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The delivery of hazardous products is governed by specific requirements and regulations. Petrochemicals Middle East examines the sharp end of the supply chain.
One of the main characteristics of oil-derivative products is that they are considered hazardous materials, which have the potential and likelihood to cause environmental or human harm if they are not handled properly.
The life cycle of hazardous products goes from process planning and the development of new products through manufacturing, transporting, distribution, use, disposal, cleanup, and remediation. Throughout this whole cycle, any mishandling could result in a disaster.
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There is a general consensus between specialists about the definition of the hazardous products and their negative impact on the surrounding environment. “Any item or substance that places at risk the public, animals, and the environment, when it’s being transported or moved, is considered as a hazardous product,” says Omar Abdullah Al Shamsi, logistics and trading manager at Emarat.
“Our company transports and trades mainly jet A1 fuel, gas oil, gasoline, fuel oil, lube oil and LPG. Every one of these products is classified as hazardous cargo,” he adds.
There are many laws and regulations that define and govern these hazardous cargoes. These regulations are generally administered by environmental agencies, safety and health administrations, and transportation departments.
“Transporting by road tankers must comply with civil defence rules and regulations,” says Waddah Ghanem Bani Hashim, group EHSQ compliance manager at Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), which deals with a number of hazardous products in Dubai.
On the international side, there are additional rules that govern transportation of hazardous products, whether by sea or by road.
“Regulations related to shipping these cargoes by sea are MARPOL Annex 2 (Marine Pollution), the IBC code (International Code for the Construction and Equipment of ships Carrying Dangerous Chemical in Bulk), and the IMDG code (International Marine Dangerous Goods),” says Ashita Khanna, chemical tanker analyst at the UK-based Drewry Shipping Consultants.
“Products such as gasoline, gasoil, fuel oil, and other products must be transported by oil or petrochemical product tankers, which must be classified as IMO 2(chemical tanker or oil tanker),” she adds.
It is very rare that companies transport hazardous products by air, mainly because of weight considerations and the cost of transporting items via this method is often higher. “Emarat doesn’t transport any hazardous cargoes by air,” says Al Shamsi.
US Chemical Safety Board video on an refinery explosion in the US
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