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Bid to Lift Oil Tanker Transport Standards

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Aranee Jaiimsin, Bangkok Post, Thailand

Apr. 19--Specifications for oil tanker trucks in Thailand are currently below standards despite the hazards associated with the business, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

The current specifications for oil tanker trucks did not match those set out in 2003 to promote maximum safety by the Hazardous Substances Committee, said Teerasak Pongpanakrai, an adviser to the FTI's Chemical Industry Club.

The cabinet last year ordered the Department of Energy Business to bring the standard for oil tanker trucks in line with the 2003 directive but no action plan has been announced yet, said Mr Teerasak.

The standards under the 2003 directive have been applied to transport of other hazardous substances, excepting oil.

According to the directive, any fixed tanks, such as those for transporting oil, measuring more than than 1.8 metres in diameter must have tank walls at least six millimetres wide, Smaller tanks must have five-millimetre walls, said Mr Teerasak.

None of the 20,000 oil tankers in Thailand have the required thickness, he said.

The standards set by the Hazardous Substances Committee conform with the Asean protocol on transport of hazardous goods, which took effect last year, he added.

Mr Teerasak said any vehicles travelling in Asean countries must abide by the protocol or they would violate the international law.

"PTT Plc has business in Indochinese countries so its oil tankers should comply with the protocol in order to maintain the good image of Thailand," said Mr Teerasak.

Hazardous substances transporters are also required to have insurance worth a minimum of 100,000 baht per person and not less than 10 million baht per incident, according to a ministerial announcement issued early this year.

As well, the insurance must provide protection worth at least 30 million baht to third parties in each incident, added Mr Teerasak.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Bangkok Post, Thailand

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Source: Bangkok Post

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