Modular loading units and modular cargo transport complexes for intermodal transportation liquid cargo
Authors: Petrukhin Volodymyr 
Published: February 2024

The purpose of the article is to analyze the problems of liquid cargo transportation between Ukraine and the EU countries, due to the non-interoperability of their railway transport systems. The analysis of existing solutions in the intermodal way of transporting liquid cargo was carried out. Their shortcomings are pointed out and their solution proposed by introducing a modular tank container MVO 480.00.110-02 for intermodal transportation of fuels and lubricants (F&L), liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), oil and other liquid cargoes by rail transport of 1435/1520 mm gauges. In the conditions of the ongoing war, there was an acute problem of ensuring the transportation of F&L from EU countries to Ukraine. It was complicated by the different width of the railway track. This required the replacement of tank car bogies at the joints of the 1435/1520 mm railway tracks. In addition, private tank cars had dimensions that are allowed for transportation only on railways with a gauge of 1520 mm. They exceeded the dimensions allowed for transportation on tracks of 1435 mm. This did not allow them to be used for transporting liquid cargo from EU countries. Usually, ISO 1496-3 tank containers with a length of 20 feet are used for intermodal transportation of liquid cargoes by sea, rail and road transport. In connection with the universal purpose and the need for stacking during sea transportation, their dimensions are made much smaller than the dimensions allowed for transportation by rail. Tank containers in the form of removable bodies – Swap Body tank containers are used for intermodal transportation of liquid cargo only by road and rail transport. The article points out the shortcomings of existing cargo units. To eliminate them, our company developed and patented tank containers – modular loading units (MLU) 480.00.110-02.
For intermodal transportation of liquid cargo by rail transport of gauge 1435/1520 mm. MLU 480.00.110-02 are made in the form of modular connector complexes, which are assembled from container and cargo modules. The unified platform container model 480.00.010 of the ISO 668 standard, series 1, size and type code 29Р0 is used as a container module. Cargo modules can be mounted on the container module – removable tanks of various specializations for the transportation of various liquid cargoes. This execution of modular loading units made it possible to expand their specialization and increase the volume of tanks by 40 ÷ 45% in comparison with existing cargo units, with the possibility of transportation in the dimensions of the load of tracks of 1435/1520 mm. A comparison of the cost of transportation of liquid cargoes by tank cars, tank trucks and tank containers is given. MLU 480.00.110-02. The technical conditions of NTU 480.00.110-02 on transportation by fitting platforms of tracks of 1435/1520 mm were developed and agreed with the railway administrations of Ukraine and EU countries. An example of the implementation of a modular cargo transport complex for the transportation of liquid cargo on 1435 mm tracks is given. It can be retrofitted in operation by shippers by replacing the removable tank with a removable tank of the desired specialization, or by replacing the 1435 mm track fitting platform with a 1520 mm track fitting platform. Modular cargo transport complexes are an intermodal alternative to specialized tank cars, which is extremely necessary to ensure the transportation of liquid cargo between Ukraine and the EU countries.