CO885-(23-24) — Page 118

Miscellaneous. No. 296.

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office.

MEMORANDUM

AS TO THE

LANDING AND STORAGE OF OIL FUEL.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

།༴། ། ་། །།།

Reference :-

iCO. 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

1. General Remarks. Any detailed regulations governing the importation, landing, and storage of oil fuel by commercial firms in the Colonies must very largely depend upon the local circumstances. It has therefore not been considered desirable to attempt to formulate in England a code of rules to be applied in all cases. There are regulations in force in tropical and non-tropical countries which can be consulted, if necessary, when draft rules are being prepared for any particular Colony. For this purpose the "Rules under Section 9 of the Indian Petroleum Act, 1899 (VIII. of 1899), as corrected to 1st December, 1911," which have been made for the Presidency of Madras, may be found useful. With some such assistance the knowledge already possessed by the local authorities as well as by responsible and experienced firms who may contemplate making arrangements for storage and supply should largely enable satisfactory conditions to be settled on the spot. It must be borne in mind that an important distinction is to be drawn between oil fuel of a high flash point and the more volatile products of petroleum, such as petrol. In almost all cases the local authorities will already have a code of rules applicable to the latter class of petroleum products and to other classes in ordinary use for lighting and other purposes. In the present memorandum it is proposed to deal only with oil fuel of a high flash point, which may be defined as being not less than 150° Fahr. close test (Abel or Pensky Martens). If the depot which is to be established is to deal with, any other product of petroleum, the regulations relating to "dangerous petroleum" must apply, together with any additional restrictions which the proximity of tanks containing oil fuel may render necessary. It is, however, most desirable that oil fuel depôts intended for the supply of shipping should be restricted to oil of high flash point, and Colonial Governments are recommended to make it a rule that any site granted for the establishment of an oil fuel depôt should be used for that purpose only.

II. Oil Storage, Site of Tanks, &c.-In selecting a site care should be taken to adopt reasonable precautions against possible risk of large leakage of oil into a harbour, especially where this is much shut in naturally or by breakwaters, and where there is no scour by tide or river. It is obviously desirable that advantage should be taken of any natural screen or protection of laud, trees, &c., to avoid undue prominence or observation, the tanks being withdrawn as far as may be necessary from the coast line without unduly adding to the cost of pipe lines and pumping.

Harbour authorities generally are not disposed to favour the erection of tanks in close proximity to buildings or coal sheds. Isulated spots are chosen wherever possible, but the restrictions that need be imposed in the case of sites employed solely for oil fuel of 150° to 200° flash point, the handling of which is attended with little danger, are not so rigid as in the case of lighting oils, and more especially petroleum spirit, which is usually treated as being in a category by itself on account of its highly volatile nature.

Oil fuel tanks should be built of uninflammable material, as should other erections such as offices, sheds, &c., on the site selected, save as regards doors and window-fittings, which may be of wood. Tanks should be placed at a certain distance, say 50 feet apart, and each group of four tanks should be surrounded by an embankment forming a saucer" capable of containing the full contents of the tanks. The tanks may be partially sunk in the earth for this purpose. These precautions are desirable wherever circumstances permit in order to limit the loss of oil through accident to the tank and

(82248-2.) Wt. 26927-782. 500. 7/16. D&B.

"