Packing & Logistics
Bitumen in Tank Containers
ISO tank containers of 20 to 26 MT — bulk economics on a container liner service, without needing a bitumen berth.
A bitumen ISO tank is a heated, insulated tank built into a standard 20-foot container frame. It travels on ordinary container ships, moves on ordinary chassis, and is discharged by heating and pumping at the buyer's premises — no bitumen berth and no shore tank farm required.
It bridges the gap between drums, which are expensive per tonne, and bulk vessels, which need infrastructure most buyers do not have.
How the tank is built
The pressure vessel sits inside an ISO frame, wrapped in insulation and fitted with heating — steam coils, electric elements, or a direct-fired thermal oil system depending on the tank. Capacity is typically 20 to 26 MT net, with bottom discharge through a heated valve and a top manhole for inspection and sampling.
Because the tank keeps the cargo enclosed from filling to discharge, there is no contamination risk and no exposure during handling.
Why buyers choose it
- Ships on regular container liner services rather than waiting for a bitumen cargo
- No dedicated bitumen berth or shore tankage needed at destination
- Order sizes from a single tank upward — no cargo-size minimum
- No packing waste, no drums to dispose of, no decanting labour
- Door-to-door movement including inland leg by road or rail
- Product stays enclosed and uncontaminated from load to discharge
Discharge at destination
The tank arrives with the product solidified or partly cooled. Heating is applied — typically 12 to 24 hours depending on grade, ambient temperature and heating method — until the contents reach pumping temperature, then the cargo is pumped out through the bottom valve into the buyer's tank or asphalt plant.
Buyers need a heating connection, a discharge pump and a level area to stand the tank. We supply the heating and discharge procedure with every shipment.
Commercial arrangements
- Leased tanks returned after discharge under a defined free-time allowance
- Purchased tanks where volumes justify owning the equipment
- Demurrage terms agreed up front so free time is never ambiguous
- Repositioning and cleaning arranged between cargoes
Typical specification
| Net capacity | 20 – 26 MT |
|---|---|
| Frame | ISO 20ft, CSC plated |
| Heating | Steam coil · electric · thermal oil |
| Discharge | Bottom valve, heated |
| Heat-up time | 12 – 24 hours typical |
Values are indicative and given for guidance. Contract specification is agreed in writing and certified per batch on the certificate of analysis issued with each shipment.
