The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) has published a comprehensive best practice guide for the safe use of flexitanks for the transport of liquid cargoes.
According to IUMI, the guide’s objective is to provide underwriters, brokers and their clients with practical guidance to ensure cargoes transported by flexitanks arrive intact at their chosen destination. The paper outlines a range of potential risks including poor stowage, incorrect installation, overloading, material deficiencies, transport issues and others.
Flexible tanks – or flexitanks – are poly film bladders that are filled with a liquid cargo (such as dairy products, wine, fruit juice or non-dangerous oils) and then placed into a standard ISO container for transportation.
Lars Lange, Secretary General of IUMI, explained that the use of flexitanks has surged in recent years, primarily because they offer lower transportation costs compared to tank containers. However, he emphasized that improper handling makes them highly susceptible to damage.
And once a flexitank is ruptured a total cargo loss usually occurs. This impacts not only on the insurer, the cargo owner and carrier but there is a very real risk of third-party and possible environmental impact as well.
… he said.
Recommendations
To minimize risk and costs, the following measures are recommended:
Selection of flexible tanks and containers
- Ensure the flexible tanks comply with COA standards. Ideally, only flexible tanks that have COA certification should be used.
- Check the suitability of the product to be transported in a flexible tank and verify product-specific requirements for flexible tank transport.
- Choose flexible tanks made of materials compatible with the liquid being transported. Verify chemical compatibility to prevent contamination or degradation.
- Select the appropriate size and capacity of the flexible tank based on the volume of the liquid and the dimensions of the container.
- Choose 40′ containers instead of 20′ containers for the same product volume and thus tanks with a lower loading height to reduce strain on the container side walls.
Container preparation
- Thoroughly inspect the shipping container for any damage, sharp edges, or contamination that could compromise the integrity of the flexible tank.
- Record the suitability of the container and its condition both inside and outside before transport by using checklists supplemented with photographic material.
- Follow the COA code of practice, i.e., ensure the container is clean, dry, suitable, and undamaged before installing the flexible tank.
- Mark the container with appropriate labelling in the door area (work safety) as well as on the roof. This will indicate to the van carrier/crane operator that a flexible tank containing liquids is loaded and that necessary care should be taken during handling operations.
Installation
- Diligently follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions, which include steps for container wall and corner preparation to prevent mechanical damage to the flexible tank during transport.
- Use trained personnel to ensure proper installation of flexible tanks and during loading and unloading of the liquids to avoid mishandling.
- When conducting sterilization processes on the flexible tank or when loading heated product, ensure that limits regarding maximum temperatures are followed to prevent thermal distortion to the flexible tank and/or valve.
- Ensure the filling process is conducted slowly to avoid creating air pockets and pressure imbalances. Use calibrated equipment to monitor the fill level.
- Record flexible tank installation by using photographic material, checklists, and documentation of loading and unloading.
Transportation
- Ensure the weight of the filled flexible tank does not affect the container’s stability, considering the demands and risks during shipment.
- Optimize the stowage position to minimize external forces on the container and its load.
- Select destination ports that provide knowledge, experience, and support.
- In the transport planning stages, minimize rail transits due to the higher longitudinal forces compared with road transport.
Emergency preparedness
- Have an emergency response plan to ensure a timely, appropriate, and loss-minimizing reaction in the event of damage or leakage, keeping consequential costs to a minimum.
- Establish a contractual agreement between the seller and buyer, independent of Incoterms, outlining obligations and procedures in the event of leakage, to be implemented before shipment. Since such an agreement would define obligations on a contractual basis, any increase of damage and consequential costs due to inactivity (such as refusal of shipment acceptance) would be prevented.
One of IUMI’s central roles is to gather and share knowledge amongst the international marine insurance community to enhance the safety and efficiency of seaborne trade. These guidelines focus on a specific issue that, in our view, will benefit from a change to current practices so that liquid cargoes transported by flexitanks remain safe and free from damage.
… Lars Lange concluded
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