Tuesday 26 October ​​was an exciting day for TransContainer Europe and its partner VTG. 22.000 liters of water were filled in a flexitank at the DIT terminal in Duisburg, as part of a test shipment equipped with sensors and tracker. The partners expect the shipment soon in Nakhodka/Vostochny after having covered most of Europe.

The flexitank is a tank which you insert in a container. On arrival, all you have to do is take out the tank, which is by the way recyclable It is as flexible as the name suggests. “The advantage is that you can install the flexitank into the 40 ft container, which can be used for other shipments after arrival. In comparison, tank containers are usually shipped back empty”, says Daniel Jaguljnjak from TransContainer.

Efficiency and sustainability is the key

With the flexitank, space is used much more efficiently. VTG: you can transport 30 per cent more liquid in each container than when using IBCs or drums. The loading and unloading times are also significantly shorter. They can be reduced by 90 per cent compared to IBCs and drums.”

Although the loading needs to be done by professionals, the unloading can be done by anyone. After that, the container can be used as usual for other shipments from the point of arrival.

No dangerous goods

In the case of the test shipment, it was water that was transported, as the shipment is a trial of a service that could be further exploited. There is definitely a market for this type of transport, TransContainer says. “It is suitable for all harmless liquids. Dangerous goods are excluded.

“There is a big demand for harmless chemicals such as wine, fruit-juice concentrates, soja, raps oil and biodiesel”, Jaguljnjak continues. On the New Silk Road in particular, it is harmless chemicals and oils that could be transported in this manner. “There is a demand for these substances on the Asian market.”

Arrival

In total, the test journey should be completed within 22-24 days. However, there are some hurdles on the way. “The biggest challenge is the bureaucratic hurdles on the Russian side to obtain official permission.” Other than that, there is not much that can go wrong.

What is next? “After the test run, we will serve this unique product together with our partner VTG to their customers”, says Jaguljnjak. “We will keep you updated.”

European Silk Road Summit

TransContainer will be represented at the European Silk Road Summit, which is held on 7 & 8 December in Amsterdam. He will join a panel discussion about the use of the Far East ports, like the port of Vladivostok. Are you interested? The offline tickets are currently sold out, but you can still attend this summit online.

Have a look at the programme, or register here.