Gas tanks

Quoted from P&O Ferries website :

Gas: Gas cylinders can be carried but must be declared at the time of booking. On Short Sea and North Sea routes, gas with a weight of up to 47kg (excluding the weight of the gas receptacle) may be carried. On Irish Sea routes, up to 3 gas cylinders of no more than 11.2kg may be carried. All cylinders must be adequately secured against movement of the ship with the supply shut off at the cylinders during the trip. Leaking and inadequately secured or connected cylinders will be refused shipment.

We have an underslung tank, and have used P&O to Ireland without problem, they asked if it was turned off.. It was, but at the gas manifold just inside the van, and just above the tank, not at the tank itself.. This according to what I have read on various forums seems to be the norm and acceptable. We can't actually shut our gas off " at the tank " without putting the van on ramps, its just too low..

I seem to remember LPG powered vehicles are not allowed on the tunnel.. I wonder if that is what it was about.

Just had a look at Brittany Ferries terms as below. No mention of specifically excluding fixed tanks on there either...

(iii) Dangerous Goods and Firearms
You must not bring dangerous goods, firearms or knives on board, on your person, or in your luggage unless you have obtained written permission from us and possess legal authorisation. Dangerous goods must be declared at the time of booking and can only be transported in a vehicle, therefore are not permitted in the case of a foot passenger. If you are unsure about whether or not goods are dangerous then you must contact us in advance otherwise we may refuse you entry to the ship, without any liability on our part. The transport of petrol/diesel cans is strictly limited to a maximum of 5 litres per vehicle providing it is in a sealed container designed specifically to carry fuel. There is a limit to the quantity of gas cylinders that may be carried, (including medical gas), for confirmation and authority to carry any gas cylinders please contact passenger services prior to travel.

I can say there there are an awful lot of Autosleeper owners with fixed tanks who regularly visit Europe.... I imagine that they all get there either by ferry or tunnel...

There does seem to be contradictions from this "person", and I wonder where the information comes from given that nothing has changed on the ferry websites.

Also, on the one hand you quote fixed tanks are banned from ferries, then that they must be turned off at the tank not further up the line, and quote strict adherence to the letter of the rule.. What rule, it says nothing on the websites. Personally I suspect that the person has misunderstood something seen or heard elsewhere.

As I say there are an awful lot of Auto-sleeper vans, many with fixed tanks who use ferries and the tunnel every year. I cannot believe that they would be banned because of the gas tank.. There is no Calor alternative available. As to turning off at the tank, well it is possible, but putting the van on ramps, perhaps in the rain and crawling underneath on a filthy dockside with moving vehicles all around.. personally I'd rather not if I don't have to.

LPG Powered vehicles are not allowed on the chunnel and they do a check to make sure your gas is turned off before boarding for MH & Caravans. 

All ferries allow gas tanks/bottles on board (to certain amounts/limits) but will probably require them to be turned off as above though P&O, DFDS have never checked ours or asked if they were off (we do turn them off as well as turn fridge off) but we have only done short crossings with them, maybe on longer crossings they would check.  We took overnight ferry with Corsica Ferries to Corsica and again turned gas off but form memory it was never checked.

I got the feeling it was something more like grass they were looking for.

Oooh, just the MH. 

I should have added before that ours is a fixed gas tank as referred to earlier.

Regarding gas installations in general, my understanding is that fixed installations and vehicle gas tanks and regulators have a cut off valve that shuts the gas off in the event of an accident. These normally operate if there is a sudden drop in gas pressure, or a sudden impact shock or deceleration - sometimes both, and they have to be manually reset.

MH fixed gas tanks are small of normally less than 25 litres capacity and come with a test certificate, valid usually for 10 yrs from date of the test, and an accident cut off device. This could be why ferry companies are content as long as the internal isolating valves are turned off.

From the Autosleeper handbook, Sec 7, Pg4 -

"Truma MonoControl CS unit is fitted adjacent to the regulator to automatically cut off the gas supply in the event of an accident. This assembly is fitted under the vehicle near the bulk tank installation. In the case of an accident with a deceleration of between 3 and 4g acting directly on the triggering element (equivalent to a collision speed of approximately 10-15 mph with a fixed obstruction), the integrated crash sensor will cut off the flow of gas. The gas supply can be restored by pressing the green button on the MonoControl inwards and holding for approximately 10 seconds. It may be necessary to press with reasonable force, using a pen or pencil."

From Eurotunnel website -

 
"Safety carrying fixed LPG tanks for domestic services -

We are aware LPG tanks are essential for cooking, refrigeration, heating etc, but request the appliance is switched off before boarding and during the entire crossing. Tanks up to 47kg may be carried, but must be less than 80% full. For your own safety and the safety of others, you will need to demonstrate this before you travel."

On the tunnel they do ask and usually check but are satisfied with the taps switched off in the wardrobe. In theory you should isolate at the tank and anybody with an Autosleepers will know that this involves getting on your back under the van. Not much fun if it’s wet or the surface is dirty. I’ve never done it!