The utilisation of ISO tank containers is a growing trend in South Africa, particularly in the storage sector.According to Tim van Maasdyk, business development manager at Alpha Shipping Agency, it addresses the ongoing challenges associated with chemical storage and offers a viable solution for the secure storage of products such as diesel. “With chemical storage being a huge daily issue in South Africa, many companies are looking at alternative measures when it comes to storing products such as diesel. With regular fuel increases, tank containers have become extremely useful in providing safe bulk storage of diesel,” he said.According to Van Maasdyk, the logistics industry is in a constant state of evolution, underscoring the growing need for logistics service providers to stay ahead of the dynamic changes in this sector."In our role within the logistics sector, a key focus area is the safe handling of hazardous liquids, primarily through the operation of ISO tank containers. Given the specialised and intricate nature of this industry, it remains critical for us to lead the way by pioneering innovative advancements, surmounting challenges, and setting new trends in this specialised and intricate field."Highlighting the benefits of these containers, Van Maasdyk said the rising usage was quite understandable. "These tankers hardly ever leak, making the risk of spills during loading, transport, or unloading extremely low compared to standard drums. ISO tanker also last much longer than drums and flexitanks, which are usually thrown away after a single use in chemical t ra n spor t ."Furthermore, a wide variety of chemicals can be loaded, from food grade through to hazardous chemical commodities. “Compared to drums, tank containers are fast and safe to load and unload. They are equipped with pre-installed steam coils which allow for the efficient loading and discharge of temperature-sensitive liquids.”He said it took approximately 1.5 hours to load a tank container compared to drums which could take as long as eight hours.“Another benefit is the loading capacity of approximately 25 000 litres compared to a container that can only carry 13 325 litres in drums. ISO tank containers offer shippers a far greater economy of scale.”According to Van Maasdyk, tanks are designed not only to ensure safety but also to provide chemical manufacturers with a fully intermodal form of transporting their goods, thus ensuring f lexibility from an economic pricing perspective. “With the world becoming more and more focused on environmental impact, ISO tanks are ideal in the sense that they reduce carbon emissions as they are reusable and do not need to be disposed of after ever y tr ip.”He said there were a variety of challenges when operating in the dangerous goods space. “From compliance with ever-evolving regulations to the necessity of minimising the environmental landscape, the dangerous goods logistics sector is complex. Training is critical to ensure compliance. When it comes to ISO tanks, South Africa’s logistics sector, however, holds its own. We have one of the world’s most prestigious manufacturers of these tanks based in the Eastern Cape. On top of that, we have several major hydrocarbon-based chemical manufacturers who regularly supply the international market.”
