9/1/2020 Tank container - Wikipedia

Tank container
A tank container or tanktainer is an intermodal container for
the transport of liquids, gases and powders as bulk cargo.

Contents
Introduction
History
Handling Universal tank container
Types
Competitive modes
See also
References
Market overview

Introduction
A tank container is built to the ISO standards, making it suitable for
different modes of transportation. Both hazardous and non-
hazardous products can be transported in tank containers.

A tank container is a vessel of stainless steel surrounded by an

insulation and protective layer of usually polyurethane and
aluminum. The vessel is in the middle of a steel frame. The frame is
made according to ISO standards and is 19.8556 feet (6.05 meters)
long, 7.874 feet (2.40 meters) wide and 7.874 feet (2.40 meters) or
8.374 feet (2.55 meters) high. The contents of the tank range from LPG container without frame rails
17,500 to 26,000 liters (3,800 to 5,700 imp gal; 4,600 to connecting the front and rear
6,900 U.S. gal). There are both smaller and larger tank containers, twistlock corners. The tank itself is
which usually have a size different from the ISO standard sizes. For the loadbearing structure between
example, there are some 27,000 liters (5,900 imp gal; front and rear
7,100 U.S. gal) and above litre tank containers in the European swap
body fleets in Europe but they are not used on international business
only on intra European traffic. The trade organization @TCO estimates that as of January 1st, 2018 the
global fleet of tank containers stands at 552,000 units.[1] Most of these tank containers are owned by
operators and leasing companies.

ISO tank containers built to transport hazardous cargo have to meet a variety of regulations including
but not limited to IMDG, ADR-RID- US DOT and other. There are a variety of UN Portable tank types,
the most common of which is T11 as it is permitted to transport a thousand or more hazardous bulk
chemicals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_container 1/4
9/1/2020 Tank container - Wikipedia

There are hundreds of tank container operators worldwide; they can

vary on the service they offer. The bigger operators typically offer a
wide range of services, while smaller operators may only offer
services in one region or with one type of tank.

History
The tank container concept was also employed in Europe by Bob
Fossey, an engineer who worked for Williams Fairclough in London.
They improved on the 1950s framed American elliptical container Gas containers sometimes have
tanks, oft noted carrying specified USA engine oils for the UK’s MoD multiple bottles instead of one large
tank.
aircraft built in Preston, Lancashire. In 1964 Fairclough made a
swap body tank for combined transport by truck and train, but not
yet constructed according to ISO standards. In 1966, commercial
production began and one year later the first tank container to ISO dimensions was developed. The first
mass-produced tank containers were purchased by Trafpak, a part of Pakhoed.

In 1969, the ISOTANK was registered as a name by Andrews of Aintree Ltd., Liverpool. Theirs were the
first ISO container tanks in the world to get Lloyds Register and the UK DoT Hazardous Goods
Department design approvals for international transport. They were essential and additional to UK
approvals, much good advice was gained from several relevant, sound authorities in USA; Canada;
Australia; R S Africa et al..

Built by Andrews of Aintree., Liverpool, and tested at Ellis Research facility. George Lambert, the
ISOTANK’S designer, was also the company’s division head, thus responsible for sales or advising clients
on the new product’s wide range of complex issues.

This first order to Andrews came from a major shipping line entering the bulk sensitive liquids by ISO
means. It was reported as won by merit of the approved data and reputation. The initial order was for 20
off insulated and electrically heated units, 10 for hazardous substances, 10 for non- hazardous
substances.

In the early 1970s. The tank container evolved to its current form and the production was also well
underway. In the early days, production took place in Europe. In 2010 and afterward, production is
mainly in China and South Africa.

Handling
A tank container can be loaded and unloaded from the top and
the bottom. On a standard tank container there is a manhole
and at least one valve on the top, and there is a valve at the
bottom. Loading and unloading is done by connecting hoses of
the loading and unloading facility to the valves of the tank. The
loading or unloading is often done using a pump. Depending on
the installation and regulation of certain products, it is
determined how the tank container should be loaded or A spine car with a 20-foot tank container
unloaded. (left) and an open-top 20-foot container
with canvas cover (right)

Types
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_container 2/4
9/1/2020 Tank container - Wikipedia

Swap body tank - a swap body has a bigger tank which is larger
than the frame, usually 23 or 25 feet (7.01 or 7.62 meters) long
Food-grade tank - a standard tank container which can only be
loaded with foodgrade products
Reefer tank - a tank with the ability to cool the product to be
transported
Gas tank - a tank that is suitable for the transport of gases
Silo tank - a tank for the transport of grains and powders
T1 ISO tank container (for wine and light liquids)
Military use of a tank container
T4 ISO tank container (for non-hazardous edible and non-edible
system.
oils)
T11 ISO tank container (for non-hazardous chemicals)
T14 ISO tank container (for hazardous chemicals and acids like HCl and zinc chloride)
T50 ISO tank container (for LPG and ammonia gas)
T75 ISO tank Container ( for Cryogenic liquids )[2]
SWAP tank container (for cargo above 26,000 to 32,000 metric tons or 25,600 to 31,500 long tons or
28,700 to 35,300 short tons)
Rubber-lined ISO tank container (for acid-based chemicals)

Competitive modes
Barrel
Flexitank
Intermediate bulk container
Tanker
Tank chassis
Tank wagon

See also
Liquid hydrogen tanktainer
Tank chassis

References
1. @TCO Report on the number of ISO tank containers, nd (https://www.international-tank-container.or
g/en/news/itco-2018-global-tank-container-survey/)
2. ONU

Market overview
ITCO Tank Container Fleet Survey (https://www.international-tank-container.org/?mdocs-file=13363)
State of the Global Tank Container Industry 2019 (https://tankcontainerfinder.com/blog/view/state-of-t
he-global-tank-container-industry-54)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tank_container&oldid=945667042"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_container 3/4
9/1/2020 Tank container - Wikipedia

This page was last edited on 15 March 2020, at 12:32 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site,
you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a
non-profit organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_container 4/4