal running across the motorway; the truck ran off the road, overturned and dumped the tank against a concrete bridge support alongside the road.

Remarkably, while the tank was badly damaged – pictures showed the frame badly bent and buckled, part of the tank insulation stripped away and dents in the tank itself – there was no leak of product.

In fact, the agent managed to load the damaged tank onto another chassis and complete delivery of the product to the consignee; after unloading, the empty tank was taken to Atosa in Mexico City for repair.

It is safe to assume that, had the consignment been made in a flexibag, there would have been no delivery to the consignee and the road would have been put out of action for a while to allow the product to be cleaned up. HCB

HCB is grateful to Stolt Tank Containers, owner of the tank involved, for permission to report the incident and reproduce pictures taken at the scene.