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Gas bottles are stored on racks, usually eight (8) bottles of the same gas on one metal rack. If it can’t be avoided bottles filled with different gases are on one rack. The gas bottles are strapped to the rack with metal banding. The racks get shipped back and forth between shore and ship, usually to have them refilled, when empty, and/or pressure tested every 5 years. The shipment from SHORE to SHIP is a HAZARDOUS SHIPMENT because the gases are under 22 psi pressure, from SHIP to SHORE they are a regular shipment because they are empty.
This document summarizes all necessary steps as well as knowledge that was acquired over time.
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Gas bottles are color coded on the neck of the cylinder based on their gas content:
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Like every other supply, gas bottles get cycled through, so that the oldest on board get used first and the newly delivered get should be stored to be used last (at the back of the gas rack assemblage).
When a gas bottle rack is prepared for shipment back to shore, each cylinder is vented outside (either on the dock or on the landing). When venting out cylinders ALWAYS open the bottle slowly and control the noise level.
Shore
Banding
The location and amount of banding used on the gas bottle racks has varied over time. In order to streamline that process, the following banding SOP should be used (see Fig. 1):
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Place the first four straps around the a cluster of 4 bottles, one cluster right, one cluster left. The banding needs to go through the inside bars of the rack if possible. Place two straps in on the top 3rd and two straps in on the lower 3rd of the rack (See Fig. 1)
The next step is to strap the 2 clusters together. Use one strap just above the upper strapping and one strap above the lower strapping.
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The hydrostatic test date (needs to be done every 5 years) will be stamped into the collar of the cylinder.
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