Mandatory Safety and Compliance Requirements for Bulk Fuel Shipping Tanks

NOTICE TO ALL PORT USERS, SHIPPING COMPANIES, AND STAKEHOLDERS:

Following a thorough investigation into a recent safety incident at the Ports Authority Turks and Caicos (PATCI) facility on South Dock, Providenciales, with immediate effect, PATCI is enforcing strict regulatory scrutiny on all vessels and portable tanks used to transport bulk fuel through our ports. Safety is our highest priority, and non compliant equipment poses an unacceptable risk to port personnel, infrastructure, and the public.

Mandatory Equipment Requirements 

All LPG transport and portable tanks permitted at South Dock must be designed, fabricated, tested, identified, and maintained in accordance with approved pressure vessel and transport-tank regimes.

Key equipment requirements include:

• Double-walled construction.

• Permanently affixed data plates, displaying the manufacturer, serial number, Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP), tank capacity, and last periodic inspection date. For intermodal tank containers, a valid CSC safety approval plate is required. (Note: Nameplates in languages other than English are acceptable only if the required data is accompanied by verified English documentation).

• Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) safety approval compliance.

• Protective framing (specification listed in standards and codes listed.)

Accepted Design Standards and Codes:

• All tanks must conform to one or more of the following international standards: • ASME BPVC Section VIII, Div. 1 or Div. 2

• UN/CSC regulations

• ISO 1496-3 with a CSC Safety Approval Plate

• EN 13445 and PED 2014/68/EU

• EN 14025

Alternative Compliance Criteria for Non-Standard Tanks

For any vessel or tank constructed, approved, or maintained outside of the listed standards, the owner or shipping company must submit comprehensive documentation to the port prior to entry. This includes:

• The governing design code, design calculations, or type approval file.

• Complete material and welding documentation.

• Nameplate data and current periodic inspection records.

• Certification from a qualified professional engineer demonstrating that the alternative standard provides a level of safety at least equivalent to ASME Section VIII (for pressure boundaries) and ISO 1496-3/CSC (for impact, stacking, and handling protection) for any unit stored in an active cargo handling area.

All submitted documentation must be provided fully in English.

Enforcement and Inspection Program

PATCI is launching an inspection program to verify that tanks, regardless of country of origin, transported through our ports comply with the Accepted Design Standards and Codes.

• Loaded Tanks: Any loaded tanks that fail to meet the Accepted Design Standards and Codes will be strictly prohibited from entering or being transported into the country via PATCI ports.

• Empty Tanks: Empty, non-compliant tanks currently located within the country will only be permitted to be exported out of the country with explicit written consent from the PATCI management team.

PATCI appreciates the cooperation of all port users, shipping agents, and stakeholders as we work together to maintain a safe, secure, and compliant port environment. Failure to comply with these directives will result in immediate operational delays.

For technical specifications, submission guidelines, or questions regarding the inspection program, please contact the PATCI’s Marine and Safety Division.