Klinge transport refrigeration systems offer solution to tighter rules on shipment of hazardous goods

With the world's attention on a major lapse in industrial safety in the Gulf of Mexico at the moment, the need for best practice when dealing with hazardous materials has never been clearer. While insurance companies are facing costs in the many billions of dollars for the Deepwater Horizon disaster, premiums are increasing and pressure is being exerted to raise standards more widely in the management of potentially dangerous goods. In the shipping industry, this year's amended international codes have put in place strict rules for the handling of hazardous goods, including temperature-sensitive and self-reactive cargo. Shipping companies have tightened up their conditions for transporting such goods, refusing to transport materials if it contravenes the requirements of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. Many now require the use of recognized transport refrigeration equipment such as the independently-powered and explosion-proof systems produced by US firm Klinge Corporation. Regulations Changes in the Code came into effect at the beginning of 2010, classing a wider range of substances as "environmentally hazardous substances". Along with stricter labelling requirements, these new entries require transportation in containers that are recognized as being suitable for transporting hazardous substances. Tougher checks in port are being carried out to ensure safety for staff, the public and the environment. US company Klinge Corporation provides specialized temperature-controlled container systems suitable for transporting hazardous substances from class 4.1 up to class 5.2 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods code. The systems offer piece of mind to shipping captains and shipping insurance companies. Henrik Klinge, President and CEO of Klinge Corporation, said: “The events we have seen in the oil industry have only highlighted the need to do everything possible to prevent industrial accidents – there is no benefit in the long run in cutting corners where safety is concerned. "Klinge Corporation offers transport refrigeration systems trusted the world over to safely and reliably transport and store hazardous goods in all conditions." Explosion-proof and Redundancy Klinge Corporation is based in York, Pennsylvania, with officers in Denmark and Egypt as well as a worldwide network of trusted support facilities to provide assistance, where needed, around the world. Klinge container systems feature state-of-the-art microprocessor-based temperature controls, satellite tracking and alarm monitoring systems. Among the range of products that can be tailored specifically for each client: • Klinge’s Tank Container Refrigeration Unit (TCR) Model 104 is profiled to fit the shape of tank containers to maintain temperatures in liquid cargo. • The Picture Frame Refrigeration Unit (PFR) Model 571 ZII-II offers explosion-proof motors and components designed to maintain space temperatures in Zone 2 hazardous locations. • The Nose Mount Refrigeration Unit (NMR) dual refrigeration system Model 262 is designed for dangerous and temperature sensitive cargo, offering primary and back-up temperature control systems to ensure complete and independent protection for shipments. Mr Klinge said: "We have 30 years of experience in providing specialized transport container systems for customers around the world. Our systems have been used in locations ranging from the polar icecaps of Antarctica to the desert heat of the Sudan. "With our quality management certified to ISO 9001, trust is implicit in our company and our solutions for transporting hazardous cargo." www.klingecorp.com