Intercontinental Terminals Company LLC (ITC), a Deer Park TX storage terminal operator, recently announced that it no longer will load tank trailers with rope gaskets that are used to seal manways and domelids. The policy takes effect January 1, 2011.
“We have determined that this gasket material does not provide a sufficient vapor barrier,” says Bob Pennacchi, ITC senior vice-president of operations. “We have incurred numerous non-conformances due to vapor leakage around these sealing surfaces. Many trucks have been turned away during ITC’s truck loading inspection due to this leakage. These leakage incidents equal costly time delays and expense in terms of loading detention charges to ITC and our customers.”