The Safe Loading Pass Scheme - FAQs
ORGANISATION
Q1. Why do you have the Safe Loading Pass Scheme when in the rest of Europe the ADR requirements are deemed to be sufficient?
The Safe Loading Pass Scheme is mainly concerned with loading, ADR is mainly concerned with transport. The key issues that the SLPS also takes into account are:
- The tanker being considered as an extension of the loading gantry
- The gantry area being a hazardous area Zone 1
- The requirements of the VOC (Vapour recovery) Directive (in the UK, the Approved Tank Requirements)
- The enforcement of statutory requirements concerning design, maintenance and tank inspection that are not covered by VOSA inspections
- Specific industry recommendations on the control of static electricity when loading low sulphur fuels
Q2. Who are the member companies of the scheme?
The members of the UK Major Oil Companies' Scheme are:
BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron (Texaco), Esso Petroleum, Shell UK Oil Products, Total
Q3. Where do I get information on the SLPS requirements?
Either from the 'Accountable Authority' of the Oil Company whose Passes you obtain or more readily from www.slps.uk.com
Q4. Which company's Pass do I need to load in a specific oil company terminal?
Passes issued by the members of the scheme (see Q2) are fully accepted by each other member of the scheme.
Q5. What about other terminals?
Other terminals - including other oil companies and independent tank storage companies - may or may not accept the UK Major Oil Companies' passes at their discretion; the tanker operator should verify that with the terminal from which he intends loading.
Q6. How can I contact the SLPS?
Either through the Accountable Authority of the Oil Company whose Passes you obtain or from the email 'contact us' address link in www.slps.uk.com
Q7. Why are Passes issued with only 6 months validity?
Experience has shown that standards of maintenance by tanker operators are not always up to the required consistency for safe loading to warrant the issue of 12 month passes.
Q8. Why is the number of organisations issuing Passes so restricted?
Organisations for inspections are appointed either as part of the Terminal, or local to each Terminal; they are generally appointed on the basis of using the maintenance contractor (or division) of the major oil company's distribution operation.
Q9. How does my organisation obtain approval to issue Safe Loading Passes?
Organisations are appointed by individual members of the Safe Loading Pass Scheme, being BP, Chevron (Texaco), ConocoPhillips, Esso, Shell, and Total; all Passes carry the name of one of these oil companies. Increasing the number of organisations issuing Passes has to be balanced with the required control over the Scheme and the independence of inspections from operational pressures.
Q10. Where do I go if I wish to appeal over the issuing of a Pass?
The Accountable Authority of the oil company's pass involved. The issuing organisation will have contact details.