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BETTER EVERY TIME DEPOTS • KEEPING TANK CONTAINERS IN TOP QUALITY CONDITION EXTENDS TANK LIFE, REDUCES THE CARBON FOOTPRINT AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, REDUCES RISKS IN TRANSPORT, SAYS SAHREEJ SAUDI ARABIA’S KANOO Tank Services (Sahreej), a joint venture between Stolt Tank Containers and Saudi Arabia’s YBA Kanoo, is on a continuous improvement programme to increase the life of tank containers and help to ensure the safe transport of hazardous (and non-hazardous) cargoes around the globe. Sahreej has upgraded, enhanced and expanded each of its three depots in Jubail, Dammam and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and now has a comprehensive service not only for cleaning, inspection, heating and storage, but also full capabilities for all repairs from
paintwork and logos to shell repairs and refurbishment of complete tanks. Added to this, a full service of modifications is also available. Each location is served by a comprehensive inventory covering all aspects of tank container use, fully qualified welders and repair teams, guided by Sahreej’s technical manager Sarfaraz Salani. The process starts even before the gate, as every safety data sheet (SDS) is reviewed and risk assessed before the tank is given approval to enter the depots. Once the SDS is approved and a cleaning process is allocated,
the tank can be delivered to the depot. On entering, the tank container is fully inspected externally, photographed from each of the six sides and details from the CS Plate taken, recording the last (and next) Statuary Test date. All details are entered onto the Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR), which is then signed off by the delivering driver. All details on the EIR and photographs are all available to the customer via hyperlink. Tanks are then positioned in the precleaning area ready for the cleaning process, which takes place within 24 hours of arrival. Once cleaned and dried, the inspection process can begin. After taking gas readings at three heights within the tank, internal inspection starts using the buddy system: each inspector has a fixed gas meter and a buddy outside the tank monitoring for any issues (the Sahreej ‘Man down Training’ video can be found on YouTube). The inspector will be looking for any transferable or nontransferable stains, shell dents, tool marks or pitting. Shell pitting has the type identified and depth recorded, all based on ITCO standards. The inspectors can also inspect to specific customer needs, for instance in off-hire situations. All observations are recorded on the tank mapping report and this document is the basis for the customer estimate. The estimate will now include all external and internal issues, and these are supplied to the customer with photographs for review and approval. The process from gate-in to issue of estimate to the customer is achieved within three days. STOCKS AND REPAIRS Once the estimate is approved by the customer, the tank is placed in a ‘Rotator’ that can position the tank to ensure no working at height is required and allows the repair team to work at the most efficient and safe height. For welding work in the designated hot work aera, Sahreej has qualified welding procedure specifications (WPSs) and procedure qualification records (PQRs) and each welder is certified. Minor repair work such as damaged cladding is quickly made available. For frame repairs, including corner post and
HCB MONTHLY | APRIL 2022
