AVON, OHIO manufacturer Advanced Polymer Coating’s (APC) MarineLINE ship tank coating system has become the first protective lining to be approved onto Shell’s Cargo Handling Sheet to transport monoethylene glycol (MEG).
APC marine manager Captain Onur Yildirim said the approval follows a rigorous nine-month study. He said the laboratory tests undertaken by chemists at APC and Shell proved that a coating can transport a cargo of benzene followed by a cargo MEG without cross contamination. Previously under Shell’s Cargo Handling Sheet, which are used for vessels chartered on behalf of Shell, tanker operators were not allowed to load MEG into lined tanks due to risk of contamination. As a result, only tankers with stainless steel tanks could transport MEG.
“We are grateful to Shell for giving us this opportunity to demonstrate MarineLINE’s capabilities,” he said. “The testing, which was independently verified by the quality assurance company Intertek for Shell, showed it is MarineLINE’s low absorption characteristics that enable it to transport these two chemicals without cross contamination. We tested for benzene as it is a cargo that can absorb easily into tank linings. But the MarineLINE performed robustly and did not absorb the benzene which ensured the MEG cargo’s purity. This underlines why MarineLINE is unique in the coatings market for its ability to transport highly aggressive chemicals without absorption enabling operators to switch grades frequently.”
Contact tel: +1 216-438-9076 Visit: www.adv-polymer.com write: 951 Jaycox Rd Avon, OH 44011 United States
Notes to editors
Company background
Advanced Polymer Coatings (APC) was founded in Avon, Ohio, USA in 1997 by Donald Keehan. The company is a world leader in developing specialty coatings — MarineLINE, and ChemLINE — for high performance applications. These coatings protect against damage from corrosion and chemical attack and provide safe storage and transport of chemicals and products whether on land or sea.
MarineLINE is the recognized industry leader in the marine industry, delivering a polymer lining system that protects cargo tanks of chemical and product tankers.
ChemLINE covers a family of industrial coatings used for over-the-road and rail transportation, tank (ISO) containers, tank storage and terminals, and equipment protection at chemical processing, petroleum & refining, and power generation facilities, and concrete and secondary containment protection.
