Safe Handling of Tank Containers - ITCO

ICHCA International Safety Panel Briefing Pamphlet No 30
10.4.7 Care should be taken when attaching manually operated spreaders used in
a ship’s gear operation using a spring arm and chain system to lock/unlock
could become snagged on the top of the tanks
10.5 Internal Movement Vehicles
10.5.1 Only trailers fit for this purpose should be used to transport tank containers
around the terminal.
10.5.2 If using corner less trailers where the design of the container is such that the
bottom side rail cannot be fully supported, i.e. for tank containers with a
raised side beam, the tank container should only be carried on such trailers
where they have been specially adapted to ensure the safety of operators
and handlers.
10.5.3 Two tank containers may be loaded on suitable trailers, including the corner
less types, provided they do not contain incompatible dangerous goods
11 Stacking Ashore
11.1 See International Safety Panel Briefing Pamphlet No. 5 Container Terminal
Safety for more information on stacking and layouts
11.2 All handling locations should have procedures which should include a risk
assessment for receiving and identifying special containers such as tank
containers. The procedures should include special stacking requirements and
cover segregation of incompatible goods.
11.2.1 The general segregation principles concerning dangerous goods in the
IMDG Code apply equally to tank containers as to all other containers
carrying dangerous goods and should be followed
11.2.2 Containers carrying dangerous goods should not be placed at the end of
rows where they can be exposed to inter-sectional traffic.
11.3 There are two important messages associated with stacking tank containers:
Not all containers have the same stacking capability as required by ISO
1496/3, and
All containers must be stacked corner fitting to corner fitting.
11.4 The Dangerous or Non Regulated Goods Notes (see Annex 4 Figure A4.2 and
A4.3) should be supplied with the Maximum Superimposed Load shown in box
18c. This value equates to the maximum load that can be placed on top of the
container – often referred to as the stacking capability. For ISO tank containers
the value will be at least 192,000 kg (see section 12.2).
11.5 When developing stacking plans within the risk assessment consideration
should be given to the following:
Ground surface
Surroundings
Segregation
Stack height
Visibility
Accessibility
Stability
Local weather conditions
Handling equipment
Human factors
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