The tanks, to be used to store sodium bromide and hydrochloric acid in the Caribbean, were commissioned in polypropylene rather than steel, due to the highly corrosive nature of these chemicals. 

An unusual design request was that the Niplast tanks should be able to be transported horizontally within a purpose built mild steel frame based on an ISO container specification. For shipping from location to location, the empty tanks will be held in the horizontal position via a flanged bolted base and a polypropylene lined cradle. Niplast and Suretank designers had to take into account transportation loads and acceleration factors. In the Caribbean, both tanks will remain in their steel frames, but lifted into the vertical before being put into use. This required Niplast designers to consider the axial and circumferential thermal expansion of the tank whilst remaining in the steel frames. 

The tanks were designed and constructed to the CEN standard BS EN 12573, with a 50°C working temperature and a 20 year design life. They each have a capacity of 22800L or 143 bbl for bulk liquid storage of either 50% concentration sodium bromide or 15% hydrochloric acid. If required, the tanks can be fully drained, returned to the horizontal and transported to other locations.

Shane Gilson, general manager, Suretank UK said, “On our initial contact with our customer, the requirement for a poly tank was requested. Suretank had worked with Niplast before and invited them to become involved in the initial stages of the engineering concept. It became apparent in this early stage that Adrian Greenwood and his team understood the complex requirements for the offshore industry and our customer. The Niplast team were dedicated and extremely professional in every aspect of this contract, the tanks were of exceptional build quality and have been manufactured to our demanding specification. I would have no hesitation in recommending Adrian and his team and look forward to working again with Niplast in the near future.”