BulkDistributor Jan/Feb 2022 | Page 5

January / February 2022

Tank Containers
BULKDISTRIBUTOR
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also a move from single to multiple suppliers , and from regional to global supply sources . This is being complemented by a buffer stock approach to procurement rather than JIT . “ Long term agreements are replacing both spot tenders and ‘ tender cruelty ’, whereby annual tender renewals were notified based on the assumption of cost reductions ,” he commented . “ This trend gives LSPs a chance to become part of the shipper ’ s team rather a dispensable supply partner . It may be that we will see the chief supply chain officer joining the IT director in more company boardrooms .” For their part tank operators have to engage more with their key partners . “ Many of us already own trucks and cleaning depots , but none of us own ships , so working better with container lines must come more into our view ,” he continued . “ We must grow closer to our customers and be in genuine partnership with them , assuring them that we can keep their supply chains moving in a safe and sustainable way that is valuable for them and us . The days of taking logistics for granted as a low cost , readily-available resource are over ,” he concluded .
Impact damage
Another presentation during the same webinar indicated some interesting trends in the most recent TT Club policy year of 2020 . Mike Yarwood , the Club ’ s managing director of loss prevention , explained that cargo contamination claims , which were previously the most frequent , had been overtaken by claims for impact damage through the supply chain . This was followed by pitting damage , with contamination claims dropping to the third most frequent occurrence . Yarwood said that while there are usually a host of causal factors in impact damage , more than 50 percent of such claims to TT Club originated from handling incidents at container terminals , primarily maritime ones . This could be a consequence of the pandemic-related challenges in logistics chains , he posited , as time pressures might have contributed to spikes in impact damage . “ Talking to people in the industry some terminals tend to leave tanks and dangerous goods ( DG ) containers as the last to load ,” he commented , “( but this is ) the period which is most time-critical to ensure the ship sails on schedule . So in conjunction with the supply chain perfect storm , it could be this is a contributory factor .”
Impact damage by cause

TT warning on DVB declaration

Shortly before Christmas , TT Club published a note concerning alleged misdeclaration of divinylbenzene ( DVB ). The insurance mutual said it had been made aware that shipper interests have been seeking to transport DVB from China to destinations in both Europe and the USA , while misdeclaring the commodity as Class 9 , UN 3082 Environmentally Hazardous Substance , Liquid , NOS . TT Club pointed out that in the light of serious incidents , the IMDG Code was amended to include subdivision Class 4.1 for polymerizing substances with new UN numbers : UN3532 , Polymerizing Substance , Liquid , Stabilized , NOS ; and UN3534 , Polymerizing Substance , Liquid , Temperature Controlled , NOS . “ While divinylbenzene ( or related trade names , which may include Diethenylbenzene or Vinylstyrene ) is not specifically named in the Dangerous Goods regulations , it is to be classified under one of these two numbers ,” the Club ’ s advisory note stated . It is understood that the shipper interests may be seeking to book

SAFE EFFICIENT INTELLIGENT GREEN this commodity using temperature controlled tank containers ( which would generally be considered inconsistent with Class 9 in any event ). The booking enquiry may be made with NVOC tank container operators or with tank container lessors . DVB is a liquid chemical that is prone to polymerisation ( a form of self-reaction ). Such products generally use chemical inhibitors to prevent self-reaction taking place . The chemical inhibitors are effective for a limited period of time at a maximum temperature of about 27degC , assuming that a critical oxygen saturation is maintained . As a result , the current mandatory regulations require temperature control to ensure the cargo remains sufficiently stabilised . “ Freight forwarders , logistics operators , tank container operators and lessors , NVOCs and liner carriers are urged to be alert and to take necessary action to ensure that commodities being presented for transport are correctly declared and documented for safe carriage ,” the Club said .

www . ttclub . com
• Rough handling through intermodal terminal
• Road traffic accident
• Roll over
• Other
Road traffic incidents were the next most frequent cause , and , in contrast to other factors , almost 50 percent of such incidents occurred in the Americas , a region which currently accounts for quite a small proportion of tank container movements . TT Club has previously drawn attention to the issue of pitting damage , as the number of such claims is on the rise . Many of the claims identified involved damage that was reparable , but there were still several where the damage was so severe that the unit had to be written off , Yarwood said . He added there were few identifiable trends as to which cargoes were involved , but those that appeared most frequently were fatty acids and emulsifiers . The main takeaway , he explained , is that it is not just hazardous cargoes than can cause pitting damage , and while there is no obvious cause behind the increase in claims , it would be prudent for operators to be mindful of this risk exposure going into 2022 . “ Operators should appreciate the ongoing supply chain challenges ,” he said , “ prioritising tanks for cleaning once empty / dirty , considering inspections to see whether pickling or passivation is required , and to continue due diligence checks on the shipper and the cargo to be shipped .”
LET ’ S STAY IN TOUCH !
YOUR GLOBAL PARTNER IN TANK CONTAINERS
CIMC SAFEWAY TECHNOLOGIES CO ., LTD .
Global Contract :
NO . 159 Chenggang Road , Nantong , Jiangsu , China 226003 Tel : 86-513-85066022 ( Sales ), www . cimctank . com E-mail : tanks @ cimc . com
Europe contract :
Middenweg 6 ( Harbour nr . 397-399 ) 4782 PM Moerdijk Tel : + 31 880 030 860 www . cimctankcontainers . nl E-mail : info @ cimctankcontainers . nl
BURG SERVICE B . V . Service Deport in Europe
Middenweg 6 , 4782 PM , Moerdijk , The Netherlands Tel : + 31 88 00 30 800 Fax : + 31 88 00 30 882 www . burgservice . nl E-mail : info @ burgservice . nl